GW SALDF
The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
  1. at The George Washington University Law School
 
 
The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapter at The George Washington University Law School (GW Law) is dedicated to protecting the lives and furthering the interests of animals through the legal system. By providing a forum for education, advocacy, and scholarship, SALDF seeks to advance the field of animal law.

To find out more about the field of animal law and the role GW Law and SALDF are playing, please read Legal Aid for Animals, an article written by GW Law Professor Joan Schaffner and GW Alumnus Kerry Contini. The article appeared in the September 5, 2005 issue of LegalTimes.

GW SALDF members compete in competitions. See our record for more information.
 
The SALDF chapter at GW Law was formed in 2004 a year after the launch of GW Law’s Animal Welfare Legal Reform Project, an independent pro bono project through which law students participate in activities to improve the language and enforcement of animal welfare laws in the District of Columbia. Although the Animal Welfare Project is a separate entity within the law school, SALDF provides a significant amount of administrative and recruiting support for the Project. Students involved in the Animal Welfare Project have the opportunity to draft and propose legislation to the D.C. Council, initiate lawsuits, and engage in ballot initiatives. Participants in the Animal Welfare Legal Reform Project earn credit toward GW Law’s Pro Bono program.
Since its founding, SALDF and its members have promoted animal law through a variety of activities. In the fall of 2004, SADLF sent a member to the annual Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) Conference at Yale Law School. In February 2005, the Animal Welfare Legal Reform Project held a press conference to release a report compiling D.C. animal welfare laws and outlining recommendations for legal reform to D.C. Councilmember David Catania and D.C. Department of Health Director Gregg Pane. Also in February 2005, two SALDF members, Kristie Blase and Lynn Deavers, won the National Animal Law Moot Court Competition at Harvard Law School, with Lynn Deavers also being awarded the honor of Best Oral Advocate. In April 2005, GW Law hosted the first ever National Animal Law Legislation and Drafting Competition in conjunction with the National Center for Animal Law. Three SALDF members participated with other law students from schools such as Yale, Arizona State, Chapman University, the City University of New York, and St. Thomas University. GW Law SALDF’s own Denise Starr (JD ’05) won this competition. In March 2005, SALDF successfully demonstrated student interest in and encouraged the Law School Administration to establish an animal law clinical experience.
SALDF members also volunteer in non-legal community events to promote animal welfare with groups such as Alley Cat Allies and the Washington Humane Society. Annually in March, SALDF, with the assistance of Compassion Over Killing, encourages GW Law students to sample foods with no animal by-products by providing free vegan snacks in honor of National Meatout Day.
SALDF has many events planned to continue its momentum in the upcoming year.
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