Center for Animal Law Studies

Animal Law LL.M. Candidate ’19

Judy Muriithi is a recipient of our International Advocates Animal Law LL.M. Scholarship and comes from Kenya. Before joining the LL.M. program, Judy practiced law for over three years after receiving her LL.B. from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She left an active practice started in Mombasa, Kenya, to join WildlifeDirect. WildlifeDirect is a non-profit organization that strives to keep an eye on how wildlife cases are prosecuted in Kenya through their “eyes in the courtroom” project. They also offer prosecutorial support to prosecutors and investigators during the pendency of the trial. At WildlifeDirect, Judy worked in the Investigative Legal Department responsible for prosecuting seizure cases and other criminal activities related to wildlife. She also undertook extensive research on the general trends and developments in the prosecution of wildlife crime cases by courts in Kenya which was instrumental to the government agencies involved in formulating policies related to wildlife protection.

Judy came to Lewis & Clark to increase her knowledge and expand her understanding of using novel and creative ways to transform prosecutions of wildlife cases in Kenya. Ideally, Judy will return to Kenya with her legal knowledge and continue her efforts to make a direct, positive impact on behalf of all animals. She hopes to build and secure a professional career that seeks to make strides towards her goal of integrating animal law into the training of law students and attorneys as well as law practice.