Tom Linney collaborates with ALDF’s Litigation and Criminal Justice Programs to assign appropriate pro bono counsel to ALDF projects and cases and is responsible for marketing ALDF’s Animal Law Pro Bono Program to interested attorneys and law firms. Tom also provides support to professors interested in teaching animal law and helps law students transitioning into the legal profession get involved in animal law. In addition, Tom has been a speaker at the national Taking Action for Animals conference and the Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark Law School. He has served as a judge at the National Animal Law Competitions and presented to state bar sections, law firms, and SALDF chapters throughout the country about ALDF and the rapidly growing field of animal law.
Tom is a graduate of The University of Texas School of Law, where he established a Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapter, successfully petitioned the school to add an animal law course, and coordinated several successful projects as SALDF President. While Tom was in law school, he gained experience working for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and an animal law practitioner. Tom also became the first student to receive a Baron & Budd Fellowship from UT Law to pursue animal protection work, and served as legislative intern for the Texas Humane Legislation Network. He is currently co-host of the radio program Animal Concerns of Texas.