CALS and LC SALDF Host Animal Law Program Overview Event for a Packed House

On Thursday, September 21st the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law CALS) and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter of Lewis & Clark Law (LC SALDF) co-hosted an Animal Law Program Overview event for new students at Lewis & Clark Law. The event was packed, filling up almost the entirety of the large classroom in which it was held and was an exciting indication of the bright future of the animal law program at the law school.

The program kicked off with a warm welcome from Dean Pamela Frasch and Professor
Kathy Hessler of CALS. Both ladies are invaluable parts of the animal law program at Lewis
& Clark Law, but also take the time to teach introductory courses like Animal Law
Fundamentals each year so 2L students are lucky enough to get to have them as their
professors. After her welcome, Professor Hessler introduced Maral Cavner, Co-Director of
LC SALDF.

Maral then took students through a comprehensive overview of LC SALDF, including the
stellar lineup of speakers the organization has and will continue to feature throughout this
academic year, with individuals like James Aspey, Gene Baur, Marc Ching, Anita Krajnc,
Matthew Liebman, Rebecca Huss, Jo-Anne McArthur, and more. Maral also highlighted
some of the special events LC SALDF puts on, like the annual “MeatOut” barbeque in the
spring, which usually has more than 200 students stop by for great prizes and delicious
plant-based food, as well as the Fall and Spring Work Retreats, where students volunteer
their time to help local animal rescues and sanctuaries, and the annual Networking Event,
this year (and last year) held at the beautiful Stoel Rives law firm in downtown Portland,
Oregon. At this event, animal law professionals gather to mingle with LC SALDF members
and make connections for that enviable summer (or perhaps longer-term) job.

Next, Maral welcomed Megan Amos to the podium who spoke to students about the
upcoming Animal Law Conference, occurring October 13th–15th in Portland, Oregon. As
this is the 25th anniversary of the Conference, Megan is spearheading a commemorative
poster showcase where students can submit their work to highlight successes in the animal
protection field.

Finally, Maral spoke to students about the collaborative nature of the animal protection
field, including opportunities to put that legal knowledge to good use, gave students contact information in order to connect further (if you would like to receive our emails, please send a quick note to saldf@lclark.edu), and encouraged students to get to know the wonderful CALS faculty and staff who have made such an impact on the field already.

Maral then introduced Mae Bowman, co-Editor-in-Chief of the Animal Law Review, who spoke to students about the first Animal Law journal in the country, and the only independent journal at Lewis & Clark Law. 1L students can, uniquely, participate on the Animal Law Review as a 1L Source Checker, which puts them at a great advantage when applying for summer positions and already being on law review. The Animal Law Review also hosts an annual Animal Law Review Symposium, this academic year occurring Friday, March 16th, 2018.

LC SALDF Co-Director Ashlyn Whitbeck spoke next about the upcoming Food Law
Symposium, this year to be co-hosted by CALS and LC SALDF on Friday, March 23rd, 2018. This event is traditionally hosted by either the environmental or business law groups at the law school and so Ashlyn spoke of the excitement surrounding event this year now that it is under new leadership with a unique focus.

Professor Hessler rounded out the event by speaking about the resources available to all
students in the program, be that the fantastic faculty members like Professor Russ Mead
and Professor Rajesh Reddy or the upperclassmen students of LC SALDF in informal or
formal mentorship and advising roles or specialty programs like the Peppin Scholarship.
Professor Hessler also spoke about the importance of students not trying to do it all, having
(as much as is possible during law school) fun throughout these couple of years, and
offered herself as a resource for students during their job search, when picking classes,
and/or when just needing a friendly face.

The packed house left with full stomachs thanks to Los Gorditos and with excitement
surrounding the animal law program at Lewis & Clark Law. If this event was any
indication, the future of animal law is bright!