Animal Law and Policy

2 units

Animal law is a rapidly developing field involving practice in torts, property, constitutional, family, nonprofit, and criminal law, among others. This course is designed to provide students with practical legal experience through the use of simulations, including negotiations, mediations, trial practice, briefings, motion practice, and advocacy. The class will also include guest speakers. Class topics will focus on the special status of animals in the law, philosophical underpinnings of the legal treatment of animals, and the role of advocacy in advancing animal law throughout history. This course will be taught by a civil rights litigator and will help students practice litigation-related techniques applicable in any legal field. Students who do not expect to practice animal law (the instructor did not think he would either) are welcome. Students will be encouraged to participate actively and respectfully in class discussions regarding controversial topics and contribute their views to the conversation. Grading will be numeric and will be based on participation in class (15%); in-class exercises and a final research brainstorm project (35%); and a law school exam (50%).