Daniel A. Farber
Sho Sato Professor of Law
Daniel A. Farber is the Sho Sato Professor of Law at UC Berkeley School of Law and co-director of the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Life Member of the American Law Institute. After graduating as valedictorian from the University of Illinois College of Law, he clerked for Judge Philip Tone of the Seventh Circuit and Justice John Paul Stevens of the Supreme Court. He has written extensively on environmental law, disaster law, and constitutional law, and is one of the most cited legal scholars in the country.
Teaching Style
Professor Farber is known for his clear, pragmatic approach to teaching, using the Socratic method to help students navigate the intersection of environmental regulation, constitutional law, and policy analysis. He cold-calls students in a collegial but persistent manner, expecting well-reasoned answers that address both legal doctrine and practical considerations. His classes emphasize the policy dimensions of legal questions, training students to evaluate regulatory approaches using cost-benefit analysis and other analytical tools.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Understand the major federal environmental statutes including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and NEPA
- 2Be prepared to discuss climate change regulation and the legal challenges of addressing long-term environmental risks
- 3Know the constitutional dimensions of environmental regulation, including federalism and the Commerce Clause
- 4Think pragmatically about regulatory trade-offs and be ready to evaluate the costs and benefits of different legal approaches
Areas of Expertise
Education
- J.D., University of Illinois (summa cum laude, valedictorian)
- M.A., University of Illinois
- B.A., University of Illinois
Notable Publications
- Eco-Pragmatism: Making Sensible Environmental Decisions in an Uncertain World
- Disasters and the Law
- Constitutional Law (casebook, co-authored)
Research Interests
More Professors at UC Berkeley School of Law
Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, Civil Rights, First Amendment
Criminal Law, Family Law, Reproductive Rights and Justice, Critical Race Theory
International Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights, International Criminal Law
Constitutional Law, Feminist Legal Theory, Law and Social Movements, Immigration Law