Alumni in Action: Moe Honjo
Open gallery
What have you done since leaving the Animal Law LLM Program and what is the impact of your work on animals?
I have continued to work in animal law by seeking a PhD at Hitotsubashi University in Japan, my home country. I also teach international animal welfare law as a visiting lecturer. Since my focus for my PhD is Comparative Law, I have done comparative legal research work on animal issues, such as laws regarding experimenting on animals, farm animals and companion animals in the EU, the US, and Japan.
By carving out a new area of study in animal law and introducing how animal law has been developing in several regions to younger people in Japan, I believe it will help further the understanding of how animals relate to law in Japanese society and academia.
How would you describe the value of your post-JD animal law education?
My Animal Law LLM education has provided me several benefits. It enabled me to understand the bigger picture of animal law (especially in the US) and it helped me with my comparative work with Japan and the EU. It was a life-changing experience to learn how rapidly expanding and complex animal law can be. Furthermore, as I am the first and the only person in Japan who has done an Animal Law LLM, my education has given me an opportunity to be an expert in the field early in my career.
What do you remember most about the Animal Law LLM Program at Lewis & Clark?
Being involved in animal law both inside and outside classroom were unforgettable experiences. Working on real issues in the Animal Law Clinic (my favorite class!) was an exciting and invaluable experience. Volunteering in Oregon for the farm sanctuary and Fences for Fido also made me realize how people’s work influences the quality of animals’ lives.
