Animal rights advocacy is rapidly becoming a cutting edge field of study for aspiring attorneys. This growth is being helped by celebrity animal rights advocates offering serious money to train the next generation advocates.

One such celebrity is Bob Barker, the former host of the long running TV game show, the “Price is Right.”   As has previously been reported, Barker, a long time supporter of animal rights, has donated millions to establish law programs at universities throughout the nation.

The programs are dedicated to advancing animal rights. The latest example of Barker’s support is a $1 million gift to the University of Virginia (UVA) to create a new animal rights program beginning in the fall of 2009.

According to UVA’s press release, beyond creating a dedicated course on animal rights, the gift will also be used to “bring in speakers on animal law topics, fund independent study and externship opportunities, and sponsor a writing competition open to all graduate students.”

The University of Virginia is not the only place Barker has spread his money. He has also donated several million to establish similar animal-rights curricula at law schools including Columbia, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, and Stanford.