<a href="/live/image/gid/41/width/650/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image96535"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/96535_south-africa-gdcbc6c067_1920.rev.1667578737.jpg" alt="Advancing animal protection through education and the law remain our highest priority." width="720" height="690" data-max-w="1758" data-max-h="1173" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a> <div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption">Advancing animal protection through education and the law remain our highest priority.</div>
<a href="/live/image/gid/41/width/650/105257_iStock-1282528014.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image105257"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.jpg" alt="Curious cute calves playful funny in a row together, oncoming to the camera in a green meadow under a cloudy blue sky" width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105257_iStock-1282528014.rev.1726249544.jpg 2x" data-max-w="2072" data-max-h="1447" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a> <div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption">Advancing animal protection through education and the law remain our highest priority.</div>
<a href="/live/image/gid/41/width/650/105684_iStock-1366782202.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image105684"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg" alt="Advancing animal protection through education and the law remain our highest priority." width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/105684_iStock-1366782202.rev.1728594999.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2134" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a> <div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption">Advancing animal protection through education and the law remain our highest priority.</div>
<a href="/live/image/gid/41/width/650/104737_iStock-486237421.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image104737"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/41/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.jpg" alt="Lion watching the wildebeest and they come closer and closer." width="720" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/41/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104737_iStock-486237421.rev.1722884000.jpg 2x" data-max-w="2121" data-max-h="1414" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a> <div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption">Advancing animal protection through education and the law remain our highest priority.</div>

/ Center for Animal Law Studies/Degree Programs/Juris Doctor Degree With Certificate in Animal Law

Juris Doctor Degree With Certificate in Animal Law

Join the most robust animal law program in the world and specialize your juris doctor degree to become part of the next generation of animal law advocates.

Apply to Lewis & Clark Law School

A Global Education in the Pacific Northwest

As the only law school in Portland, Oregon, Lewis & Clark is known for its leading faculty, broad course offerings, practical skills training, and postgraduate fellowships. Our location means we have deep connections with the animal advocacy community across the Pacific Northwest, and our Center for Animal Law Studies continues to elevate the animal law field by fostering its development around the world. You will have access to the most extensive animal law curriculum in the world—offering more than 25 diverse animal law courses, with 18 distinct courses in rotation each year.

Juris Doctor Admissions

Specialize in Animal Law

Gain a competitive edge in the job market by focusing your JD studies with the Animal Law Certificate. To earn the certificate, you must complete two core courses in Administrative Law and Animal Law Fundamentals, along with eight additional credits from our animal law curriculum. With guidance from our faculty members and hands-on experiential learning opportunities, you’ll emerge as a skilled legal advocate ready to make a difference for animals around the world.

Animal Law Certificate

L&C has the best programs for both animal and environmental law, as well as amazing clinics, extremely well-reputed and kind professors, and a welcoming student body.
Ananya Raghavan
More about Ananya
The Portland legal community, especially with the different diverse affinity groups, is tight-knit.
Rianka Macwan
More about Rianka
L&C has the best Animal Law program in the world and it is mind-boggling to me still that such an incredible program, faculty, and curriculum exists.
Emily Boden Torres
More about Emily

Funding Your Degree

A legal education is often more affordable than you think, and earning an advanced degree is a significant investment in your future. Our financial aid program creates solutions to serve students from diverse economic backgrounds.

Financial Aid

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Immerse yourself in experiential learning opportunities that bridge theory and practice, allowing you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. You can gain practical experience through involvement in our groundbreaking experiential learning opportunities (the Farmed Animal Protection Project and International Wildlife Law Clinics) and externships. Published and edited by students, the Animal Law Review is the nation’s oldest law journal devoted entirely to the discussion of cutting-edge issues of animal law and facilitates development of the field. Our student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund is devoted to enhancing the welfare and legal status of all nonhuman animals. Lewis & Clark will prepare you for the complexities of legal practice while fostering critical thinking and professional development.

Experiential Learning at Lewis & Clark Law

Learning From Experts

Our challenging and diverse curriculum is taught by renowned animal law scholars and practitioners from around the world.

Faculty and Staff

Empowering Our Alumni

Our animal law alumni—from more than 30 countries!—are making a difference for animals around the world through interesting careers and projects. The Global Ambassador Program empowers and supports our alumni to continue their animal law education and advocacy in the U.S. and abroad through funding and additional support of their own innovative projects.

Careers and Alumni >

Connect With Our Admissions Team

Our law admissions team is here to support you as you navigate through the application process and are available to answer any questions you may have.

Contact Admissions

Center for Animal Law Studies Events

March 13: All Day

Animal Law Week

Join the Lewis & Clark Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter during this year’s annual Animal Law Week as they showcase dynamic speakers, in-depth presentations, and opportunities to network with other professionals in animal law. Some events are open to the public!

until March 13

March 17: All Day

Comparative Animal Law Symposium

Join the Center for Animal Law Studies and co-hosts from around the world on Tuesday, March 17th, and Wednesday, March 18th, for the 4th annual Comparative Animal Law Symposium. This event is free, virtual, and open to the public.

until March 18

March 18: All Day