Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Jonathan Lovvorn

J.D. Practicum 567 | 4 credit hours

This seminar explores the process of animal protection litigation in an effort to better understand the status and treatment of animals in the courts. Focusing on both reported cases and actions now pending before state and federal courts, the seminar will address the complex nature of litigation concerning animals; explore the unique ethical issues confronting lawyers practicing animal law; discuss the development and nature of strategic animal protection litigation; describe the investigation and construction of animal protection cases; explore the limits of public and private enforcement of animal laws; analyze successful and unsuccessful past cases concerning captive and companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife; discuss available injunctive and monetary remedies; and explore innovative uses of existing laws to expand legal protection of animals.

Prerequisites: Students must complete the required first-year program prior to enrolling in this course (part-time and interdivisional transfer students may enroll prior to completing Criminal Justice, Property, or their first-year elective).

Students may not concurrently enroll in this practicum and an externship or a clinic (except Street Law) or another practicum course.

Students who wish to receive credit for the Externship Seminar and a practicum course that has the same field placement may do so only if: (1) the practicum course is taken in a semester following the Externship Seminar; and (2) the student receives permission from the Assistant or the Associate Dean for Clinical Programs. To receive such permission, the student must explain in writing how the practicum course field work would serve substantially different learning goals than did their externship field placement.

THIS IS A PRACTICUM COURSE.

This is a 4 credit course. 2 credits will be awarded for the 2-hour weekly seminar and 2 credits for approximately 10 hours of supervised work per week, for a minimum of 11 weeks, to be scheduled with the faculty. The supervised work must be completed during normal business hours. The seminar portion will be graded. The 2 credits of supervised work is mandatory pass/fail and counts toward the 7 credit pass/fail limit. Students will be allowed to take another course pass/fail in the same semester as the supervised work.

Students who enroll in this course will be automatically enrolled in both the seminar and practicum components and may not take either component separately. A student wishing to withdraw from the course will be withdrawn from both the seminar and field work components.