Pet Trusts: A Primer
In recognition of the tragedies that can befall pets following their owners’ incapacity or death, pet trusts have become an increasingly common facet of estate planning.
GPSolo January/February 2025 (42:1): Animal Law
Volume 42, Issue 1
Features
Untangling Pet Custody in Ownership Disputes
The legal status of animals as property plays a significant role in how animal custody cases are handled by the courts, but the emotional component of these cases cannot be ignored.
Pet Custody Battles for Abuse Survivors
Helping domestic violence clients win pet custody of animals that have themselves been abused in the home is lifesaving work.
Dog-on-Dog Attacks and the Law: Advice for Counseling Clients
Practitioners in this field must investigate the factors that led up to the dog-on-dog attack, including investigating the role of the victim, and then filter those facts through the appropriate stat…
Legal Battles Against Animal Abuse, Puppy and Kitten Mills, and Other Inhumane Activities
Federal, state, and local laws have been enacted to protect animals from cruelty, but enforcement has been inconsistent at best and nonexistent in many cases.
Equine Law for Non-Horse People
The area of equine law can be difficult to succeed in if you have no prior horse experience. But there are resources out there that can help you.
Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals vs. Therapy Animals: Training and Regulations
This article breaks down the regulations regarding service animals, clarifies what makes a service animal different from other types of assistance animals, and explores the challenges trainers and ha…
Travel Regulations for Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and Pets
Whether you are traveling with a pet, an emotional support animal, or a service animal as defined by the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is important to…
The ADA and Certification Scams for Service and Emotional Support Animals
This article explores the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rules regarding service and emotional support animals, what an animal must do to qualify as a service animal, and the truth behind cert…
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fight Against Global Wildlife Trafficking
What was once a local or regional problem has become a global crisis as increasingly sophisticated and violent criminal organizations have branched into wildlife trafficking.
The Fall of Chevron: Commercial Fishermen Reel in Administrative Agencies
For 40 years, the Chevron Doctrine was the law of the land. Then, a group of North Atlantic commercial herring fishers reeled in this decades-long deference to administrative agencies with Loper Brig…
Buying and Selling a Solo Law Practice: A Hands-On Guide
Buying or selling a solo law practice is a nuanced process. The key is to view the practice as a collection of assets—including the client list, website, firm reputation, and more—that can be careful…
Columns
Limitless Professional Opportunities with Your Legal Degree
Your juris doctor provides endless professional opportunities, and those opportunities do not end once you graduate, pass the bar, or establish a long record of legal practice.
Animal Law for Solos and Small Firms
Once considered niche, animal law now commands attention across a wide array of practice areas, including family law, environmental law, estate planning, and criminal justice.
GPSolo Nominating Committee Report
The Committee presents its candidate for the office of Division Secretary and five candidates to serve as Council Members-at-Large.
Ready Resources in Animal Law
Check out these American Bar Association books and web resources on topics related to animal law.
Writing with the Help of AI
By leveraging AI tools when preparing letters, contracts, memoranda, or briefs, you can improve your grammar, enhance readability, generate content, and receive personalized feedback.
Navigating the Waters of a Solo Practice
This article will help you learn what it takes to sail solo and decide whether solo practice is a good fit for you.
A Bluesky Primer for Lawyers
Bluesky is emerging as a promising alternative to X (previously Twitter), offering a space for meaningful conversations and professional engagement.
How Building Community Can Help You Succeed as a Solo Attorney
You owe it to yourself and your clients to build a solid and trusted network of lawyers and other professionals from whom you can draw and to whom you can lend support.
Issue Editors
Alexandra Graves and Valencia Herrera (convening issue editors), Curt Brown, David C. Donald, Ashley Hallene, Elizabeth Kelly Meyers, Kimberly Russell, Randi Brent Starrett. Consultant: Alana Song
GPSolo magazine, January/February 2025 (42:1): Animal Law