Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Given the multiple methodological and jurisdictional approaches taken by this module, these subjects will need to have been passed in order to be able to engage fully with the topic.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will introduce students to the developing field of animal rights law. It will be a fairly traditional law module in terms of substantive content, combining a historical background of the animal rights movement with an analysis of black letter law, jurisprudence, public international law and comparative international law. Students will also be introduced to examples of what animals are capable of as case studies in order to anchor the main themes of the course in real world examples. This will encourage students to think critically about the contributions that could be made to our society as a whole by recognising nonhuman animals as rights-bearing individuals, as well as identifying any potential limitations of this approach in its real world application.

The course will also deal in significant detail with the idea of animal welfare for several reasons. Firstly, because many in the field see welfarism as being in opposition to rights based approaches; secondly because, contrarily, many welfarists see increased welfare as a necessary step towards rights; and finally because both approaches are ultimately rooted in the same concern: that animals are deserving of legal protection because they are of independent moral worth. This opposition between the less controversial welfarist methodologies and the rights-based approach will further encourage students to think about how the law can serve as a tool for social change; how it can best achieve its stated aims, and whether ‘branding’ matters more than substance when attempting to radically rethink the boundaries of legal protection. In doing so it will draw on the tensions that exist between these approaches in order to encourage critical reflection and how best to achieve stated policy objectives.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus will be organised around the following key themes:

* Introducing the concept of animal rights

* The nature of animals and a historical overview of their legal status

* Present animal law in the UK and EU

* Comparative animal law

* Gaps and opportunities in contemporary animal law

* The debate between welfarism and abolitionism

* Philosophical foundations of animal rights

* Animal rights in legal theory, incl. legal personhood.

* Animal rights, human rights and the concept of ‘dignity’

* Practical implications of animal rights

* What might a model animal rights law look like

* Contemporary animal rights cases

* Animal rights as a social justice movement

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

The intended knowledge outcomes for the course are as follows:

* A critical understanding of the historical status of animals in legal systems and whether this needs to change;

* Knowledge of how animal interests are currently protected both in the UK and other jurisdictions, to include gaps in protection;

* Ability to identify the key positions between welfare based and rights based protection, and to form a view on whether one approach is preferable over others;

* A critical understanding of the philosophical and ethical arguments advanced by animal rights scholars and activists in favour of their position;

* Ability to identify how these philosophical positions have – and could – influence the development of the positive law through both litigation and legislation

* An awareness of the limitations of the rights based approach from both theoretical and practical viewpoints

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will develop their general skills in the following areas:

- Understanding how ethical positions can influence policy debate;

- Drafting policy documents in order to advance a particular legislative direction;

- Ability to précis and draw together material from diverse sources;

- Identifying different interpretations and seeing how these can be supported/rejected with reasoned opinion;

- Verbal and written communication skills.



Students will also develop the following subject specific skills:

- Awareness of the frontiers of legal debate with regards to rights-holding persons;

- Seeing broader social context of specific social justice movements.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures (or an online version if required) The principal teaching method to the module is lectures. These will introduce the substantive content concerning the legal status of animals; legal rules concerning the protection of their interests; alternative approaches to protecting interests in law; philosophical theories of animal rights and whether/how the law ought to be reformed to reflect these. In-person lectures will be supported with structured online guidance.

Seminars (small group teaching) There will be five seminars following substantive areas addressed by the module to provide the opportunity to develop oral, interpretation and evaluative skills:

1) Historical approaches to animal law;

2) Contemporary legal protection of animal interests;

3) Welfarism vs Abilitionism;

4) Animal rights in philosophy and law; and

5) Animal rights as a social justice movement

Seminars will encourage an active, integrated approach to the study of law and introduce the legal skills necessary to the study and practice of law both in the university and beyond. They offer an opportunity for detailed discussion of issues covered in the lectures, for developing and practicing essential legal skills, and for asking questions and obtaining feedback on student progress. Each seminar is one hour long. Students will be asked a series of questions progressing in difficulty, designed to provide the knowledge and confidence with the topic required to complete the summative assessment for the module. Seminars will be synchronous events (whether online or PiP).

Drop-in/Surgery sessions These sessions reflect the Law School assessment and feedback policy, that markers will offer the opportunity for one-to-one oral feedback on students' assessed work. Dedicated sessions will be made available for consultation with lecturers and seminarists with regards to policy paper design in advance of submission. The time given is indicative; more time may be scheduled if necessary, to meet the demand for individual feedback.


Assessment preparation and completion An additional lecture will be provided on policy paper design to provide students the opportunity to learn how to précis and communicated a diverse range of sources to advance a particular policy position.


Reflective learning activity Students are encouraged to develop group work and communication skills by meeting as groups to discuss and provide constructive feedback on skeleton arguments to sample questions.


Independent study Students’ skills and knowledge base can be further developed in private study, which takes the form of directed reading in advance of lectures, consolidation following lectures and preparation for seminars.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Summative assessment is provided by means of an assessed essay and the production of a policy paper concerning a suggested area of law reform.

1) Policy paper – students will be asked to produce a policy paper that addresses an area of law that they believe needs reforming, or should remain the same despite reforms suggested by external actors. The main focus of the coursework and the primary consideration when marking will be evidence of research skills and an ability to communicate a well-supported position both clearly, succinctly.

2) Assessed Essay – will comprise of a set question asking students to discuss a contemporary issue of animal law that is connected to the substantive course content. The main focus of the coursework and the primary consideration when marking will be evidence of research skills and appropriate legal writing.

General Notes

N/A