Animal Law Litigation: Practicum

NOTE: This course description is new for the 2017-2018 academic year. You may read the prior course description immediately below this new one.

2017-2018

The class has an emphasis on animal protection legislation, but expands your understanding of what makes an effective law by analyzing and drafting legislation within the context of how the law both impacts, and is impacted by, litigation, negotiation, oral and written advocacy.  

Real world lawyering and advocacy skills will be practiced through interactive exercises, diverse writing assignments, role-playing and debate. Students will learn how to effectively and persuasively communicate in oral and written form to a variety of audiences and stakeholders, how to develop legal and political strategies to protect animals, and how to analyze, negotiate and draft legal and legislative text. Students will also explore effective trial practice, pre- and post-trial proceedings, and ethical issues from the perspectives of both prosecution and criminal defense attorneys. 

Throughout the semester, the students will gain a deeper understanding of the important interplay between legislative drafting, litigation strategy, negotiation, and policy considerations when advocating on behalf of animals.

(Maximum class size - 6 students)

NOTE: This course description is new for the 2016-2017 academic year. You may read the prior course description immediately below this new one. 

2016-2017

Limit: 4 students

A legislative legal practicum aimed at improving animal protection laws throughout the country. Participants will acquire a substantive knowledge of the legislative process through study and practical experience in the development of primarily local-level animal protection laws.

Law student participants have the unique opportunity to research, analyze, develop, and advance local legislation while working for Animal Law Strategies LLC under the guidance of legislative affairs specialist & attorney Stephan Otto. Participants may have the occasion to work on select state-level issues as well.

Equipped with the experience and skills cultivated through this practicum, participants will be better prepared for future work in government and administrative agencies, as well as to represent a variety of clients with government and public policy interests.

Participants attend and participate in weekly interactive seminars, which will cover a variety of legislative issues (including statutory construction, strategy, legislative history, preemption and conflicts, lobbying, outreach and other related topics) and include a discussion of ongoing projects. In addition, participants also spend the equivalent of 10 hours a week working on projects, both on campus and independently, to the satisfaction of the supervising attorney. Any participant missing the orientation or more than 20% of the clinic sessions may be administratively withdrawn.

Meetings & seminars take place on Friday mornings between 8:30AM and 11:00AM on campus.

Legal Practicum: Animal Law Legislation is a 4-credit (credit/no-credit) course. It satisfies the Highly Specialized and Experiential requirement, as well as the Writing Intensive Experience (WIE) requirement. Enrollment is limited and applicants for this course will be screened. Given the limitation of class size, early applications are encouraged. Primary considerations are level of interest and year in law school. Late applications may be considered based upon availability. To apply, submit a statement of interest/background (less than one-page in length) to the Registrar for consideration.

Suggested course: Animal Law

Note: Students are not compensated for work performed in connection with the legal practicum.

NOTE: This course description is new for the 2015-2016 academic year, and the title has changed. You may read the prior course description, and old title, immediately below the new one. 

2015-2016

Limit: 4 students

A legislative legal practicum aimed at improving animal protection laws throughout the country. Participants will acquire a substantive knowledge of the legislative process through study and practical experience in the development of primarily local-level animal protection laws.

Law student participants have the unique opportunity to research, analyze, develop, and advance local legislation while working for Animal Law Strategies LLC under the guidance of legislative affairs specialist & attorney Stephan Otto. Participants may have the occasion to work on select state-level issues as well.

Equipped with the experience and skills cultivated through this practicum, participants will be better prepared for future work in government and administrative agencies, as well as to represent a variety of clients with government and public policy interests.

Participants attend and participate in weekly interactive seminars, which will cover a variety of legislative issues (including statutory construction, strategy, legislative history, preemption and conflicts, lobbying, outreach and other related topics) and include a discussion of ongoing projects. In addition, participants also spend the equivalent of 8-10 hours a week working on projects, both on campus and independently, to the satisfaction of the supervising attorney. Any participant missing the orientation or more than 20% of the clinic sessions may be administratively withdrawn.

Meetings & seminars take place on Friday mornings between 8:30AM and 11:00AM on campus.

Legal Practicum: Animal Law Legislation is a 4-credit (credit/no-credit) course. The course satisfies both the seminar and professional skills requirements. Enrollment is limited and applicants for this seminar will be screened. To apply, submit a statement of interest (less than one-page in length) to the Registrar for consideration.

Suggested course: Animal Law

Note: Students are not compensated for work performed in connection with the legal practicum.

NOTE: The below course description applies to the 2014-2015 academic year.

2014-2015

Internship: Animal Law Legislation

Limit: 4 students

A legislative Internship program aimed at improving animal protection laws throughout the country. Participants will acquire a substantive knowledge of the legislative process through study and practical experience in the development of primarily local-level animal protection laws.

Law student participants have the unique opportunity to research, analyze, develop, and advance local legislation, while working as clinical interns for Animal Law Strategies under the guidance of legislative affairs specialist & attorney Stephan Otto. Participants may have the occasion to work on select state-level issues as well.

Equipped with the experience and skills gained through this program, participants will be better prepared for future work in government and administrative agencies, as well as to represent a variety of clients with government and public policy interests.

Participants attend and participate in weekly interactive seminars, which will cover a variety of legislative issues (including statutory construction, strategy, legislative history, preemption and conflicts, lobbying and other related topics) and include a discussion of ongoing projects. In addition, participants also spend the equivalent of 8-10 hours a week working on projects, both on campus and independently, to the satisfaction of the supervising attorney. Any participant missing the orientation or more than 20% of the clinic sessions may be administratively withdrawn.

Meetings & seminars take place Friday mornings between 8:30am-11:00am on campus.

Internship: Animal Law Legislation Seminar is a 4-credit (credit/no-credit) course. The course satisfies both the seminar and professional skills requirements. Enrollment is limited and applicants for this seminar will be screened. To apply, submit a statement of interest (no longer than one-page in length) to the Registrar for consideration.

Suggested course: Animal Law

Note: Students are not compensated for work performed in connection with the Internship.