How to Start an Animal Law Class at Your School

The following are a few steps to starting an animal law course at your law school. A list of schools currently offering a class in animal law can be found here.

• Schedule a meeting with the Dean of Academic Affairs to determine requirements for adding a new course to the curriculum.
• Collaborate with other students interested in animal law. Consider starting an Animal Legal Defense Fund student chapter at your school.
• Sponsor student events to generate interest in animal law.
• Identify and discuss animal law with faculty and/or adjunct faculty members who have an interest in teaching such a course offering. Be prepared to suggest interested instructors to the law school administration.
• Petition the law school administration to add animal law to the curriculum. This may include a formal proposal for the administration or submission of a student body petition.
• View a sample petition. (PDF)
• While working to add an animal law course to the curriculum at your school, you can educate yourself and other students interested in this dynamic field of law by starting an animal law reading group! The Animal Legal Defense Fund has course guides for farmed animal law, companion animal law, and wildlife law that you can use to help structure your group and decide what to read and discuss. Please contact us to request a copy of these guides, and for other resources to assist you in getting a course added at your school.