‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’
- Mahatma Gandhi, Statesperson and Philosopher

Classed as property, animals have no legal voice: they need lawyers to advocate for them. Lawyers for Animals is a volunteer-based organisation dedicated to improving the welfare of animals through education and law.

Despite popular perception, Australian law offers very little protection for animals. In particular, the vast majority of animals in human care in this country – some 500 million production animals – are excluded from the protection of our existing animal welfare legislation. Instead, their treatment is governed by industry ‘codes of practice’.  Because these codes are inadequate and ill-enforced, millions of farm animals daily endure housing conditions and acts of cruelty that are illegal for a cat or dog.

Lawyers for Animals believes this is an injustice that should invoke compassion and action - not apathy. Our objectives are to alleviate the suffering of animals by:

• engaging with those who create or administer laws in Australia to strengthen legal protection for animals;
• promoting better animal welfare practices amongst animal-related industries in Australia;
• developing awareness of animal suffering among the legal profession and wider Australian public, and offering practical ways to reduce it; and
• encouraging the development of animal law subjects within Australian universities.

Lawyers for Animals’ activities include: communicating with politicians and making submissions on Acts, Regulations, Codes of Practice and other laws and policies affecting animals; assisting other animal welfare groups with their work; developing educational materials; publishing articles; and promoting awareness of animal suffering through public-speaking and other events (e.g. during Victorian Law Week).

Membership of Lawyers for Animals and participation in our volunteer program is open to all who care about the welfare of animals – not just lawyers. Please see how to support us. Lawyers for Animals does not provide legal advice. People who need legal advice or representation should contact the Law Institute of Victoria or the Public Interest Law Clearing House, which has recently created an animal law referral service.