Center for Animal Law Studies

09/01/2026

Catastrophic wildfires in Europe recently destroyed over 100,000 acres in France alone. Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, millions of wild animals, including slow-moving, vulnerable species like the Western spadefoot toad, are suffering long-term habitat loss, toxic runoff, and food scarcity.

As extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity, wild animals face unprecedented threats to their habitats and to their very survival. Protecting wild animals requires robust legal frameworks that also protect the ecosystems they rely on. Through the Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment (GLA), Lewis & Clark Law School students learn about and work to ensure that international treaties consider and take into account the impacts of climate change on wild animals.

Learn more about the impact of the fires in this news article: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/french-wildfires-animals

GLA is a collaboration of the Center for Animal Law Studies and the Lewis & Clark Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Program. Lewis & Clark Law School students actively participate in GLA’s work for academic credit.

The catastrophic fires have potential to do long-term damage to many wild animal populations, but a toad species could be the most affected.

08/31/2026

🎉 Today is the first day of classes for the 2026-27 academic year at Lewis & Clark Law School! We’re thrilled to welcome JD students as well as advanced degree animal law students joining us both in-person and online.

Best wishes for a fantastic school year everyone! 📚✨

08/28/2026

We are thrilled to welcome James Schultz to the Center for Animal Law Studies as an Animal Law Teaching Fellow! 🎉

James brings a rich background in public defense, higher education, and animal advocacy to the program. In his new role, James will support students across the Animal Law LLM and MSL degree programs, including teaching Introduction to U.S. Legal Studies to international and MSL students. He will also offer animal law students hands-on academic guidance and mentorship and serve as co-advisor to the Lewis & Clark Law School Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter.

Join us in giving James a warm welcome to Lewis & Clark Law School and the CALS team! 👏

🔗 Read the full announcement here: https://law.lclark.edu/live/news/58695-james-schultz-joins-cals-as-animal-law-teaching

08/27/2026

Please join us on September 8, 2026, at 5:30 PM PT for a special program honoring Professor Joyce Tischler as part of her retirement celebration! 🥳

Affectionately known as the "Mother of Animal Law," Joyce has played a pivotal role in transforming a virtually nonexistent field into a global movement. From co-founding the Animal Legal Defense Fund in 1979 to guiding the creation of the Center for Animal Law Studies in 2008, her vision made animal law what it is today.

At Lewis & Clark Law School, Joyce brought her wealth of legal knowledge and first-hand experience into the classroom, developing cornerstone courses and mentoring countless aspiring advocates.

Joyce retired over the summer, and with students back on campus, we are ready to celebrate her incredible 50-year career! 🧡 We know Joyce has inspired so many of us across the animal protection community and beyond. We’d love for you to be part of her celebration by joining us virtually!

🗓️ Date: September 8, 2026
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM PT
🔗 Register to join us via Zoom: https://lclark-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tfJlqhMdTJ6J4JJ4MettSw #/registration

08/24/2026

📣 Volume 32.2 of Animal Law from Animal Law Review (ALR) at Lewis & Clark Law School is now available!

In this issue:

🔶 Aryana Swanson discusses new strategies for open rescuers to present the necessity defense in court.

🔶 Alice Di Concetto provides an overview of the E.U. farmed animal welfare legislative framework and highlights significant shortcomings of existing rules.

🔶 Peter J. Li explores the legality, historical context, and political dynamics of China’s contemporary dog meat trade, outlining viable pathways of reform that would end the slaughter and consumption of dogs in China.

Please visit the journal's e-commerce storefront to order print copies of 32.2: https://alr.directfrompublisher.com

🎉 Congratulations to the authors and everyone in ALR who worked so hard to bring the issue to life.

Dating back to 1994, ALR is the nation’s oldest law journal devoted entirely to the discussion of legal issues relating to animals. Now with national recognition, Animal Law Review delves into cutting-edge issues of animal law and facilitates development of the field.

08/21/2026

Pour a coffee and take a weekend read through our 2025–26 Academic Year-in-Review! ☕🐾

It’s been an incredible year for animal law at Lewis & Clark Law School. Check out the report to meet our extraordinary faculty, staff, student, and alumni leaders and revisit the major events that shaped our academic year.

Read it here: https://law.lclark.edu/live/files/38239-2025-26-cals-year-in-review

08/19/2026

Mark your calendars! 🗓️ Join us on October 13 from 9:00–10:15 AM PT to hear from our 2025–26 CALS Ambassadors as they present their transformational Global Ambassador Program projects advancing animal protection worldwide. 🌍

Featuring work from Lewis & Clark Law School animal law alumni across Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and the U.S. presented by:

🔶 Gladys Kamasanyu (LLM ’20)
🔶 Dulki Seethawaka (LLM ’25)
🔶 Emily Talkington (MSL ’23)
🔶 Jessica Bridges (LLM ’23)

✅ Save your spot: https://lclark-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_72TFcMPGRtGMQuasQ8QjOQ #/registration

08/18/2026

We’re excited to share our Summer Newsletter, featuring highlights from the summer and key milestones and program updates in our 2025–26 Academic Year-in-Review!

Take a look and see what’s been happening in animal law at Lewis & Clark Law School.

🔗 Read the full issue: https://bit.ly/3SknzI6

📩 Want these straight to your inbox? Hit the subscribe link inside to join our list!

08/17/2026

Today is the first day of classes for advanced degree animal law students who join us from abroad and for all Animal Law MSL students. They join us from: Canada, India, Kenya, Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia. Their first class is Intro to U.S. Legal Studies.

Join us in welcoming the next generation of animal law advocates to Lewis & Clark Law School! 🥳

08/16/2026

Ready to make a real impact for animals in the legal system? ⚖️

Join the Center for Animal Law Studies for a webinar on September 3, 206 at 9am PT regarding how our advanced degree program prepares advocates to give voice to animals in court.

What You’ll Learn:

🔶 Advocacy in Action: Litigator, Alumna & Adjunct Faculty Member Sarah A. Thompson ('25 Animal Law LLM) shares insights from her Animal Law Trial Advocacy course in our online program and how an advanced degree in animal law from Lewis & Clark Law School elevates your advocacy.

🔶 Application & Admissions: Animal Law Program Director Rajesh Reddy and CALS Executive Director Megan Senatori break down the application process, scholarship opportunities, online program structure, and alumni impact.

Live Q&A: Get your specific questions answered in real time by program leaders.

Whether you're looking to advance your legal career or transition into animal advocacy, this session will show you how to drive meaningful change. The deadline to apply for Spring 2027 start in the online program is November 2nd.

📍 Save your spot for the webinar today: https://lclark-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oxp0BqVDS8qtfNlAWKEbYA #/registration