1. How did you become involved in the animal protection movement?
My advocacy began in junior high school.  As I learned more about more about the lives of animals, and particularly farmed animals, I became more involved.   I started with becoming vegetarian, then vegan, and started or joined animal rights groups throughout high school and college.  I was also very involved in the environmental movement growing up, and worked in the environmental field a bit after college.  As an activist, I realized that I would be more effective working on the inside and was drawn to law to try to create broad scale policy changes.  Lewis & Clark Law School was a natural draw for me because of its reputation in environmental law and it offered the most animal law opportunities (plus, it is located in beautiful Portland, Oregon).  In law school, I was director of the school’s animal law student group, organized three animal law conferences, and was Editor in Chief of the Animal Law Review.  That involvement led me to my current career path in animal law.

2. As the executive director of the National Center for Animal Law, can you tell us about its functions and why was it established?
The National Center for Animal Law was established in 2001 to encourage and support animal law students and student organizations. We recognized the need to develop resources to assist students pursing a career in (or involving) animal law. Since animal law is a relatively new field of practice and study, the Center strives to create and promote connections between animal law students and professionals throughout the country, to assist efforts in forming, sustaining, and improving student organizations and animal law curriculum, and to provide worthwhile and educational trainings and programs to encourage the development of skills necessary to be an effective legal advocate for animals. We also provide financial resources to help alleviate the substantial burden of law school loans.

The Center provides support for current animal law students through competitions, conferences, an online database of internship and employment opportunities, a career guide, and scholarships for upper division students. The Center organizes local and regional animal law workshop for students designed to meet their specific interests and goals.

There are a number of resources for those interested in learning more about the field of animal law including a calendar of events, recommended readings, links to current news articles, and links to a variety of advocacy organizations, attorneys, and online resources.

While housed at Lewis & Clark Law School with a primary goal of establishing a model program in animal law at our school, we support students and administration at all law schools.


3. How do you think that legal change can best be effected- through education, the courts or legislation?
I believe all avenues are critically important.  Personally, I am professionally involved in efforts in all of these areas, and the Center provides opportunities for students to gain the skills necessary to be effective advocates for animals through education, litigation, and legislation.


4. Looking back, what are some of the highlights of your involvement with the National Center for Animal Law so far?
We have grown tremendously over the last five years and each new program and event is exciting, knowing that they are designed to help guide students into animal law careers. It has been amazing to meet prospective students searching for the best way to pursue a career to protect animals; to have the great fortune to get to know them through conferences, competitions, and other events; then to see them enter the field of animal law. 

5. Can you tell us about the National Animal Advocacy Competitions?
In order to raise the profile of the academic discipline of animal law, and to provide students the opportunity to develop their legal writing and oral advocacy skills, the Center developed the National Animal Advocacy Competitions. The Center organizes a number of annual competitions at law schools around the country, hosting them with the school’s student organizations.  The first competitions were the Animal Law Moot Court and Closing Argument Competitions held at Harvard Law School in 2004.  Each year, the competitions have expanded and now include Animal Law Mock Trial and Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competitions.  Hundreds of students have learned from experts in the field including judges, legislators, lobbyists, and litigators about how to be a voice for animals in the legal system.

6. What career opportunities are there for animal lawyers in the United States?
Because animal law is based on “traditional” areas of law, there are a number of ways that attorneys may incorporate animal law into their careers full-time, part-time, through pro bono efforts, or a combination.  Many lawyers become professors, authors, lobbyists, policy analysts, and board members or staff members of nonprofits organizations. Practicing attorneys have joined litigation departments of organizations (such as The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Protection Institute, and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), have established animal law practices, or coupled animal law with other areas of practice including estate planning, family law, personal injury, or transactional work.   There is not a lack of work in animal law, and anyone who is motivated to enter the field will find there are numerous opportunities to use their degrees to help nonhuman animals.

7. In additional to acting as executive director of the National Center for Animal Law, you provide ‘animal law consultancy services’. You are also the professor of the Animal Law Clinic.  Can you tell us about your work in these areas?
Although there is a great demand for animal lawyers, many times attorneys are reluctant to take animal law cases for lack of resources or experience in the area.  The Center is there to help provide necessary resources including legal research, sample pleadings and motions, and I may co-counsel cases. 

I also have the privilege of working with six students throughout the year in the Animal Law Clinic.  We support organizations and attorneys and file cases in Oregon (where I am licensed to practice).  Students are able to learn the nuts and bolts of animal law practice and we are able to provide a number of resources for our community.   

Although it is sometimes frustrating to have to work within the current system of animals as property, we have a great opportunity in the Clinic to attempt to advance the laws without such great concern for the financial implications (since we are funded by donations and foundations).

8. Do you have any words of wisdom to share with Australia's budding animal lawyers?
It may take some creativity, time, and perseverance, but the animals need students and attorneys to follow their hearts and find individual ways to contribute to advancing legal protections for animals. Take advantage of the amazing community of attorneys around the world who care about advancing legal protections for animals—get involved in organizations, seek out advice from experienced attorneys, and mentor the next generation.  You only live once—make it count.