Environmental Law: Clifford Thomas Lee Memorial Fellowship

Beginning with the 2024 class of the Environmental Law Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship, one fellowship each year will be designated as the Clifford Thomas Lee Memorial Fellowship. This fellowship designation was created to honor Clifford Thomas Lee, one of California’s most influential and respected water law experts, who passed away in November 2022. Mr. Lee was also an Advisor to the Executive Committee of the Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association and the 2021 recipient of the Section’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A fireside chat with Mr. Lee, filmed for the 2021 Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®, covers his myriad contributions to California water law beginning in 1977 and continuing for more than 40 years during his career as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice.

The Clifford Thomas Lee Memorial Fellowship will be chosen each year by the fellowship’s selection committee. Fellows receiving this designation will typically exemplify one or more of the following qualities that characterized Mr. Lee’s prestigious career:

• an interest in focusing on water law, water quality and conservation, or similar issues after graduation;
• a commitment to a career in public service or public interest environmental law after graduation; and/or
• an interest in a summer placement with the Natural Resources Section of the California Department of Justice.

Prospective fellows will not need to submit additional materials to be considered for this fellowship designation, although they are encouraged to discuss these qualities in their personal statement to the extent relevant.