The advice below is based on my conversations with others in the animal protection movement and people who have called or emailed over the years. It is only my opinion. Please seek out other practitioners, admission counselors, law students and professors at schools that interest you. If you would like to discuss this issue further, please feel free to contact me at (503)768-6849 or
ncal@lclark.edu.
Good luck with your decision!
Laura Ireland Moore
Executive Director
National Center for Animal Law
If you want to practice animal law, the best thing you can do is get an excellent education. You will graduate with a general Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from every law school--how you spend your time in school, summer jobs, your interests, and your first jobs will steer you into a particular practice area. However, you may change career paths and practice areas later in life maybe by changing firms or going back to school for a Master of Laws (LL.M).
It certainly benefits you to go to the best school that you can. Ranking is important, but it's not the only factor you should consider. Also look at where schools' graduates are practicing, what type of work they are doing, the cost of tuition (and consider how that will impact your life after graduation), professors (their accessibility and approachability in addition to their background and the work they do), and student body (diversity, ratio of men and women, and if you "fit").
With a law degree from any school, you will be able to do amazing things to benefit animals. I am a firm believer that if you really want to be an advocate for animals, you will figure out how to make that happen.
There are approximately 70 law schools that offer an animal law course 80 schools that have student animal law organizations--both of those lists grow every year. While you can go on to practice animal law from any school, there are benefits to attending a school with established animal law opportunities, if for no other reason than the support of other people who share your interests and passion.
Lewis & Clark Law School provides the most animal law opportunities with more than six courses, the Animal Law Review, annual animal law conference, scholarships, a year-round Animal Law Clinic, and more. If you do not attend a school with animal law opportunities you may want to consider visiting another school for a semester or a year. Lewis & Clark offers two two-week summer animal law course (in addition to a summer Endangered Species Act seminar). In addition, you may be the one to start an animal law organization or influence your school to start teaching an animal law class. Many leaders of student organizations or current animal law instructors are happy to share their experiences.
If you are unable to take an animal law course, make sure to read leading authors in animal law theory, attend conferences, read animal law articles, purchase the animal law textbook, and get as much experience as you can working with animal law attorneys and organizations.
The most important thing is to follow your heart and no matter where you go to school, you will find ways to use your legal education to benefit animals.
Resources:
Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School
Animal Law Courses
Student Organizations
Equal Justice Works
Graduate School Tips
Links to More
