European Association for Critical Animal Studies (EACAS)

Promoting non-human animal advocacy in UK Universities in times of crisis: Some perspectives on the role of Law Schools in creating narratives of ‘animal justice’ as ‘social justice’ Inspired by concerns that the 21st century university has become part of a wider societal ‘neoliberal cascade’ (Connell, 2013), academic reflections on the UK Higher Education (HE) sector invite universities to resist these forces. Argument has been made that universities can instead champion community and wider social justice goals; where foregrounding values of societal awareness and citizenship in student learning and experience can ‘trickle down’ in the wider community, disseminated beyond university spaces by highly educated graduates (Wilson, 2022). Woven into this work is a proposed imperative, arising from conceptualising the 21st century to date as a time of ‘crisis’ (Wilson, 2025), with this agenda currently examining the value of novel ‘polycrisis’ analysis from sustainability interest perspective (e.g. Boluk et al, 2024) alongside respected ‘social movements’ literature within Sociology (e.g. O’Brien, 2012). This paper focuses on encouraging change within university spaces themselves, identifying the importance of wider university communities, not only the student demographic. Its emphasis of goals of making universities more socially just spaces through promoting non-human animal interests centres mainly on the current activity of the Plant-Based Universities movement. In exploring how the movement’s core ideas could help to support veganism and animal rights movements explicitly within universities (whilst acknowledging intersections with wider sustainability challenges), the paper reflects on how Law Schools specifically could help to make universities more socially just environments through championing justice for animals. In highlighting Law School expertise in ethics and philosophy, rights, and social justice, attention is also drawn to some more surprising resources for animal advocacy which can be generated through understandings of law- and to opportunities presented by the status and power widely associated with Law Schools generally within HE culture. The paper also reflects on trends of internationalization and globalization in HE, alongside ideas of cultural distinctiveness in HE systems, to assess how universities beyond the UK could also promote animal interests from within. About the Speaker Dr Sarah Wilson (LLB, MA, PhD) is a Reader in Law at York Law School, University of York, UK. She holds degrees in both Law and History, and her research and teaching span financial law, trusts law, legal history, modern British history, and legal education. Her recent work explores the role of legal education in promoting universities as institutions that foster citizenship, social justice, and stronger engagement with the wider community. Although her academic work has primarily focused on other areas of law, Sarah has also made significant contributions to the field of animals and the law. Her conference presentations have explored topics including companion animals, charity law, animal welfare and rights discourse, and challenges to anthropocentrism in legal thought. A vegan for over 30 years, she is actively involved in companion animal rescue, particularly of psittacine birds, and runs a small home-based sanctuary. Drawing on both her legal expertise and practical experience, Sarah explores how legal frameworks can be used in creative ways to advance the protection of non-human animals.