Fossil Free Law
Law students across Scotland are campaigning to uphold their right to a safe climate and end the legal sector’s support for the fossil fuel industry.
Overview
ERCS is working with law students across Scotland to challenge the acceptability of law firms working on behalf of the fossil fuel industry.
Law firms provide a range of services to oil, gas and mining companies, enabling transactions that finance future fossil fuel development, litigation against climate accountability, and fossil fuel lobbying. These business activities are not compatible with a safe climate, and violate our right to a healthy environment.
Our aims
We call on lawyers to refuse to work for the fossil fuel industry, and will hold law firms accountable through public scrutiny of their client base and climate change policies. We will advocate the Law Society of Scotland to follow the Law Society of England & Wales in supporting solicitors and advocates to decline to advise on matters that are incompatible with the Paris Agreement limits.
Updates
Guest blog: Climate conscious lawyering and a just transition in legal learning
As world governments meet in Brazil for the COP30 climate conference, citizens around the world are taking action into their own hands and demanding change …
Campaign toolkit published
ERCS has worked with law students in the Fossil Free Law steering group to develop a campaign toolkit for organising on university campuses …
Fossil Free Law: campaign skillshare
We organised a skillshare with Law Students for Climate Accountability to provide knowledge and practical advice to students on how to advocate for climate justice in the legal profession …
Landmark climate change ruling reaffirms States’ obligations to protect the right to a healthy environment
The International Court of Justice has issued a landmark Advisory Opinion on States’ obligations regarding climate change …
Guest blog: Why law students across Scotland are challenging their future employers over the climate crisis
Lawyers might not be the first group that springs to mind when discussing the climate crisis, but they play a critical role in enabling the operations of the fossil fuel industry …
Get involved
The Fossil Free Law campaign is a collaboration between ERCS and law students at the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Strathclyde, and Dundee. If you would like to get involved, please complete the form below.
