Jessica Chapman Receives Inaugural Outstanding Animal Law LLM Graduate Award

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) at Lewis & Clark Law School named Jessica Chapman as the inaugural Outstanding Animal Law LLM Graduate. This award is given in memory of Florence Kaufelt, a lifelong friend of animals, to a graduate of our Animal Law LLM Program.

Jessica has been a passionate advocate for farmed animal protection through our Animal Law Litigation Clinic, including extensive collaborative work that resulted in the rollback of planned increases to chicken slaughter line speeds. She plans to dedicate her career to the protection and representation of animals. Jessica has thrived during her Animal Law LLM studies at Lewis & Clark Law School and fully embodies the spirit and dedication that CALS envisions for its Animal Law LLM graduates.

Jessica has also taken concrete steps to champion animal protections and author scholarship for current and future advocates to draw upon as an Animal Law LLM student. Just a few of Jessica’s achievements during her residency in our LLM Program include:

Presentations:

• Jessica Chapman, “Ending Human-Animal Abuse Cycles Through the Use of Trauma-Informed Therapy,” Center for Animal Law Studies Webinar (April 2021);
• Jessica Chapman, “Review of African Elephant Deaths in 2020,” International Issues Subcommittee of ABA TIPS Animal Law Committee (October 2020)

Publications:

• Jessica Chapman, Delcianna Winders, & Ingrid Seggerman, “Opposing Industry’s Push to Deregulate Slaughter,” ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section: The Brief (forthcoming);
• Jessica Chapman, “The USDA Plans Rulemaking to Allow Chicken Slaughterhouses to Increase Line Speeds,” ABA Committee News: Animal Law (Fall 2020)

Jessica received her undergraduate degree from the University of California-Berkeley, and her law degree from Michigan State University, where she graduated cum laude. Jessica is also a recipient of the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights and Policy Scholarship, which supported her Animal Law LLM studies. In May, Jessica received her Animal Law LLM and graduated magna cum laude. She was also inducted into the Cornelius Honor Society at Lewis & Clark Law School, after being selected from the graduating class by the faculty and staff on the basis of superior scholarship, leadership, and contribution to the law school community.

CALS thanks Holly Corn and Jonathan Kaufelt for making this award possible.

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) was founded in 2008 with a mission to educate the next generation of animal law attorneys and advance animal protection through the law. With vision and bold risk-taking, CALS has since developed into a world-renowned animal law epicenter, with the most comprehensive animal law curriculum offered anywhere. CALS offers the world’s first and only advanced legal degree in Animal Law, now available both in person or online. In addition, CALS is the only program that offers an advanced legal degree in animal law and three specialty Animal Law Clinics.