John D. Leshy is a prominent legal scholar and expert on public lands, natural resources, and environmental law. He joined UC Law San Francisco in 2001 after serving as Solicitor (General Counsel) of the U.S. Department of the Interior throughout the Clinton Administration. His career spans academia, government service, and advocacy, making him a key figure in shaping public land and resource policy in the United States.

Prior to UC Law SF, Leshy taught at Arizona State University College of Law (1980-1992) and held influential roles in the Interior Department during the Carter Administration. He also served as special counsel to the Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council in California. He began his legal career as a litigator with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Leshy’s expertise has been instrumental in presidential transitions. He co-chaired the Obama Administration’s Interior Department transition team in 2008-2009 and led the Clinton-Gore Interior transition in 1992-1993. His contributions to wildlife conservation were recognized with the Defenders of Wildlife Legacy Award in 2013.

A prolific author, Leshy’s work includes Our Common Ground: A History of America’s Public Lands (2022), a seminal exploration of the nation’s public lands. His other publications include The Mining Law of 1872 (1987), a co-authored Textbook on Water Law (6th ed., 2018), and Federal Land and Resources Law (7th ed., 2014). He also co-authored The Arizona Constitution (2nd ed., 2013).

Leshy’s academic achievements include serving as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2011. A graduate of Harvard College (A.B.) and Harvard Law School (J.D.), his lifetime contributions have solidified his reputation as a leading voice in public land conservation and environmental law.