Animal Law is a broad field encompassing all the laws related to non-human animals in our society including both wild and domesticated animals.  Animal Law is related to many other areas of law such as property law, environmental law, and criminal law.  Animal Law considerations are also found in laws related to trade, zoning and land use, agriculture, intellectual property, torts, insurance, and even trusts and estates.  Developments in Animal Law also track closely with other social, scientific, and economic movements involving shifting paradigms of what is acceptable and how this is reflected by changes in the law over time. 

What does the Animal Law Society at Duke Law School do?

The Duke Law School Animal Law Society (ALS) is dedicated to providing a forum for education, discussion, and scholarship in the field of animal law for students at the law school.  Furthermore, the ALS is dedicated to helping Duke Law School students explore ways of incorporating the practice of animal law into their legal careers after law school.  The activities of the Animal Law Society shall include, but not be limited to: 

• hosting speakers and holding panel discussions on current issues in animal law;
• carrying out legal research projects related to animal law;
• networking with a community of people interested in the field of animal law; and
• encouraging law students to become involved in animal welfare issues in their community.

Planned Events for 2008-2009

• Welcome Meeting – After a year-long hiatus, ALS is hosting an exciting lunch event. Come grab a hummus wrap, listen to North Carolina animal law practitioner Calley Gerber discuss her practice, and find out how you can get involved in ALS.
• April 8, 2009 - 12:15 in Room 4042

Resources and Internet Links of Interest

• Duke Law Resources
• Animal Law Project at Duke Law School
• Courses at Duke Law School:
• Animal Law 338
• Animal Law Clinic 403
• American Bar Association Resources on Animal Law
• Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
  Endangered Species Committee
• Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
  Animal Law Committee
• Publications from the American Bar Association
• Hot Practice:  Animal law grows in stature, offering new opportunities, Student Lawyer, March 2006 (Vol. 34, No. 7)
• Introduction to the Trial and Insurance Practice Section Animal Law Committee, Tort Source, Spring 2005 (Vol. 7, No. 3)
• What Lawyers and Judges Should Know About The Link Between Child Abuse and Animal Cruelty, ABA Child Law Practice, June 1998

Animal Law Society Officers

Co-chairs:  Halerie Mahan and Tara Brennan

Technology Coordinator:  David Fry

Faculty Advisor:  Professor William Reppy