"We do EVERYTHING Water!"

About the Schroeder Law Offices

Thirty years ago Laura Schroeder farmed potatoes, onions, sugar beets and small vegetable seeds with her husband on a three generation irrigated family farm in Nyssa, Oregon, learning first-hand how water governs our lives.

The first child of the West’s prominent natural resource lawyer William (Bill) Schroeder, she determined to use her skills to defend water rights and make a difference in the endless quest for clean and plentiful water for food, fiber and consumers. She started law school at the age of 32 joining her brothers John and Alan and sister Katherine in the law profession in 1987.

In the 23 years since joining the bars of Oregon, then Idaho, Nevada and Washington, Laura Schroeder and her firm have served over 500 farmers, ranchers, individuals and municipalities, establishing and defending water quantity and quality . A few of her many clients share their stories in a dedicated section of this web site.

International Scope

Laura Schroeder has recently accepted an assignment with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (United Nations) to help an Irrigation and Drainage Policy in the Republic of Armenia. Ms. Schroeder earlier succeeded in work with USAID (U.S. State Department) to assist the Republic of Armenia in drafting and adopting a modern water code after traveling more than five times to Yerevan, Armenia. While there, the Internet has provided effective access to documents and email as well as telephonic communications so that she can easily maintain contact with colleagues and clients at home.

Some Notes About Water

All signs point to a growing water crisis that will only worsen in the coming decades. World population, now at 6 billion, is estimated to hit 9 billion by 2050. California will jump from today's 34 million to at least 50 million at the same time. The United Nations estimates that at our current usage rates, almost 3 billion people will face severe water shortages by 2025.

Fortune Magazine calls water the oil of the 21st century: "the precious commodity that determines the wealth of nations." The Central Intelligence Agency says that by 2015, access to drinking water could be a major source of international conflict around the world.

Of the world's water supply, only 1 percent is usable for domestic purposes, (i.e., household and agriculture). The rest is either salt water or locked up in ice caps.

New Client Conference Policy: One Hour Free Consultation for Water-Related Matters

Schroeder Law Offices offers one free hour of consultation on any water related matter. For details, see New Client Conference Policy.

All You've Been Asking About Water Law: June 2

Laura Schroeder's popular Water Law Bootcamp was last presented June 2, 2010. Watch this page for announcements of future presentations. Click here for details and typical agenda.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thinking about contacting Schroeder Law Offices but want to know more? See our FAQs page.

Water Law Presentations and Classes

Schroeder Law Offices staff offer a wide variety of presentations and classes for conventions, association meetings and educational events. See our presentations page.