Animal Law at Penn

Penn Law has spent the past four years establishing itself as a leader in Animal Law. In 2005, Penn also initiated an annual seminar class in Animal Law and Ethics. The class explores both the current state of animal law at the state and federal level including anticruelty laws, the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act, among others, as well as the philosophical and ethical reasons for considering a different approach to our view of animals as property.Finally, in keeping with Penn’s unsurpassed commitment to pro bono service, students formed the Animal Law Project (“ALP”). ALP assists nonprofit organizations needing research and analysis of issues of animal law while developing practical lawyering skills for interested students. Many students who volunteer with ALP are surprised to learn that animal law frequently involves the application of the same principles of constitutional, contract, property and tort law they learn in first year law classes. Applying these principles to real life problems involving animals builds the skills they will need no matter what their ultimate career choice may be. ALP also holds free educational events to provide vital information to those on the front lines of animal and environmental advocacy.   As our demand for animals as food continues to grow with population growth, creating complex problems – including ethical dilemmas, environmental pressures, and socioeconomic issues — and increasing consumption of land and energy threatens ever growing numbers of species with their very existence, thoughtful analysis of existing law and policy issues is of the utmost importance not only to animals but to everyone. Together, the seminar, JALE and ALP demonstrate Penn Law’s commitment to be at the forefront of the advancement of both thought and action on these significant issues.