The Energy Law Journal at The University of Tulsa’s College of Law connects students with top-of-their-field legal professionals across the country, giving students an exclusive look at energy law and its inner workings.
Volunteering their own time and resources, practicing attorneys in the energy sector support UTulsa students who work for the journal, which publishes twice a year and reaches about 3,000 subscribers in the United States and 10 foreign countries. It has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts and agencies.
Harvey Reiter is ELJ’s editor-in-chief and partner at Stinson in Washington, D.C. In addition to energy, Stinson focuses on legal aspects of cybersecurity, real estate, tax and private businesses, and more. The firm has offices across the country and donates at least 3% of billable hours to pro bono services each year.
In 1978, a special committee of the Energy Bar Association was appointed to determine the benefits of a publication. The panel decided to publish a scholarly journal/law review whose function was to publish quality articles and EBA committee reports, and the first issue of the ELJ, Volume 1, was published in 1980.
In 1986, the Foundation of the Energy Law Journal was established to manage the funding and the business of the ELJ. “By happenstance, the editor-in-chief of the first journal met with a faculty member at The University of Tulsa’s College of Law, and they talked about collaborating,” Reiter said. “They worked out an arrangement that has lasted about 40 years. Our arrangement is not typical.”
The partnership benefits the ELJ because UTulsa students provide editorial assistance on the articles. In turn, the partnership benefits the law students by providing an opportunity to work on a law review, gain knowledge of the energy industry, and create a platform for the publication of student notes and comments.
Alex Goldberg (J.D. ’87) served as a student staff member and on the student editorial board in the 1980s while a law student at UTulsa. He is currently Senior Notes editor on the professional board and senior counsel at Eversheds Sutherland, a global Top 10 law practice that works in energy, consumer, and government industries, among others. It also provides pro bono services.
Altogether, Goldberg has worked on the Energy Law Journal in some capacity for 39 years.
“The ELJ supports students in future career endeavors in a number of ways – some direct and some indirect,” he said. “Serving on the ELJ provides students with valuable experience working on research and writing assignments that will assist them as lawyers both substantively and from the standpoint of being a part of a professional process where they are accountable for their work product in a manner that is not just connected to grades or testing.”
Goldberg, Reiter and other renowned energy law experts visit Tulsa at least twice a year to work directly with the students on the journal and attend an annual banquet celebrating the dedication needed to produce a highly regarded publication.
Buford Pollett is the Genave King Rogers Endowed Associate Professor of Energy Law and Commerce at UTulsa and serves as ELJ’s faculty adviser. “The Energy Law Journal highlights the quality of students that UTulsa has in the energy space and the faculty who are involved,” he said. “It highlights the trust that the Energy Bar places in The University of Tulsa and its continuing tradition as a leader when it comes to this area of law and its trust and the students in the institution – the law school – to deliver a quality legal source.”
Reiter said some students expect the journal to focus on the petroleum industry but discover that its focus is on regulation of gas and electric utilities, the interplay between environmental and energy law, and transactional issues associated with the development of energy projects.
“I think for the most part, students find that the subject areas that they cover when they review articles are interesting to them. Many have gone into the regulatory-type fields that relate to most of our articles,” he said.
Third-year law student Ben Waldren always knew he wanted to write for a law journal.
“I wanted to get involved with the journal mainly due to the fact that Tulsa houses many key players in the energy industry,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed the process of drafting and editing, but I wanted to write about my own thoughts and opinions. ELJ affords students the opportunity to do so when most course work does not.”
Waldren, who serves as the journal’s Executive Notes editor, believes that in addition to the subject matter, the time management skills and work he has put into the journal will propel his future. He also pointed out the enjoyment he has experienced while serving in his role.
“When I look back on my memories of law school, I might not remember that one time in class when the professor said ‘such and such’ and we all laughed, but I will certainly remember the times when the ELJ editors and I spent countless hours in the library, albeit, probably complaining about the workload, but having fun, nonetheless,” he said.
Find the latest edition of ELJ at https://www.eba-net.org/felj/current-edition/