Nicholas J. Schroeck
Nicholas J. Schroeck
Dean, School of Law
Professor of Law
Degrees
- J.D. Wayne State University '07
- B.A. Elmhurst College '02
Biography
Nicholas Schroeck is dean and a professor of law at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is a leader in legal education, a sought-after environmental law expert, and a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Dean Schroeck joined the law faculty in 2018. In his prior role as associate dean for experiential education, he served on the School of Law’s leadership team, led the clinical program and externship program, and secured significant support for the experiential education programs from community partners, alumni, and friends of Detroit Mercy Law.
As a sought-after environmental law expert, his scholarship includes over 100 publications, presentations, and media appearances on legal issues impacting the environment. His research focuses on reducing air and water pollution, promoting mass transportation, and advancing citizen suit enforcement of environmental laws.
Dean Schroeck launched Detroit Mercy Law’s environmental law clinic and taught upper-level environmental law courses. Through his clinical work, he has litigated cases for several prominent environmental advocacy organizations and strengthened local, state, and federal environmental protections through policy advocacy.
Prior to joining academia, Dean Schroeck worked with the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Great Lakes Commission. During the Flint Water Crisis, the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office named him a special assistant prosecutor to aid in their investigations.
Dean Schroeck has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan throughout his legal career. His practice supports communities in and around Detroit and the transnational Great Lakes region. The Michigan State Bar Foundation named him a 2024 Fellow in recognition of his leadership, professional excellence, and service to the community.
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Courses Taught
Environmental Law Clinic
Advanced Environmental Law Clinic
Environmental Law
Externships
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Selected Publications
What Overturning Chevron Deference Means for the Great Lakes, article, Great Lakes Now/Detroit Public Television.
Leach, C., Schulz, A., Schroeck, N., Lawrence, S., Williams, G., Sand, S., Bewaji, O., & Fuchs-Young, R. “Multi-directional communication between decision makers and environmental health researchers: A qualitative inquiry.” Environmental Hazards: Human & Policy Dimensions.
Schroeck, Nicholas and Leach, Carrie (2023) "The Exacerbating Role of Technological and Connectivity Challenges on Older Detroiters’ Health in a Pandemic," Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law: Vol. 13: Iss. 2, Article 1.
Engaged communication of environmental health science: Processes and outcomes of urban academic-community partnerships, Leach, C., Schroeck, N., Blessman, J., Rorai, V., Cooper-Sargent, M., Lichtenberg, P. & Trentacosta. Applied Environmental Education & Communication (2021).
The Flint Water Crisis, Drinking Water Regulations and Gaps in Lead, Copper, and Legionella Protections Volume 98 of the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, Vol. 98 (2021).
The Flint Water Crisis and Legionella: Harm to Public Health from Failure to Warn. The Journal of Law in Society, 18 J. L. Society 155 (2018).
A Changing Environment in China: The Ripe Opportunity for Environmental Law Clinics to Increase Public Participation and to Shape Law and Policy. Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, Vol. 18, Winter 2016
Microplastic Pollution in the Great Lakes: State, Federal, and Common Law Solutions. University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, Vol 93, Issue Two, Spring 2016
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Selected Presentations
International Union for the Conservation of Nature Colloquium of the Academy of Environmental Law – A Freshwater Bill of Rights. (Panelist, Joensuu, Finland August 2, 2023)
Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting (Panelist, Erie, PA October 12, 2022)
Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law Symposium on Land Use and Environmental Law, (Panelist, Indianapolis, IN September 23, 2022)
“Social Justice Through Policy Development and Implementation,” Public Health Nursing Section Conference, Michigan Public Health Association (March 10, 2022);
“Our Planet, Our Health,” World Health Day, University of Detroit Mercy (April 19, 2022)
Clinicians for a Healthy Climate – Advocating for Environmental Health in Michigan. (CURES Center, Detroit, video appearance, December 10, 2021)
Detroit Mercy Law Current Events in the Law Series: President Biden's Climate Change Agenda and the UN Climate Change Conference. (Moderator, Detroit, video appearance, November 1, 2021)
Equal Justice Works -- 2021 Conference and Career Fair, Environmental Law Panel. (Moderator, Washington, D.C., video appearance, October 22, 2021)
International Association for Great Lakes Research, 64th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research – “Carp, Climate Change and Canadian Pipelines: A decade of news and law in Great Lakes media.” With Sandra Svoboda. (Video appearance, May 18, 2021)
American Association of Law Schools Clinical Conference – Water Justice Panel. (Virtual conference, video appearance, April 29, 2021)
Michigan Public Health Association – Public Health Nursing Section Conference "Social Justice: Equal Societies are Healthier." (Grand Rapids, MI, video appearance, April 14, 2021)
SciPol- Detroit – Air Pollution Panel (Detroit, MI, video appearance, April 8th, 2021)
American University Washington College of Law – 2021 Symposium, "Water Infrastructure, Equity, and Environmental Justice." (Washington, D.C., video appearance, February 11, 2021)
Equal Justice Works – 2020 Conference and Career Fair, Pathways to a Career in Environmental Law (Moderator) (Washington, D.C., virtual appearance, October 23, 2020)
Citizens for Peace – Environmental Justice and Public Engagement (Royal Oak, MI, June 9, 2020)
State of the Straits Conference – Climate Change Law and Policy University of Windsor (Windsor, Ontario, November 19, 2019)
Great Lakes Water Conference – PFAS and Water Quality (Moderator) (University of Toledo Law School, Toledo, OH, November 8, 2019)
Vermont Law School Colloquium on Environmental Scholarship -- "The Quebec Act of 1774 and the Great Lakes." (South Royalton, VT, September 21, 2019)
InVivo Planetary Health conference at the Detroit Yacht Club -- Keynote: Environmental Law - litigation and legal channels in change making for social and ecological justice. (Detroit, MI, May 17, 2019)
Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Restoration Conference -- Creation of a Great Lakes Bi-National Climate Adaptation Strategy (Detroit, MI, May 9, 2019)
Real Property Law Section, State Bar of Michigan Summer Conference – Water Law Roundtable (Chrystal Mountain, MI, July 20-21, 2018)
Public Interest Environmental Law Conference - Great Lakes Water Law (Eugene, OR (by Skype) March 2, 2018
Environmental Justice in Practice – Hosted conference at Wayne Law in partnership with University of Chicago School of Law, American Bar Association, Environmental Law Institute and Great Lakes Environmental Law Center
(Detroit, MI, January 26, 2018)