Center for Animal Law Studies

CALS welcomes law professors and legal scholars from all over the world to come to Lewis & Clark Law School as a Visiting International Research Scholar or a Visiting International Animal Law Ambassador. CALS values and appreciates the perspective that Visiting Scholars and Visiting Ambassadors provide for our students and faculty, as well as providing opportunities for our Scholars and Ambassadors to immerse themselves in our animal law community and learn more about U.S. animal law. Scholars chosen for our Visiting International Research Scholar Program have the opportunity to participate in our many animal law programs, including auditing our Animal Law courses, attending our annual Animal Law Conference (in the fall), presenting to groups on campus, and interacting with students and faculty. Ambassadors study with us for a shorter period of time, and likewise participate in our Animal Law programs. Through these opportunities, we are able to help develop animal law around the world and foster the exchange of information and expertise with international colleagues who are dedicated to advancing animal protection through the law.

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the Lewis & Clark campus, CALS regrets that we are unable to accept applications for our Visiting International Research Scholar program at this time. Please revisit this page for updates on when we are once again able to accept applications.

During the 2019-20 Academic Year, CALS welcomed both a Visiting International Research Scholar and an Visiting International Animal Law Ambassador. 

In January of 2020, CALS welcomed Iyan Offor, PhD researcher with the University of Strathclyde Center for Environmental Law and Governance in Glasgow, Scotland, as a Visiting International Research Scholar for the spring semester. Iyan’s research focuses on global animal law, international trade law, and critical, intersectional and feminist animal ethics. Iyan also uses concepts of wild law and earth jurisprudence in his work in an attempt to nuance the dichotomised relationship between animal law and environmental law. Iyan obtained an LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) from the University of Edinburgh, with an exchange year at the National University of Singapore. Iyan also holds an LLM degree with distinction for his research at the University of Aberdeen on European Union trade policy and animal welfare. Iyan works as an associate lecturer at the University of Strathclyde and he has taught as a visiting lecturer at Aarhus University. He has also worked as a project officer for Eurogroup for Animals’ Trade & Animal Welfare Project.

In February of 2020, CALS welcomed Tarja Koskela, a university lecturer and researcher at the University of Eastern Finland as a Visiting International Animal Law Ambassador for the month of February. Dr. Koskela is an expert on the intersection of animal protection, criminal procedure, and public administration within the Nordic countries. Dr. Koskela teaches criminal law, criminal procedure law, animal welfare supervision, and animal law at the University of Eastern Finland. She also teaches animal law and animal crimes at the Police University College and recently authored a field guide handbook for the police on this subject. Dr. Koskela is a founding member of the Finnish Animal Rights Law Society, which is seeking to amend the Finnish Constitution by adding a provision establishing fundamental rights for animals.