Center for Animal Law Studies

10/05/2026

Thinking about law school? 👋 Stop by to talk with Danielle Lopez, our Animal Law Program Manager, at an upcoming admissions event!

At Lewis & Clark Law School, we're recognized nationally and globally for rigorous academic preparation, a commitment to developing practical skills for professional success, top-ranked specialty programs (like animal law! 🐾 ), a spectacular campus, and a uniquely collegial environment. Apply now to join our community and open opportunities for professional success.

Visit Danielle at:

📍Buffalo, NY — Monday, October 5, 2026
📍Ithaca, NY — Tuesday, October 6, 2026
📍Binghamton, NY — Thursday, October 8, 2026
📍Albany, NY — Thursday, October 8, 2026
📍Tallahassee, FL — Tuesday and Wednesday, October 20-21, 2026

Learn more about admissions: https://law.lclark.edu/offices/admissions/apply/

10/04/2026

The 10th annual Africa Animal Welfare Conference is being held October 5-7 in-person in Zambia and and live-streamed for virtual delegates. 💻

This year's theme is Dialogue to Action: Collaborative Implementation for Animal Welfare, Climate Adaptation and Sustainable Development in Africa.

Jim Karani ('17, Lewis & Clark Law School Animal Law LLM, Kenya) will be presenting on a panel on Wednesday, October 7th—From Recognition to Implementation: Advancing Animal Sentience through the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa (AWSA) Towards an African Common Position.

The Conference is presented by the Africa Network for Animal Welfare [ANAW], Working Animals International, and the African Union. Details and registration at this link: https://www.aawconference.org/index.php/en

10/02/2026

On this World Farm Animals Day, we’re proud to launch the Animal Protection Blueprint for Industrial Aquaculture, authored by Aquatic Life Institute, the Center for Animal Law Studies, and the Multispecies Collective. 🐟 🦐

The Blueprint grew out of our co-hosted 2026 International Aquaculture Law & Policy Symposium held at the University of Birmingham.

What it does: As billions of aquatic animals continue to be intensively farmed in industrial systems worldwide, the Blueprint establishes a set of principles to help reduce suffering now, while being grounded in the long-term goal of transitioning away from the industrial farming of sentient aquatic animals. A very special thank you to all who contributed to the Blueprint.

🔗 Read it here: https://law.lclark.edu/live/files/38332-the-animal-protection-blueprint-for-aquaculture

10/01/2026

Alumni Spotlight 🌟

Diego F. Plaza ('20, Animal Law LLM) is transforming how legal professionals access information. He is the founder of Centro de Estudios de Derecho Animal CEDA Chile, a nonprofit organization that he founded during his studies in the Lewis & Clark Law School Animal Law LLM Program.

Diego has launched an innovative new project called Radar CEDA. 💡He shares:

"Radar CEDA is a project I have been developing through CEDA Chile to make animal law sources easier to find, compare, and follow across jurisdictions. What started as an effort to organize dispersed legal materials has grown into a curated corpus with more than 38,000 records from over 250 jurisdictions, including legislation, regulations, case law, and legislative materials. The platform is continuously reviewed and expanded, with particular attention to traceability and access to primary and official sources."

Radar CEDA is part of a broader effort at CEDA Chile to build stronger research infrastructure for animal law from Chile, with an international scope. 🌎 Check it out: https://www.cedachile.cl/radar/en

09/30/2026

We're excited to introduce Daijah Paris Valentine (Animal Law LLM candidate) and Sierra Barnes (Animal Law MSL candidate) as our incoming CALS Academic Fellows at Lewis & Clark Law School! 🎉

Selected for our prestigious full-tuition fellowships with living stipend support, both fellows will complete a year-long externship alongside CALS faculty, working to advance critical research and shape the future of animal advocacy.

🔶 Daijah joins us from London where she completed her LLB at The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE. She brings an exceptional record in animal law theory, focusing on transforming how legal, political, and social systems recognize and respond to animal sentience.

🔶 Sierra recently completed her undergraduate degree at Lewis & Clark College. She brings a strong foundation in political research and hands-on legislative advocacy, and wishes to focus on confronting animal exploitation in industrial agriculture and medical research through systemic legal reform, legislative and corporate lobbying, and grassroots organizing.

📚 Read more about Daijah and Sierra in the full announcement: https://law.lclark.edu/live/news/58868-announcing-the-20262027-cals-academic-fellows

Interested in becoming a CALS Academic Fellow? We will soon be opening applications for our fellowships for the 2027–28 academic year. We'll announce on social media when applications are open!

09/29/2026

Curious about how to care for your companion animals through estate planning? Check out this webinar on Tuesday, September 29, at 1pm ET on "Estate Planning for Pets: Pet Trusts, Legal Protections, and Best Practices."

Moderator Cheryl Leahy will be joined by panelists Joyce Glass ('23, Lewis & Clark Law School Animal Law LLM alum) and Timothy Midura of the The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy to explore legal strategies for protecting pets through estate planning, including pet trusts, rehoming plans, and other planning tools. Participants will also examine best practices for attorneys, shelters, rescues, and other institutions involved in carrying out clients' wishes, with practical guidance on documenting decisions, communicating plans, and reducing the risk of disputes or unintended outcomes.

The webinar is free to American Bar Association Members and available for CLE credit! It is sponsored by the ABA Senior Lawyers Division and co-sponsored by ABA TIPS Section.

Learn more about register here: https://learningcenter.americanbar.org/courses/289778/webinars/174334



📸 : Pexels

09/28/2026

Can consumers really trust "sustainably farm-raised" labels on salmon?

A new piece by Sentient Media highlights a putative class-action consumer protection lawsuit filed by FarmStand against an aquaculture company challenging misleading seafood claims by Mama Bear that its industrially farmed salmon is "sustainably farm-raised.” The suit notes that 74% of the net pens of the company's sole supplier are located in legally protected national reserves and parks in Chilean Patagonia and cause significant environmental harm to sensitive waters. The complaint also alleges that the net pets caused the deaths of a humpback whale and an endangered sei whale after the animals were entangled in the net pens. It also includes concerns for disease transmission from escaped farmed salmon to wild aquatic species.

The Sentient article points to research by Lewis & Clark Law School alum and Adjunct Faculty, Hira Jaleel ('20, Animal Law LLM), and for Animal Law Studies Aquaculture Fellow Saylor Soinski. As aquaculture rapidly expands, Jaleel and Soinski argue in their article that regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must step up by defining terms like "sustainable," "responsible," and "humane" to require standard substantiation and protect both animals and consumers.

📖 Read the Sentient article here: https://sentientmedia.org/can-you-trust-sustainably-farm-raised-salmon/

Mama Bear allegedly uses misleading branding on Atlantic salmon cubes sourced by Australis Foods, an aquaculture operation accused of harming Chile’s sensitive marine environment.

09/26/2026

September 26th is International Rabbit Day, so we're hopping on by with a PSA on behalf of CALS resident rabbit, Pippa! 🐇✨

Rabbits can be wonderful companions, but they should never be given as gifts, brought into a home spontaneously, or purchased as an "Easter bunny." Did you know?

🐇 It is a myth that rabbits are "good starter pets." They are considered an exotic pet because they require specialized veterinary care and have unique dietary, behavioral, and psychological needs.

🐇 Widespread misunderstanding about rabbits has led them to become the third most frequently surrendered companion animal in shelters.

🐇 Many people are surprised to learn that rabbits and children may not be a good mix. Children like to pick up, hold, and cuddle rabbits, but as prey animals, that can be scary stuff for the bun! Rabbits need a predictable environment to feel safe.

🐇 Domestic rabbits should never be released outdoors, as they can face rapid starvation, predators, and an inability to survive in the wild.

🐇 If you've done your research and you're interested in bringing a rabbit into your family, check your local animal shelter or rabbit rescue organization. There are plenty of rabbits just waiting for a home with someone who takes the time to help them feel safe and secure.

🧡 Pippa is the bunny of CALS Executive Director, Megan Senatori, and she's a spry 12 year old! She was surrendered to a local animal shelter when she was 10 months old and now enjoys life as a house rabbit. She is social and appreciates the company of her family, is a meticulous litter box user, loves cilantro and banana slices as a special treat, and especially enjoys taking long naps in the sun.

Happy International Rabbit Day! 🌾🐾

09/25/2026

During Climate Week, we remember the final messages that Dr. Jane Goodall shared in her remarks during Climate Week 2025. 🌍

She reminded the world of a vital truth: humans are a part of the natural world, not separate from it. Yet, our reliance on industrial animal agriculture continues to drive habitat loss, is a leading force of climate change, and causes widespread suffering to billions of animals around the world.

We cannot solve the climate crisis without addressing how we treat farmed animals. At the Center for Animal Law Studies, we empower legal advocates worldwide to challenge the status quo and push for legal frameworks that advance protections for farmed animals. ⚖

You can support our work through daily choices that embrace compassion. Dr. Goodall assigned the audience the following "homework" last year during in her Climate Week remarks: "Just think that today, and tomorrow, and the next day, each day you're going to be making some kind of impact. Think, and choose wisely, what sort of impact you want to make."

🌱 Check out Dr. Goodall's message regarding industrial animal agriculture from Climate Week 2025 (video included): https://www.vox.com/climate/463459/jane-goodall-chimpanzee-final-message

09/24/2026

Passionate about advancing legal protections for farmed animals? The Thomas Bloom Raskin Animal Protection Scholarship is for you!

This $10,000 tuition scholarship is awarded annually for an outstanding incoming Animal Law LLM student at Lewis & Clark Law School. This opportunity is open to incoming students who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to animal law, with priority given to applicants passionate about farmed animal protection. It was created by an anonymous donor to honor the legacy of Thomas Bloom Raskin.

Apply by November 2, 2026 to start in our online advanced degree program in January 2027.

Complete your standard Animal Law LLM program application. In your personal statement, note that you are applying for the Thomas Bloom Raskin Scholarship and share your background and passion for farmed animal protection.

Learn more and apply here: https://animallawonline.lclark.edu/apply-now/