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HOFFMAN AND NELSON School for the summer of 2020.
Flatt is a recognized expert on environmental law, climate law
RECOGNIZED FOR TEACHING and energy law. His research focuses on environmental legislation
and enforcement, with particular expertise in the Clean Air Act
EXCELLENCE and National Environmental Policy Act. While at the Haub School
of Law in September, Flatt taught a class in Administrative Law
University of Houston Law Center Professors Geoffrey Hoffman and delivered a public lecture on the overlap of climate change
and James Nelson were honored with 2018-19 Teaching and attorney ethics.
Excellence Awards, among the highest distinctions bestowed by “The experience at the Elisabeth Haub School was fantastic,” he
the university. said. “It is a remarkable chance to discuss important environment,
The awards and $8,000 prizes were presented by Paula Myrick climate, and energy issues at one of the other law schools with a
Short, UH senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and senior large and diverse environmental and energy programs.”
vice president for academic affairs and provost, at the University Hudson’s research focuses on the intersection of land use and
of Houston Hilton in April. natural resources law and policy, concentrating of late on private
Hoffman, a clinical associate professor and director of the Law forest management and the role of forests in combatting climate
Center’s Immigration Clinic, was honored with the Community change.
Engagement Award. He also won the Teaching Excellence Award “I am honored to receive both the Haub and the Vermont
for clinical faculty in 2015. distinguished visiting scholar opportunities,” he said. “Both
schools are widely respected for their top-notch environmental
scholarship, teaching and programming. It will be an incredibly
UH LAW CENTER PROFS valuable experience to immerse myself in their respective

SELECTED AS DISTINGUISHED communities and learn from the excellent faculty and students at
both institutions.”
ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARS
PROFESSORS SHARE

PERSUASIVE WRITING TIPS,

INSIGHTS AT 5TH CIRCUIT

APPELLATE ADVOCACY SEMINAR

University of Houston Law Center professors conducted a
writing workshop and discussed women and diversity on the
U.S. Supreme Court at the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal
Circuit’s 2019 Appellate Advocacy Seminar in New Orleans.
Three Lawyering Skills and Strategies professors shared their
expertise in the two-hour writing and editing workshop designed
to improve appellate advocacy.
Professor Blake Hudson, left, and Professor Victor B. Flatt
Professors Kate Brem, Hilary Reed and Lauren Simpson led the
Two University of Houston Law Center faculty members workshop titled: “Catching the Court’s Eye: Effective Writing and
were chosen to share their expertise in environmental law as Editing Techniques to Elevate Your Advocacy.” The presentation
distinguished visiting scholars at law schools in New York and included segments on improving persuasion in every section of
Vermont. the brief, improving editing techniques, and evaluating available
artificial intelligence tools to improve legal writing.
Professor Victor B. Flatt, the Dwight Olds Chair in Law,
and Professor Blake Hudson, the A.L. O’Quinn Chair in Law Center Professor Renee Knake, the Joanne and Larry
Environmental Studies, were awarded week-long residencies as Doherty Chair in Legal Ethics, and director of Law Center
Haub Distinguished Environmental Scholars at Pace University’s Outcomes and Assessments, also spoke at the seminar on the
Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains, NY. Flatt and subject: “Shortlisted: Women, Diversity and the Supreme Court.”
Hudson are co-directors of the Law Center’s Environment,
Energy, and Natural Resources Program.
Hudson also has been chosen for a two-week summer program
as a Distinguished Environmental Law Scholar at Vermont Law

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