Legal Services

Through our direct legal services program, we provide individualized legal advice to nonprofits working to protect animals and promote plant-based eating.

We serve organizations focused on direct animal care, education, advocacy, and systemic change. Our clients range from small, grassroots organizations operating locally to large, multi-national nonprofits seeking additional expertise as they work to end animal suffering on a global scale. 

As we support organizations at multiple stages of the nonprofit lifecycle and help navigate operational questions, we aim to provide practical, actionable legal guidance that helps entities launch bold new initiatives and further their missions.

We offer four core services – select the one that best fits your needs to learn more and apply:

Strategic Advising for Campaigns, Collaborations, & Programming →

Partnership with animal protection organizations—large and small—to provide legal insight during the earliest stages of campaign planning, coalition building, and program development.

Nonprofit Compliance & Audit Readiness →

Support for animal protection organizations seeking to strengthen internal policies, manage risk, and stay audit-ready in a shifting legal climate.

Entity & Advocacy Structure Advising →

Support for animal protection organizations considering a new entity, navigating 501(c)(3) vs. 501(c)(4), or clarifying the legal limits of lobbying and advocacy work.

Targeted Guidance for Everyday Legal Needs →

Issue-specific legal support to help animal protection organizations navigate the day-to-day legal questions that arise in their work.

Life Cycle of a Project →

What to expect after you submit a request.

Q&A →

Frequently asked questions about how we work.

Note for organizations that haven’t worked with ADP in the past two years, including first-time applicants:

The application requests specific background information and documentation, including:

  • Date and state of incorporation

  • Tax status (501(c)(3), intending to seek 501(c)(3), etc.)

  • Names of board members

  • Description of mission

  • Description of activities

  • Copies of governing documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws)

  • Copy of most recent 990 filing

  • Copy of 1023, 1024 or 1024-A application for tax exemption

  • Business plan (for organizations operating less than 3 years - see our guide to creating a basic business plan).

The information submitted with your request is confidential, but requesting a slot does not create an attorney-client relationship or ensure that ADP can assist with your endeavor. 

Life Cycle of a Project

Direct legal services are provided on a project-by-project, limited scope basis. 

Project Submission

After you submit your request, you’ll receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt.

  1. Initial Review
    Our team will review your request to ensure your organization aligns with ADP’s mission and that the project falls within the scope of our services.

  2. Decision Notification
    You’ll receive an email notifying you whether your project has been accepted or declined.

  3. Limited Scope Engagement Letter
    If accepted and your organization has not already signed one, we’ll send you our limited scope engagement letter. This must be reviewed and signed before we can proceed with work on your behalf.

  4. Attorney Assignment & Project Confirmation
    Once the engagement letter is signed, we’ll assign your project to an attorney, who will contact you to confirm the scope, timeline, and key parameters of our anticipated work.

  5. Project Closure
    Once a project is completed, it is closed, meaning that ADP’s legal services for that project have ended. In addition, if we don’t hear from you after reasonable follow-up attempts, we may close your project. You will receive an email letting you know that the project has been closed.

  6. Additional or Follow-On Projects

    For additional or follow-on projects, please submit a new project request through the ADP website.

Timing for Accepted Projects:

Projects we accept are generally handled in the order received, so the timing of your project is dependent on 1) your needs, 2) the complexity and natural timeline of the project, and 3) other projects we have pending at the time. The attorney working with you will reach out to confirm details and provide an estimate of when they expect to start on your project and, if possible, an anticipated timeframe for completion.

Q&A

  • We provide legal services to nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, and mission-aligned initiatives working to protect animals and/or promote plant-based eating. While most of our clients are U.S.-based, we welcome inquiries from groups working internationally if they are navigating U.S. legal issues.

  • There is no “typical” client. We serve a wide range of organizations—large and small, local and national—engaged in many different approaches to animal protection and plant-based advocacy.

    Our clients include grassroots volunteer-led groups, national nonprofits with complex program portfolios, fiscally sponsored projects, and newly forming organizations seeking their first legal structure. Some work directly with animals—such as companion animal rescue, TNR efforts, or farmed animal sanctuary—while others focus on public education, corporate or legislative advocacy, food systems reform, or academic research.

    What our clients share is a commitment to advancing protections for animals and/or promoting plant-based diet change—and a need for thoughtful legal support to help them do it effectively.

  • No. Our legal services are offered free of charge thanks to generous philanthropic support. We strive to make high-quality legal counsel accessible to organizations advancing animal protection and plant-based diet change, regardless of size or budget.

  • The diversity of our client base means that there is no “typical” project. Some examples of past projects include:

    • Reviewing materials for a social media campaign targeting a fast-food chain restaurant for possible copyright, defamation, and other legal concerns.

    • Providing guidance on the legal considerations involved in international grant-making and preparing template grant agreements.

    • Reviewing and commenting on the proposed contract for an undercover investigation and advising on the legal risks involved and possible mitigation tactics.

    • Strategic advice on nonprofit compliance issues, with practical and actionable steps to increase legal resilience.

  • No. We do not provide litigation services or represent clients in administrative proceedings. Our focus is on transactional legal work and strategic advising to help organizations prevent legal issues, structure their work effectively, and stay in compliance.

  • You can expect thoughtful, practical legal guidance delivered with professionalism and care. We prioritize proactive communication, clear timelines, and advice that’s tailored to your organization’s mission, scale, and goals.

  • We ask that clients engage in organized and responsive communication, including:

    • Replying promptly to emails and requests for information

    • Sharing relevant documents and background materials early in the process

    • Clearly communicating goals, deadlines, and any concerns

    Thoughtful collaboration allows us to provide accurate, effective legal support tailored to your needs.

  • Our services are provided on a limited-scope basis, meaning we work with clients on a defined issue or project. Some organizations return for support on multiple matters over time, but each engagement is considered separately.