Animal Law LLM Program Costs & Scholarships

The information below is specific to our in-person Animal Law LLM program. For details regarding our online Animal Law LLM program, go here.

General Program Costs

Tuition for the Animal Law LLM program is determined by the Law School. For the 2023-24 academic year, tuition costs have been set at $2,079 per credit, with the degree requiring 26 credits to complete. Additional registration and fee information can be found on the Law School’s Tuition and Fees page. Lewis & Clark also requires students to carry health insurance, which may be obtained through Lewis & Clark’s Student Health Insurance plan, which does not include dental or vision coverage.

International applicants should also consult our Frequently Asked Questions page to review personal financial ability requirements to study in the U.S. under an F-1 student visa.

Scholarship Opportunities

Full and Partial Scholarships:

CALS is proud to be able to offer full and partial scholarships for well-qualified U.S and international applicants. All applicants who apply by the application deadline and permit their materials to be shared with donors and prospective donors are automatically considered for every scholarship whose criteria they meet. Certain scholarships also come with Lewis & Clark’s Student Health Insurance plan, which does not include dental or vision coverage. Certain scholarships may also include campus housing and a meal stipend.

Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy LLM Fellowships:

Together, the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy and CALS are excited to offer up to three LLM Fellowships for the 2024-25 academic year. Brooks Fellowships are designed for exceptional LLM candidates seeking to engage in for-credit fellowship work while earning the world’s first Animal Law LLM as a full-time student in Portland, Oregon. Fellows receive a full-tuition scholarship and generous living stipend.

The targeted and ideal fellowship candidates must demonstrate: a commitment to pursuing the protection and rights of nonhuman animals; and either superb scholarship potential or superb practice potential. Mid-career animal advocates who can take a nine-month sabbatical from their advocacy organization are particularly encouraged to apply.

The cohort of up to three fellows is expected to create synergistic relationships among the fellows and academic faculty that will carry forward throughout their careers. Brooks candidates will undergo a highly competitive application process. If selected and awarded a Fellowship, Fellows will receive the benefit of:

  • A full-tuition scholarship for up to 27 credits toward the Animal Law LLM for the 2024-25 Academic Year and the following additional scholarship support: LLM registration fees (estimated at $85), textbooks and supplies stipend (of $1,500), a stipend toward housing for the time period of August 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025 (of $10,000), maximum available on-campus meal plan or equivalent meal stipend (of approx. $6,666), and basic health insurance offered by Lewis & Clark College (if not otherwise covered), excluding dental/vision coverage;
  • The opportunity to establish a formal or recognizable scholarly, academic, and career mentorship with a CALS faculty professor;
  • Supervision for rigorous pursuit of research intended for either: (1) publication in a recognized journal or law review, or (2) establishing a demonstrable legal practice expertise that can also benefit the animal law community (such as development of a continuing legal education handbook); and
  • Fellows will work with CALS faculty during the 2024-25 Academic Year for 2-3 credits per semester that will count toward the Animal Law LLM.

Fellows must agree to forgo paid or other than insignificant volunteer work outside of student animal law-related activities during the Fellowship period. Applicants who complete their application by the application deadline and submit the additional materials identified in the application form may be considered for a Brooks Fellowship.