COLUMBUS -- In the 30 years since the first Earth Day, extensive legislation has helped ensure cleaner air and water in the United States. As the area of environmental and conservation law grows to meet ever-changing environmental standards, the number of attorneys specializing in these areas also has increased.

"Thirty years ago, most law students would not have expected to practice environmental law at any point during their career," said Earl Finbar Murphy, professor of law at The Ohio State University College of Law. "Today, they expect they will.

"It is now a major part of the American legal system," said Murphy, who has taught environmental and conservation law for more than 40 years. "We have an elaborate body of regulation, statutes and case law on environmental matters."

Students in the College of Law today can take classes in environmental torts, land-use planning or international environmental law.

Murphy first taught conservation law during a summer course in 1962 at Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. Even then, "I had a difficult time getting permission to teach conservation law," he said.

It wasn't until the late 1960s, when Murphy arrived at Ohio State, that he first taught natural resource law and environmental law on a regular basis.

The subject continues to be a focus of incoming students, said Associate Dean for Admissions Kathy N. Northern, who also teaches the class in environmental torts. "The curriculum allows them to get a good grounding in environmental law," she said.

"Earth Day reflected a changing public attitude," said Murphy, who spoke at Ohio State's first Earth Day observance in 1970. "The creation of Earth Day as a day for celebration helped the cause increase in significance."

(ST/LO)