Top Law Schools

So this question come to mind mostly just because I was just hanging out with my dog (see avatar), and not because this is really something I am exceptionally interested in, but are there law schools/programs that are tailored for people going into things like animal rights?

I know organizations from the ASPCA to PETA have lawyers that work for them, so I am wondering where they get started at.

Random, I know. I think this question would go in this forum. If not, to the mods, I apologize, please move if necessary.

Law schools are not tailored to particular practice areas at all. The best law schools are the best at placing law students in all relevant fields of law. There are almost no legal jobs in animal rights. You should not go to law school if this is your only interest in the law. You will be much better served fighting for animal rights without a JD. Also, it appears your dog considers those boxers he has on to be a flagrant violation of his animal rights.

There are schools that have specialties of all sorts, and these are ranked in USNWR and everything.

However, these rankings are mostly meaningless. Organizations like PETA need litigators, and what they look for are the best/most dedicated litigators they can get. This often translates to 1) attorneys from the top law schools and 2) attorneys with great job experience. And #2 can often be traced back to #1.

(Note: The ASPCA only employs a small staff of lawyers to serve as in-house counsel, and does not engage in legal representation, instead referring people to the Animal Legal Defense Fund or other resources. Thus, the odds of getting employment with the ASPCA are extremely low, just because of the small number of opportunities there.)

Bronte wrote:Law schools are not tailored to particular practice areas at all. The best law schools are the best at placing law students in all relevant fields of law. There are almost no legal jobs in animal rights. You should not go to law school if this is your only interest in the law. You will be much better served fighting for animal rights without a JD.

This is also true. I was just looking through the ALDF attorneys, and they really don't employ their own attorneys, instead relying on the pro bono work of litigators as well as enforcement efforts from local/state prosecutors. Most people who do "animal rights" work today appear to only be doing it part-time as an aside to their real job. There's almost no full-time jobs there.

Interesting. Thanks to all. My curiousity has been satisfied.

Check out Lewis & Clark

vanwinkle wrote:

Bronte wrote:Law schools are not tailored to particular practice areas at all. The best law schools are the best at placing law students in all relevant fields of law. There are almost no legal jobs in animal rights. You should not go to law school if this is your only interest in the law. You will be much better served fighting for animal rights without a JD.

This is also true. I was just looking through the ALDF attorneys, and they really don't employ their own attorneys, instead relying on the pro bono work of litigators as well as enforcement efforts from local/state prosecutors. Most people who do "animal rights" work today appear to only be doing it part-time as an aside to their real job. There's almost no full-time jobs there.

Ya ALDF probably has firms on call with plenty of eager junior associates willing to get some pro bono hours. Best way to do stuff like this is go to the best school you can, get a biglaw job, and do some pro bono.

There's probably less than 10 total entry level "animal rights law" jobs that require a JD, if that, for every 45k law students that graduate every year.