Environmental Justice

SCSJ takes a unique community-based lawyering approach to environmental justice, recognizing that communities are the true leaders and experts in their own needs. Instead of imposing outside agendas, we provide long-term support that responds to community goals. Using our legal, research, communications, and advocacy skills, we help communities across the South address systemic injustices and affect decisions relating to their health and environment, focusing where we can make the greatest difference.

Community Legal Education. Community legal education strengthens organizing and collective action by giving impacted communities the tools they need for ongoing self-advocacy. Legal guides and toolkits help simplify complex legal systems, building community power and improving access to decision-making. Along with our legal expertise, SCSJ further supports advocacy by providing research and communications resources that help connect and amplify community voices.

Strategic Counseling & Advice. We provide strategic guidance and advice to community members, advocacy partners, and decision-makers. For communities and advocacy partners, this support is tailored to their specific challenges and often involves working with city officials, industry, and government agencies to improve environmental justice outcomes — ideally without needing to go to court. For decision-makers, we offer counsel on how to meaningfully consider environmental justice concerns and input from impacted communities in policy decisions.

Rapid Response Litigation Services. Litigation is a necessary and powerful tool to enforce justice, advance equity, and empower communities. While it is not always the right approach, legal action can achieve the best outcome, create momentum for future advocacy, and set precedents that reach beyond environmental justice. SCSJ helps fill a critical gap by offering the expertise and ability needed to provide rapid-response litigation when communities need it most.

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