Master of Legal Studies: Mining Law Concentration at the Forefront of Online Learning

“Community Engagement & Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources” the new course being offered this year by the University of Arizona’s Mining Law Concentration in the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program. It provides an overview of international law relating to indigenous people and community rights: access to information, sharing benefits, protection of cultural heritage and grievance mechanisms.

Good practices for engaging and consulting with the public will be detailed, including strategies for securing what is known as the social license to operate. “There is going to be greater emphasis in community relations in mineral development,” explained John Lacy, director of the Global Mining Law program at the James E. Rogers College of Law.

Teaching through engaging interviews

Using the center’s signature delivery of its classes, experts in community development with companies, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will be brought on to discuss case studies and detail challenges and strategies.

Lacy has developed an engaging method of conducting interviews of guests that’s used by all of the Global Mining Law program professors. In a studio, Lacy sits one-on-one with mining executives, local activists and governmental authorities, to name a few content experts. Following an outline, they informally discuss the material.

“As the interviewer, I take the place of the student,” said Lacy. “I can interrupt and ask questions, provide that sidelight that breaks up the material.” From his years of teaching, Lacy can anticipate questions that students typically would have following an interviewee’s comments. It’s through the questions that he can further the conversation. This engagement helps counter barriers posed by asynchronous online courses that present lectures via videos, and allow students to feel more engaged with the materials.

Mining Law Program at the forefront of online learning

Study for the MLS, targeted specifically for non-lawyers, is available online, providing students the flexibility of self-paced learning. “It’s designed primarily for mining professionals who want to expand their educational background and being able to do so under circumstances that don’t interrupt their work commitments,” Lacy said. The degree also would benefit practicing lawyers, environmental engineers, regulatory and government compliance officers and others who want to work for a mining company or with organizations that deal with mining companies.

The breadth of the Mining Law Program is unique to the University of Arizona. While other Law institutions and programs may offer some courses on mining law and policy, they face barriers by presenting the information in-person and can face low enrollment numbers.

The presence of the pandemic created a new world for online learning. “Enrollment [in online programs] has gone through the roof,” Ginger Hunt, Senior Director of Online Learning and Instructional Design. More people are working from home and taking advantage of online programs and courses to further their education and careers. While there are restrictions on how many online courses one can take to qualify for the Bar, the mining law program is perfect for anyone looking for an accessible way to expand their professional careers and education.

Master degrees with a mining law and policy focus for both lawyers and non-lawyers

The Global Mining Law program also offers a master's of law degree with a mining law and policy track for lawyers. Law-degree students can concentrate and earn a certificate in mining law and policy as part of their doctorate. Certificate courses are available for those working in mining-related positions such as executives, managers, engineers, and government officials. Lacy said the program is also considering offering some courses as non-credit offerings to the public. Online law courses and courses in mining law are also expanding to be offered to Undergraduates pursuing a Law degree.

The program also hosts an annual mining law summit in the fall. The Global Mining Law program was established in 2015 in collaboration with the Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources to coordinate teaching and research on a variety of law specialties that are important to the mining industry.

More Info:
LAW 640P - Community Engagement & Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources

Mining Law summit 2022

The annual mining law summit is returning this year as a free, virtual conference being hosted on November 10^th, 2022. It will continue to examine the challenges to mineral resource development within its various topics and keynote speakers. More information and registration