The Animal Law and Policy Institute Mourns the Loss of Steven Wise

The faculty, staff, and students of the Animal Law and Policy Institute mourn the loss of Steven Wise, animal rights activist and attorney, who passed away on February 15, 2024.

He was a pioneer in the field of animal law and started his illustrious teaching career at Vermont Law School in 1990. He was a beloved friend, mentor, and inspiration to many students and attorneys.

We know generations of VLGS graduates and students will continue to carry his torch advancing legal protections for animals. Notably, Monica Miller (JD’12), attorney with the Nonhuman Rights Project, has been entrusted to teach Professor Wise’s Animal Rights Jurisprudence course at VLGS.

Professor Parenteau shared, “Steve was a trailblazer who inspired a whole generation of law students to take up the cause of animal rights,” and that he “helped launch the field of animal law that has become a staple of legal education throughout the nation and the world.”

Thank you, Professor Wise. You will be missed.