ANIMAL LAW AT GW

Animal Law Litigation Project

A partnership between George Washington University Law School and The Humane Society of the United States to provide GW law students hands-on animal law litigation experience.

Placement at The HSUS

Students interested in Animal Law will gain practical litigation experience at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 8.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS is involved in more than two dozen active animal and environmental protection cases throughout the country, including actions to protect whales, dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife, and to improve the treatment of farmed animals, performing animals, and animals used in research. The HSUS is on the cutting edge of legal issues relating to animals world-wide. Students are directly supervised at the HSUS by Jonathan Lovvorn, Vice President of Animal Protection Litigation, HSUS, and adjunct professor who co-teaches the Animal Law & Wildlife Protection Seminar. Enrollment for 2-4 credits per semester is available.

Co-requisite Seminar at GW

All students must also register for the co-requisite seminar, Law 426, Public Law Seminar: Animal Law Lawyering which provides an in-depth, practical treatment of animal law litigation in state and federal courts. The course addresses the nature of public interest law and animal protection lawyering; explores ethical issues confronting students and lawyers; discusses the development and nature of strategic public-interest litigation; describes the investigation and construction of a public interest case; explains the limits of public and private enforcement of the law; addresses the problem of standing for citizens seeking to enforce the law; analyzes successful and unsuccessful past cases concerning captive and companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife; discusses available injunctive and monetary remedies; and explores innovative uses of existing laws to expand legal protection of animals. This 2-credit, graded course is co-taught by Professor Schaffner and Mr. Lovvorn.