Independent Study
One of the chapter's goals is to see an official animal law course added to the curriculum at Minnesota Law. While we are working to make that happen, we have an opportunity for law students to engage in thoughtful and deliberate study of animal law through a reading group with a common textbook.
This is part of an independent study pilot program from the Animal Legal Defense Fund. ALDF at UMN is one of ten participating student chapters across the nation. This is a voluntary program is for any Minnesota Law students interested in diving deeper into animal law, animal welfare, and the interdisciplinary aspects of the field.
Animal Law, Cases and Materials
Bruce Wagman, et. al. (6th ed. 2019)
The program uses this textbook, along with a digital companion guide to that covers additional content, new topics, and further reading.
Topics
For the Fall 2024 Semester, the focus of the study group will be on the topics below.
Companion Animal Law
This portion of the program will focus on companion animals (dogs, cats, and beyond) and how the law affects them.Â
WARNING: This section will include discussion of domestic animal cruelty, as well as its role as a sentinel indicator of other forms of family abuse.
Farmed Animal Law
This section will focus on farmed animals in both small and factory farms, and what legal protections and mechanisms are available to them. We will also discuss Ag-Gag laws, regulatory oversight of farmed animals, as well as other commercial uses of animals and animal products in industries like medial research, cosmetics, and fur trade.
Wildlife Law
The semester will end with a focus on wildlife law, and how human legal institutions affect nonhuman animals. This includes captive animals, like those in a zoo.
For each study topic, there will be a corresponding event hosted by ALDF. This is to create a sense of cohesion for the program and illustrate the practical implications of the law that is being studied.
You do NOT need to participate in the study group to attend the events. You also do not have to attend the events to be part of the study group. We'd love to see you at either, or both!
If you want to know more about the upcoming events, that information can be found under the "Events" tab at the top of the page.
Banner image credit: Alexander Grey on Unsplash