Courses
The number of law schools in the U.S. and abroad offering animal law courses is constantly growing. While the exact number is always shifting, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) offers a promising data point: “There are 167 law schools in the U.S. and Canada, and 11 in Australia and New Zealand, that have offered a course in animal law.” A major trend in animal law education is the increasing variety of specialized courses that are now being offered on a regular basis. More law schools are expanding their curricula to include courses focused on wildlife, farmed animals, companion animals, undercover animal investigations, endangered species, aquatic animals, animal rights, animal ethics, and animal policy. These courses are often added because students advocate for them—ALDF Student Chapters are frequently the driving force behind these efforts. For example, Colorado Law’s ALDF Student Chapter played a key role in getting a brand-new course, Special Topics Seminar on Animal Welfare, added to the curriculum and in finding a new professor to teach Wildlife Law, which hadn’t been offered in years.
Beyond coursework, students also have unique opportunities to get involved in animal law scholarship, whether by serving on the board of or publishing an article with an animal law journal. Some of the leading publications in the field include Lewis & Clark Law School’s Animal Law Review, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law’s Journal of Animal and Environmental Law, and Michigan State University’s Animal and Natural Resource Law Review.
Degrees
More students are going to law school specifically to pursue a career in animal law, and some are even making complete career changes to follow this path. Interest and passion for the field just keep growing. To meet this demand and prepare future animal law attorneys and policymakers, more law schools are offering Animal Law Concentrations and Certificates (e.g., Lewis & Clark, VLGS, University of Denver), Animal Law LL.M. degrees (Lewis & Clark and VLGS), and Master’s degrees (e.g., New York University, VLGS, Lewis & Clark). Many of these programs are even more accessible now, with some schools offering both remote and in-person options. These degrees attract students who are eager to immerse themselves in animal law courses and clinics while building the knowledge and skills they need to become strong advocates for animals.
Clinics
The first animal law-focused clinic, the Animal Rights Law Clinic, was started by Gary Francione at Rutgers Law School where it operated from 1990 to 2000. Since then, many law schools have developed unique clinical experiences for their students, offering a variety of animal-focused clinics across the country. Some of these clinics include:
- Lewis & Clark Law School: Animal Law Clinic, Farm Animal Protection Project, and International Wildlife Law Clinic
- Harvard Law: Animal Law & Policy Clinic
- VLGS: Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic
- GW Law: Access to Justice - Animal Law Division
- UConn School of Law: Animal Law Clinic
- Cleveland State University School of Law: Animal Law Clinic
- UCLA Law: Dog Administrative Hearings Clinic
- University of Georgia: Practicum in Animal Welfare Skills
- Michigan State University College of Law: Animal Welfare Clinic (2017-2020)
Law schools are not the only institutions offering experiential training in animal law and advocacy. Universities like Pace University’s Animal Advocacy Clinic provide exciting opportunities for non-law students to gain hands-on experience in lobbying, drafting legislation, and participating in rulemaking.
Fellowships
Both Harvard and Yale Law School offer a variety of fellowships designed to empower students and professionals to make a real impact, build a strong community of dedicated advocates, and publish research that advances the field of animal law and policy. The Brooks Institute also supports students with fellowships like the Emerging Scholar Fellowship (2020–present) and the Animal Law LL.M. Fellowship (2023–present).
Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF)
ALDF plays a crucial role in supporting animal law programs, courses, and the students and faculty who are passionate about animal issues. They have partnered with universities like Lewis & Clark Law School, which launched CALS in 2008 and GW Law, which launched the Animal Legal Education Initiative in 2022. ALDF also offers $5,000 course grants to help establish new animal law courses at universities or to prevent existing courses from being cut. Often, courses funded by ALDF become so popular that the university decides to continue them with its own funding.
For decades, ALDF Student Chapters have been active in law schools across the country. Today, there are over 95 schools with active chapters. These chapters typically focus on raising awareness of animal issues, working with their communities, and driving change at their universities. The initiatives vary, but students always find creative ways to make an impact. Some chapters write comments on rulemaking, partner with the community to support trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs, volunteer at animal sanctuaries, raise funds for animal causes, screen documentaries, and much more.
ALDF also provides additional support for students through scholarships and conference opportunities. Since 2008, ALDF has offered the Advancement of Animal Law Scholarship to law students who are ALDF chapter members. They also offer scholarships at Lewis & Clark Law School’s CALS and North Carolina Central University School of Law. Since 2017, ALDF has organized the ALDF Student Convention, where students can present their scholarship, network with other students nationwide, and gain professional skills through panels and workshops.
Conclusion
Despite some challenges like limited funding and shifting university priorities, the growth of animal law programs, courses, and clinics over the past two decades is a significant achievement. Dedicated university animal law programs highlight the field's expansion, while specialized courses and advanced degrees reflect the growing demand for animal law education. ALDF’s support and student advocacy have been instrumental in these developments, helping shape the next generation of animal law attorneys. As interest in the field continues to rise, the future of animal law education looks promising, with stronger advocacy for animals, the environment, and humans—as we are all interconnected.
