The Career Landscape of Animal Law
The field of animal law has grown tremendously in the past few decades. More and more people, both in the United States and abroad, have recognized the intrinsic value of all living things. Whether people arrive at this conclusion through reasoned arguments spanning hundreds of pages or through personal experiences with animals of all types – whether pets or wildlife – we are beginning to see the widespread adoption of the view that animals matter for reasons beyond their utility to humans. This recognition has resulted in an astonishingly rich and diverse array of legal practice opportunities. In fact, as far as we can determine, there is no other area of law in which so many opportunities for practice have opened up in such a relatively short period of time.
This section introduces the reader to opportunities in what is often referred to as animal law , animal legal defense work, and animal law advocacy. A lot of people who work in non-profit settings are working extraordinarily hard and some even full-time around the clock yet receive little compensation (and no benefits at all). On the other hand, in recent years there have been a number of law school graduates who have gone through animal law clinics, interned with animal legal defense and advocacy organizations, or worked for private law firms with animal law practices who have come to have flourishing and rewarding career paths. Further, there has been a corresponding increase in opportunities for attorneys who wish to work on animal law issues within their existing firms or elsewhere. The possibilities are enormous and so are the rewards for those who pursue them.
Animal Law Job Specializations
The vast majority of animal law jobs fall within one of a few broad categories: animal rights attorney, animal law researcher, animal law policy advocate, and compliance officer. Some animal law attorneys focus on state-level protections for animals and their owners, while others specialize in federal legislation governing the treatment of animals in laboratories, by animal agribusiness, and in other settings. For example, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), regulates the treatment of most animals used by dealers, animal research laboratories, animal circuses, zoos, and some high-volume breeders. The AWA is supplemented on the federal level by a number of state statutes that provide additional protections for certain species. Each US state has a range of animal welfare statutes, too.
Some animal law attorneys focus on litigation, and others on legislative advocacy. Additionally, some attorneys work in enforcement (e.g., for the USDA) and others work solely for nonprofit animal protection organizations. Animal rights and animal welfare attorneys also practice corporate law, advising businesses on actions to take with respect to animals they use. Firms like this offer full-time positions for attorneys interested in working in the area of animal law, as well as opportunities for pro bono legal work.
Research on animal laws and public policy is another important part of animal law and policy. Nonprofit organizations such as the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Animal Law Coalition publish a number of journals and position papers detailing animal legal protections in each state. Scholarships open to students pursuing an advanced degree in animal law typically require students to analyze a specific area of concern for animals owned by humans and to propose a plan for the improvement of legal protections.
Many other types of organizations also employ animal law research and policy experts, though, including universities, private firms, and corporations. The largest employers of animal law policy researchers include the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. These federal government organizations are responsible for the regulation of many different areas of animal welfare in the United States.
Lastly, while a career in animal law typically requires a law degree, there is an increasing number of positions in animal advocacy that do not require a JD. For instance, a number of nonprofits offer full-time or contract positions to compliance officers who work primarily with animal shelters to ensure that animals taken in by the shelter are treated humanely. Other nonprofits hire policy advocates to coordinate lobbying efforts.
In addition to these full-time jobs, law students can find summer internships with animal law nonprofits, research institutes, and law firms that specialize in animal law. Internships with the federal government and the Earth Island Institute’s Ecological Advocacy International (EAI) are also available, and some law schools offer clinical opportunities in animal law.
Qualifications and Skills for Animal Law Positions
Academic requirements for animal law practitioners will vary depending on the type of job and skills needed to do the work associated with the job. The first consideration is what kind of student you are. Are you a person who learns best by studying facts, taking the test and then going on to the next subject? If so, then basic animal law courses will help provide you with the background needed when choosing your own path. Most of the American Bar Association law schools have classes on animal law. The Animal Legal Defense Fund keeps track of these offerings. You can find them by going to relocaf.org and searching for a school of interest.
Some of the basic courses of importance are animal law, environmental law, property law (particularly as it applies to animals), family law, torts, criminal law, business law, contracts, real estate, and social justice.
For other students, they may need to learn animal law background by taking it piecemeal over time or by taking a number of elective courses within one semester or another. Whatever the method you choose, consider that taking study guides and having a big overview of all the areas of law is very helpful. That way, you will know areas of study that will need to be tied into specific career roles later.
Finding ways to enhance your resume while in law school and upon graduation is a vital requirement these days. Some examples may include shadowing attorneys or judges, doing clerkships or internships, seeking out pro bono work opportunities upon graduation or working for non-profits part-time while working in another field.
There are also a significant number of non-law degree programs that offer animal law as part of their curriculum. You may want to begin looking for the right opportunity as early as possible so you can determine whether or not you have the educational needs you will face.
On a more empirical level, those pursuing animal law will need to acquire each skill along the way. Most of these are acquired through work, volunteerism and experiential learning. Some of the most important skills are analytical reasoning, articulation, budgeting, civil rights issues, commercial law, constitutional law, criminal law, discrimination, dispute resolution, environmental law, leases and rentals, lobbying, negotiation, public interest advocacy, social justice, torts, and workplace law.
Duties and Expectations of Animal Law Jobs
The duties of professionals working in animal law often intersect, and the specifics vary based on the employer. For example, an attorney with a large national firm and an interest in animal law may serve as outside general counsel for the Humane Society of the United States while devoting pro bono time to certain client matters. The advocacy work may not be the predominant job function, but it is present.
For those who seek careers solely in animal law, it is important to be aware of scope of responsibility. Some common duties performed by professionals in animal law and animal law-related jobs include: Generally, the animal law professional is advocating for animal rights and protections through a policy lens. The evolution of animal law as an academic discipline, and as a profession, has led to a greater emphasis on the development of animal welfare laws and regulations that incorporate and enhance the protection of animals, and the roles of human beings in fulfilling that charge. Animal law and animal advocacy are not just limited to high-profile litigation matters or work on behalf of specific animal protection groups. The field of animal law is now broad, encompassing both professionals who work for organizations that advocate for animals and those who work in private practice or in government, where animal law provides a discrete area of legal specialization.
Opportunities and Obstacles in Animal Law Careers
Challenges and Opportunities in Animal Law
Regardless of the professional animal law path chosen, there are challenges. The practice of animal law in private firms requires significant effort to convince clients that animal agriculture, animal research, and commercial animal enterprises have significant legal needs that require the specialized services most attorneys are not equipped to provide. The practice of animal law in a government or public interest capacity requires the ability to efficiently and effectively navigate the often slow machinery of change within state and federal legislatures that timorously consider new laws and regulations. For those teaching animal law the challenge is to educate the next generation of legal professionals, while being permitted to approach each topic with the same fervor they possessed when entering the field.
But the challenges are not unique to a particular professional path. The challenge of bringing about meaningful change in public policy to improve animal welfare is a herculean one. Stateles are often poorly drafted, archaically interpreted, and actively undermined by administrative regulations. Protections for farmed animals are especially limited, leaving farmed animals as the most victimized group of all. The regulatory boards that govern the practices of veterinarians, physicians , and scientists are often opposed to protecting animals at their hands, through revisions to existing regulations, license rules, and ethical guidelines.
Yet, in the face of such challenges, there are numerous opportunities to effectuate change. The administrative agencies in the United States responsible for overseeing the treatment of animals and the conservation of our natural resources can be pressed to impose particular regulations, interpret the laws in the light most favorable to animal welfare, and dedicate resources to enforcing existing laws. Animal advocacy groups can provide the necessary political connections to identify the right people to speak to or who to befriend in the very agencies with a direct impact on animal welfare.
Academics can become advocates for stronger legal protections for animals by publishing and reviewing scholarly articles and books; teaching and organizing internships, externships, and fellowships that prepare students to enter the field, and sitting on academic committees to ensure that the next generation of attorneys are adequately educated and can hit the ground running in a rapidly developing field.
Whatever the avenue pursued, there exists within the field of animal law a remarkable camaraderie among practitioners, teachers, and activists who are driven to make the world a little better for animals.
Navigating a Career in Animal Law
Getting started in animal law is not as straightforward as one might hope. Many law schools don’t offer animal law courses, and only a handful have robust animal law programs. As a result, students interested in pursuing careers in animal law must be creative in identifying and pursuing opportunities that will allow them to specialize in the field.
One way to get your feet wet in animal law is to work with farmed or companion animals at the student level while you’re in law school. Many schools offer student organizations and clubs focused on animal law, and getting involved in these organizations is a great start. You might even consider starting an animal law organization at your school if one doesn’t exist. In addition, animal law courses or clinics may be offered at your school. For example, Harvard offers an animal law course, and Vermont has an animal law clinic.
If your school doesn’t offer animal law courses, many schools allow students to take classes at other schools. For example, Penn (in Philadelphia) allows its students to take classes at Temple (also in Philadelphia), and homeless students from Drexel (also in Philadelphia) may enroll in courses at Penn. You also might consider taking classes over the summer at a nearby school whose curriculum overlaps with your interests.
You might also want to consider working during law school at an externship or job in an animal-related field, such as working at a veterinary practice, animal rescue group, or animal sanctuary. You also can network with animal-related legal practitioners in the area where you plan to teach, network with your professors, and ask them to connect you with other animal-related legal practitioners in the field.
The Future of Animal Law
Future trends in animal law will likely follow the same trajectory of many other social movements: more heightened awareness and concern across the general public as more people learn about the various ways in which animals have been exploited and over-crowded and the impact it has had on their lives. These trends include both interest in civil and criminal legal issues facing animals, which will ultimately prompt more reform at the legislative level. As animals are increasingly viewed as sentient beings capable of emotional intelligence, there will also be a growing public demand to create and strengthen legal protections for them as individuals.
The impact of technology on protecting animals will also likely be an area of growth. We already know that surveillance video is the best evidence in many cases, whether they be prosecutions or civil cases. Social media is also already a big part of the animal reform movement. In the future, virtual reality could provide a whole new way of learning about the suffering that animals face. For example, a person might step into a 3D world and virtually walk around a factory farm where animals are crammed together in a concrete shed, without first having to learn that "animal agriculture" is harmful to animals . Virtual reality could allow shelter animals to interact with more potential adopters in a closer, more personal way than traditional meet and greets. The possibilities are endless. And in case you think that no one would be willing to buy such technologies, keep in mind that just last year Facebook purchased Oculus for $2 billion. There’s money to be made in this new frontier.
Another new frontier in Animal law is animal law enforcement. Local animal control officers are not required to be trained in animal welfare law or cruelty investigations and many are the very individuals who were under-educated about these issues to begin with. Instead of getting more education to properly do their jobs, many are still under-educated and feel that it is their job to promote animal education and responsible pet ownership, or they act to perpetuate the status quo by acting in concert with problematic shelters and agencies to help reduce the number of animals they have to deal with. Increasing the caliber of animal control officers through mandatory training could do much to help more animals in need and improve the perception of animal control professionals who are victims of negative stereotypes and criticism when it’s really their supervisors, cities and counties—not the front-line officers—who really do not care.