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Petition for Animal Law Section Creation

Jurisdiction

    The contemplated jurisdiction of the Animal Law Section includes:

    1. Education of members of the State Bar and of the public about laws relating to the protection of animals and animal rights, including the development and modification of existing law.

    2. Promotion of legislation to advance animal protection and animal rights.

    3. Maintenance and operation of a referral service for and among attorneys practicing in the area of animal protection and animal rights.

    4. Promotion through use of the legal system of animal protection and animal rights in Michigan.

    The jurisdiction of the proposed Section is not in conflict with the jurisdiction of any existing Section, Standing Committee or Special Committee.

Bylaws

    See attached.

Proposed Committees

    Clearinghouse Committee

    Ordinance Handbook Committee

    Legislation Committee

    Nominating Committee

Budget

    See attached.

Proposed Membership

    See attached.

Need for Proposed Section

    Currently, attorneys in many areas of practice do work that involves some facet of the interaction of humans and animals. There is a clear-cut need for a means of coordinating the efforts of these lawyers and their clients.

    Legal issues relating to animals arise in multiple contexts. Consider, for example, direct protection of animal welfare, (livestock, domestic animals, animals in the wild); protection and control of exotic animals; operation of nonprofit organizations, such as local animal welfare groups; landlord-tenant matters; tort and insurance litigation over injuries caused by animals; nuisance law; probate work and estate planning; zoning matters; development of new legislation; and regulation of veterinary medicine, including the emerging area of veterinary malpractice.

    Lawyers with professional involvement in these and other specializations now have no way of discovering their common interests and concerns. The creation of a section of the State Bar would provide attorneys with an opportunity to interact and exchange information that could benefit their clients. It would, in addition, offer another way for Michigan's lawyers to serve and assist the public, to whom issues of animal welfare are often of vital concern. In an era where animals, animal rights and animals in society are increasingly the subject of public debate, it is appropriate that lawyers play a part in it.

    A section of the State Bar of Michigan would provide a forum for lawyers from throughout the state to work together to meet common goals. Without this way to communicate with each other, attorneys in divergent practice areas, often separated geographically as well, would have no means of identifying themselves to one another. Lawyers, clients and the public will benefit if the State Bar of Michigan approves the organization of the Animal Law Section.

    July 10, 1995