Need proof that Animal Law has become mainstream in the legal world?
Look no further than Harvard Law School, venue for the 13th annual National Animal Law Competitions next month.
NALC provides law students from across the United States
an opportunity to develop knowledge in the field of animal law
while honing their written and oral advocacy skills.
Sponsored by the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark in collaboration with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, it attracts law students from around the country who participate in one of three competitions. Read more about the competition; a detailed description of the legal issues being addressed in the three different rounds; and this year’s judges (prominent animal law attorneys and “real” judges from federal courts).
Each year there are different problems presented, designed to address the varied range of topical issues in animal law. This year’s Appellate Moot Court problem involves captive wildlife and the scope of government regulation when an animal is transported interstate; the Closing Argument competitors will argue a criminal case involving the death of a ferret who was the companion of a special needs child; and the students involved in Legislative Drafting & Lobbying will work on state legislation to ban private ownership of exotic animals. .
AFA takes special interest in the NALCs. For the second year, board member Kate Brindle
will be competing. In 2015 she took home second place honors nationally in the Appellate Moot Court competition. This year she will again be participating in the Moot Court competition with a fellow MSU College of Law student.
In addition, AFA provide a partial scholarship to the three law students from Michigan who competed in the 2015 NALCs.