About Us

Lewis & Clark Law School has been a leader and pioneer in the field of animal law education since 1992. In 2008, an historic collaborative effort between the Law School and the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) created the Center for Animal Law Studies (the Center).

The Center collaborates with ALDF, a national nonprofit, to educate and support law students and legal professionals in the rapidly developing field of animal law through classes, conferences, scholarship and clinical opportunities. The Center and ALDF are proud to continue their work to develop the field of animal law and to educate the next generation of animal law attorneys. Read our impressive list of firsts in animal law. 

Lewis & Clark Law School houses the most extensive animal law program in the nation. Students may choose from a wide variety of courses focusing on animal-related issues.  Some of the animal law course offerings include:

• Advanced Animal Law Seminar
• Animal Law (an overview)
• Animal Law Clinic
• Animal Law Legislation Externship 
• Animal Law: Legislation, Lobbying & Litigation
• Animal Rights Law Jurisprudence
• Comparative International Animal Law
• Emerging Law Policy/Companion Animals
• International Wildlife Law

Law students may specialize in animal law by earning an Animal Law Certificate through the Animal Law Program.  Law graduates may specialize further by earning an Animal Law LL.M (Masters of Law Degree).

The Center also offers guidance and support for all components of Lewis & Clark’s Animal Law Program, such as the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Animal Law Review (Animal Law), The Animal Law Conference, the National Animal Law Competitions and the Animal Law Clinic, as well as local and global research projects.

Read more info about law degrees in the U.S.

More about us

• Who? Read about our faculty and staff.
• Why? Read our mission statement.
• Who is the Animal Legal Defense Fund?
• Why choose animal law? Read our frequently asked questions.
• Alumni - Meet some of our past grads