Events & Training

A-LAW runs events across the UK which stimulate discussion about animal law, provide networking opportunities and low cost training to animal welfare charities and NGOs.

Our training events are discounted for A-LAW members and we strive to offer student places at free or substantially discounted rates.

Dates for your diary! Join us…

for our forthcoming conferences and seminars about animal law and policy.

A-LAW Scotland Debate
Webinar (online) | 30 April | 6:00pm.
Register here.
Event Details

A-LAW Scotland Debate Night

What should happen when a family member is stolen?

Have you ever had your pet stolen?  Or even lost track of it for a while?  In these situations, an owner’s feelings of worry and loss mingle with concern about what the animal may be experiencing.  Is she frightened?  Is someone hurting him?  Will you ever be reunited?

The UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) Scottish Committee is organising a Debate Night on Tuesday 30 April to discuss how the law can protect pets and their families from harm and distress.

Our Speakers

Speakers include:

Maurice Golden MSP – why we need a Dog Abduction (Scotland) Bill

In October 2022, Maurice lodged a draft proposal in the Scottish Parliament for a Dog Abduction (Scotland) Bill.  The aims of the Bill are to “create a new statutory offence to tackle the problem of dog theft and other situations where a dog is taken or kept without lawful authority, that would take account of considerations such as the feelings of dogs and dog welfare; and improve data recording to better inform detection and prevention efforts.”

Responses to the consultation on the Bill have been overwhelmingly supportive.  Supporters of the Bill agree that dog abduction is not the same as theft of moveable property, and that the sentience of dogs and the strength of the human/dog bond should be recognised. The financial value of a dog is less important than its welfare, and a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment for the new offence is likely have a deterrent effect and reduce the incidence of dog abduction.

There were some less supportive responses, identifying a lack of data to point to the need for a new offence and pointing to the existing offence of theft, which can attract a higher penalty than that proposed in the Bill.  Courts currently take account of animal welfare, victim impact and any other relevant considerations when dealing with dog theft cases, including in sentencing.

Maurice will set out the rationale for his Bill and why he believes a specific offence is essential.

Mike Radford, Reader in Law, University of Aberdeen – is Westminster moving faster than Scotland to protect family pets from abduction?

Meanwhile at Westminster, a Private Member’s Bill lodged by Anna Firth MP passed its Committee Stage in January and is now at Report Stage.  The Pet Abduction Bill will make dog and cat abduction a specific offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, along with provisions against the abduction of other animals commonly kept as pets (such as ferrets).

Mike will update us on the Westminster Bill and identify the risks of having different legislation north and south of the border.

Legal Skills Lab hosted by the Animal Lawyers’ Network
Skills Lab (online) | tba | 1-2pm
To learn about our network, and the ongoing labs and topics, visit our Animal Lawyers’ Network page, here.
4th Annual UK Animal Law Conference
Location TBA | 29-30 May 2024
Hosted by UK Centre for Animal Law and Animals, Nature & Society Reading Group (Birmingham City University). You can find more information here.

Looking for a guest speaker?

We are often invited to speak at universities and colleges about animal law and policy. We help students understand some of the philosophical and ethical issues around our relationship with animals and how this impacts the legal protection afforded them. Get in touch if you would like us to speak at your university, college or event.

Some of our highlights! Relive past events…

and visit our YouTube channel, Animal Law TV, to watch recordings of our webinars and conferences.

Animal Law Careers: Pathways Towards Advocacy for Animals, November 2020

Lawyers who chose different pathways to advocate for animals were brought together to share their experiences and perspectives for the next generation of lawyers, legal academics and legal activists. The individual talks were followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

Animals and Wildlife Law in Scotland, February 2020

A-LAW’s Scottish Steering Committee hosted an event focusing on Scotland’s Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill. We were grateful to be joined by Mike Radford OBE, Scott Blair and Libby Anderson (A-LAW), Leia Fitzgerald (Wildlife Management Team Leader, Scottish Government), Andrew Voas BVM&S MRCVS (Scottish Government Veterinary Head of Animal Welfare) and Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn MBE (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

An evening with Victoria Shroff & Gavin Ridley, January 2020

We welcomed leading Canadian animal lawyer, Victoria Shroff, to talk to us about recent legal developments in Canada, including dog control cases that she has been working on. We were also pleased to welcome Gavin Ridley from the Abused Pet Refuge who spoke about coercive control in domestic abuse cases and how companion animals can be a target for abuse and a tool to exert control over family members.

Using the Law to help Animals & Activists, January 2020

A-LAW and Advocates for Animals co-hosted an event in Exeter, discussing some of the legal tools that can be used to help animal advocates. Advocates for Animals co-founder, Edie Bowles, was joined by solicitor, Alice Collinson (Advocates for Animals), barrister, Alan Robertshaw (Goldsmith Chambers), and solicitor, Patricia Sheehan (Mustoe Shorter) for an interesting and informative evening seminar.

How to use the Law to Help Animals, September 2019

This event featured guest speakers Michelle Richner from Tier im Recht (TIR) Switzerland and Edie Bowles (Advocates for Animals), alongside A-LAW Chairperson, Paula Sparks. The seminar was an opportunity to discover important differences in animal protection law in Switzerland, as well as showcasing how lawyers can use their legal skills to help animals.

Agriculture & Animal Welfare Post-Brexit, November 2018

Co-hosted with solicitors, Leigh Day and Wildlife and Countryside Link, this event enabled lawyers, NGOs and campaigners to explore some of the important post-Brexit issues likely to affect animals used in agriculture, including implications of trade law, procurement and the Agriculture Bill.

Animal Rights and Legal Protections: A Perspective from North America, July 2018

An evening with Steven M. Wise, founder and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) and Camille Labchuck, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice, a national animal-law advocacy organisation in Canada. This event provided an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in the field from the USA and Canada.

 

Student Careers Afternoon, January 2017

In January 2017, A-LAW’s Student Group hosted its first Careers Afternoon for students, the first event of its kind in the UK. The event was well attended by students from various disciplines, including law and veterinary science. We were thrilled to welcome a wide range of guest speakers to address our audience, including lawyers, academics and charity professionals.

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