The U of A School of Law and the Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter in the School of Law will host the Animal Rights Speaker Series on March 31.

First of its kind at the School of Law, the series identifies and brings a distinguished speaker or joint speakers — who possess academic expertise and/or are nationally recognized in the area of animal rights law or animal sentience — to the law school each year.

The purpose is to introduce law students and other interested parties to existing animal protection laws, animal rights, litigation techniques, animal sentience, legal research and other topics focused on serving the interests of the animals and their human advocates under present law and going forward, and to provide in-depth knowledge and forward-looking ideas on animal rights as they now exist.

This year's speaker is the Pamela Frasch, professor of law and the Brooks McCormick Jr. Scholar of Animal Law and Policy at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she founded the Center for Animal Law Studies. The center is an academic animal law program with a focus on academic research, scholarship and experiential education. The mission of the center is to educate the next generation of animal law attorneys and advance animal protection through the law.

Previously, professor Frasch served as general counsel for the Animal Legal Defense Fund and in 1996, created the ALDF Criminal Justice Program, which has since assisted law enforcement and animal advocates in investigating and prosecuting thousands of animal abuse and neglect cases nationwide.

The event will take place in the E.J. Ball Courtroom at the School of Law from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, March 31, and is open to the entire campus community.

The speaker series was created in 2022 through the generosity of Dolores Proubasta and Christopher Liner who started the Proubasta-Liner Endowed Distinguished Speaker Award.

About the School of Law: The law school offers a competitive J.D. as well as an advanced LL.M. program, which are taught by nationally recognized faculty. The school offers unique opportunities for students to participate in pro bono work, externships, live client clinics, competitions, and food and agriculture initiatives. The school strives to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impact(s) they have on students, faculty, and staff members in an effort to achieve a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. From admitting the Six Pioneers who were the first African American students to attend law school in the South without a court order to graduating governors, judges, prosecutors, and faculty who went on to become President of the United States and Secretary of State, the law school has a rich history and culture. Follow us at uarklaw.