Aidan Bodeo-Lomicky, a 2022 Monmouth University graduate with a degree in marine and environmental biology and policy, recently co-founded the nonprofit wildlife/animal law organization Animal Counsel. While at Monmouth, Bodeo-Lomicky received a grant through the Urban Coast Institute’s (UCI) Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe Scholars Program to research threats to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, working under the guidance of former Rechnitz Family/UCI Endowed Chair in Marine and Environmental Law and Policy Randall Abate, the author of multiple books on animal law. Bodeo-Lomicky was also awarded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) prestigious Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship.
He has since earned a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, where he served as managing editor of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal and published work on how to better protect the world’s rarest and most recently discovered whale species, the Rice’s whale. He recently began a clerkship with Chief Judge Jeffrey Pilkington on Colorado’s First Judicial District Court, to be followed by clerkships on the Colorado Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
We caught up with Aidan to learn more about what’s ahead for Animal Counsel.
Congratulations on founding Animal Counsel! What is the mission of the organization and what kind of work do you expect it to do?
Thanks so much! Above all, our mission is to advance the interests of animals through law and policy work. We’re focused on three main areas: wildlife, domestic animals, and rights of nature. For now, we are primarily writing academic and policy papers, and we just brought on two law student interns to help contribute to the mission. We also hope to expand into litigation in the long term, but for now we’re leaning into the think tank model. Animal law is a rapidly developing field, and our goal is to contribute our voices and stay at the leading edge as it continues to evolve.
How did Animal Counsel come to be?
I met my co-founders, Shelby White and Mason Liddell, during our first year of law school. We all shared a deep passion for wildlife/animal issues, but quickly noticed the lack of opportunities available for students in this field. So, we restarted Colorado Law’s Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter and began working on hands-on projects like public comments and pro bono work with existing NGOs. The three of us also worked together on our environmental law journal and clinic, getting lots of valuable legal research and writing experience. After working on so many practical animal law and policy projects together—and because our initial post-grad positions weren’t specific to this field—we decided to create our own NGO as a vessel to continue this work (and help others do the same).
Can you tell us about the need for an organization like Animal Counsel? Is there a shortage of representation around animal law and welfare generally in the U.S.?
There are many groups in the wild and domestic animal spaces doing great work for these causes. However, animals and the environment are under greater threat than ever before, and countless issues need more attention from scientists, lawyers, and policymakers. Specifically, there is a shortage of policy work being done at the intersection of animal and environmental law, as well as in the more cutting-edge areas of animal rights and rights of nature. Beyond this, we’ve noticed that there are far more people interested in doing this work than there are opportunities available. Tens of thousands of law students, undergraduates, and others want to devote their time and skills to protecting wild and domestic animals, but it can be overwhelming deciphering where to even start. Aside from the prestigious and difficult-to-obtain internships with the major NGOs and government agencies, there aren’t many obvious options. So, not only did we want to create new internship opportunities, we also wanted to show that students can simply dive into the work themselves. Of course, having mentors in the field is extremely beneficial when getting started, so we intend to be a resource for any students looking to get their feet wet with public commenting, policy writing, and more on behalf of animals.
How did your time at Monmouth and work with the UCI prepare you for the steps you’re taking today?
As I mentioned, mentorship is the best way to navigate any new field. Right from the time I got to Monmouth, Professor Randall Abate and UCI Director Tony MacDonald were instrumental in guiding me through the world of wildlife law and policy. I had the opportunity to take a handful of incredible law classes and write two independent legal research papers about endangered whales with Professor Abate, and I worked on real-world ocean policy issues for the UCI under Tony’s guidance. I was also connected to outside opportunities with organizations like the Earth Law Center and NOAA, which gave me invaluable insight into the field and a big leg up when applying to and starting law school. I was able to figure out my exact interests and path thanks to my time at Monmouth and the UCI, and I hope to be able to provide similar mentorship to others as I progress through my career.
What are the ways people can support or get involved with Animal Counsel?
We’d love to hear from anybody interested in working with or supporting us! We have some exciting projects in the works and are very interested in ideas for more. Our website has more information, as well as a contact form (or you can simply email us at contact@animalcounsel.org). We’re also on LinkedIn and Instagram if you’d like to stay up-to-date. And of course, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we’re fully funded by people’s generous (and tax-deductible) donations. We’re grateful for any amount, and it will go a long way in helping us develop and expand our work for wild and domestic animals: https://www.animalcounsel.org/donate. Thank you!