The Animal Law and Policy Institute at Vermont Law and Graduate School welcomes law school faculty to apply to join us this summer as our Animal Law Distinguished Scholar. 

Each year, VLGS invites leaders in the fields of animal advocacy, environmental law, energy, and agriculture to serve as Distinguished Summer Scholars in residency during our summer session. Each visiting scholar delivers a Hot Topic lecture, participates in informal social events on and off campus, and has an opportunity to interact with students and faculty. These distinguished visitors are a significant intellectual resource for our summer students and also offer valuable networking opportunities.  

Thanks to the generous support from the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, Inc. and Brooks McCormick Jr. Trust for Animal Rights Law and Policy, the Animal Law Distinguished Scholar will be awarded a $5,000 honorarium, travel funds, and lodging near our beautiful campus for their stay (family, including pets, are welcome). They will have access to an office and library resources in order to further their scholarship. 

Scholars may join us for any two-week period between May 28 and July 23, 2024. For planning purposes, summer courses include: Science of Animal Law and Policy, May 28-June 13; Undercover Investigations of Animal Operations, May 31-June 2; Animal Welfare Policy, June 17-June 27; and Biodiversity Protection, July 8-July 21. 

To apply, please send a cover letter stating your interest, including the topic of your scholarship or proposed presentation, and CV to the Animal Law and Policy Institute at animallaw@vermontlaw.edu by February 15, 2024. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or for further information. 

Animal Law Distinguished Scholar Angela Fernandez (second from right) with VLGS animal law faculty, staff, and media fellow enjoying Vermont in summer 2023.

“I spent two wonderful weeks as the Distinguished Animal Law Scholar at the Vermont Animal Law & Policy Institute in June 2023. During that time, I greatly benefited from interactions with the other scholars and fellows visiting the law school to teach courses in the summer program and speak in the Hot Topics series. Vermont is quickly becoming a hub of animal law expertise under the strong leadership of Delci Winders. The visit was a terrific opportunity to meet and interact with others participating in this endeavor. Our hosts, administrators, staff, faculty (clinical and academic) were all so warm and welcoming. They provided the perfect environment to both enjoy the beautiful outdoors Vermont has to offer and to work in the peacefulness of the woods. It was a magical experience!”