The Oklahoma Bar Journal March 2024

A nimal L aw

A Conversation With an Animal Law Practitioner By Charis L. Ward and Katie Bray Barnett

A NIMAL LAW – IT HAS BEEN TAUGHT IN MORE THAN 167 LAW SCHOOLS IN the U.S. and Canada. 1 At the time this article was written, two of the three law schools in Oklahoma offered at least one course involving animal law. 2 An LL.M. and an S.J.D. are available in animal law, and there are several academic programs, clinics and centers on the topic worldwide. 3 The American Bar Association and at least 35 state bar associations (includ ing Oklahoma) have a committee or section dedicated to animal law, but what exactly does the practice of animal law look like? 4

want to see all the cute animals we get to help?!

The following article is an inter- view with Katie Bray Barnett. Ms. Barnett is the immediate past chair of the ABA Animal Law Committee (ALC) of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section and is licensed to prac tice law in Kansas and Missouri. She has been a member of the ALC since she was a law student and is now in her 12th year as a member. Her private practice consists entirely of animal law matters, representing animal shelters and animal control agencies, acting as special prosecutor for animal- related crimes and civil actions for animal-related issues. She resides in northeast Kansas with her husband, two children and two dogs. I’ve never heard of a law firm that prac tices animal law. Please tell me a little bit about you and your firm. I’m in such a unique position because I stumbled into the legal

field as an undergrad working in the city attorney’s office and then worked in big law as a litigation paralegal. Then I was personally affected by breed-specific legisla tion when animal control tried to impound my dog simply because of her appearance. So, by the time I made the decision to go to law school, I was an older, nontraditional student but one with experience and personal drive to serve in public interest law, specifically animal law. For the first decade of my practice, I was a solo practitioner with legal interns, externs and seasonal staff, but it soon became unsustainable at the rate of intakes I was getting. My practice now employs three attorneys, a prac tice manager and a social media manager – because who doesn’t Are you a solo practitioner?

How long have you practiced animal law? I have practiced animal law since I became licensed in 2012. I had an opportunity to be a con tract lobbyist while in law school for a national animal welfare orga nization, which helped me have the requisite experience to jump right into animal law as soon as I passed the bar. I often hear from attorneys who dabble in animal law alongside their primary prac tice, which is a great way to break into this practice area. What’s fun is that animal law reaches every practice area – from land use and zoning to criminal, you’ll find opportunities to practice animal law anywhere, so long as you demonstrate an interest in it.

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

10 | MARCH 2024

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL