J.B. Ruhl
David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair in Law, Professor of Law
J.B. Ruhl holds the David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair in Law at Vanderbilt Law School, where he directs the Program on Law and Innovation and co-directs the Energy, Environment and Land Use Program. He is among the most cited environmental law scholars in the United States and holds both a J.D. and a Ph.D. in Geography. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, and has been a visiting professor at Harvard, George Washington, and several other leading law schools.
Teaching Style
Professor Ruhl is known for an energetic and interdisciplinary teaching approach that draws on ecology, geography, and complexity science to enrich legal analysis. His Socratic method is vigorous but collegial, often pressing students to think about environmental problems from scientific, economic, and legal perspectives simultaneously. He frequently uses real-world environmental controversies and data to ground abstract doctrinal discussions, and he expects students to grapple with the inherent uncertainty and complexity of environmental regulation.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Understand the scientific concepts underlying environmental regulations, especially ecosystem dynamics and species biology
- 2Be prepared to discuss the tension between economic development and environmental protection in specific regulatory contexts
- 3Know the major federal environmental statutes, especially the Endangered Species Act, NEPA, and the Clean Water Act
- 4Think about how environmental law adapts to emerging challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss
Areas of Expertise
Education
- LL.M., George Washington University Law School
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
- B.A., University of Virginia
- Ph.D. in Geography, Southern Illinois University
Notable Publications
- The Law of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management (casebook)
- The Law and Policy of Ecosystem Services (Island Press)
- Among the most cited U.S. academics in environmental law
Research Interests
More Professors at Vanderbilt Law School
Constitutional Law, Legislation and Regulation, Foreign Affairs Law
Administrative Law, Legislation and Regulation, Statutory Interpretation
Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, Complex Litigation
Criminal Law, Juvenile Justice, Law and Emotion