2022 Animal Law Leadership Award Winners Announced

The Animal Leadership Award is an award given annually, when merited, by the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) to one or more graduating Lewis & Clark law students who have demonstrated leadership in the animal law field and who have earned the respect of peers, faculty, and staff for advancing animal law and education. CALS is thrilled to announce that the recipients of this year’s Award are: Miranda Eisen, Conor Lamkin, and Josie Moberg. Learn about each of them and their animal protection work and future plans below.

Miranda Eisen ’22

After coming to Lewis & Clark Law School specifically for the Animal Law Program, Miranda had the pleasure of working within various areas of animal law with organizations like the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), Animal Equality, Mercy for Animals, and Rise for Animals. Miranda served in leadership roles with LC ALDF and Animal Law Review, all while volunteering with a CALS alumna on farmed animal corporate outreach initiatives.

Miranda says: “I’m grateful for the exceptional mentorship and remarkable community that has made studying animal law at Lewis & Clark one of the most enriching, meaningful experiences of my life. I’m inspired by the incredible advocates who I’ve had the privilege of learning from, and am eager to join the greater animal law community after graduation.”

Conor Lamkin ’22

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Conor chose Lewis & Clark Law School specifically for its renowned animal law program. She currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with her partner and two rescued, senior pups. Upon graduation, she has started a position as a Policy Researcher for a new organization, Pax Fauna, which uses in-depth research to develop educational, informational, and material resources to enable local advocacy communities to seize the narrative about animal agriculture.

Conor shares that “I cannot thank the CALS faculty enough for this incredible recognition. The mentorship, knowledge, opportunities, and community CALS provided me throughout my law school experience was nothing short of incredible! Receiving this award alongside two amazing women makes me proud, humbled, and eager to continue my advocacy for non-human animals.”

Josie Moberg ’22

Josie chose to heavily focus on Animal Law during her studies at Lewis & Clark Law School, and she has been advocating for nonhuman animals her entire life. Prior to law school, Josie studied environmental science and community organizing in her undergraduate years, and then lived and worked with local Portland organizers for a year before applying to law school. She is passionate about using her law degree to address industrial/systemic animal exploitation and how it can be combated by movement-led legal strategy. Her main focus is Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs, commonly referred to as “factory farms”) in the state of Oregon. She will be beginning a year-long fellowship with the Breach Collective in the fall, and hopes to contribute to their work combatting local polluters and fossil fuel infrastructure in Portland, Oregon.

Josie shares that “Receiving this award is an incredible honor. CALS and its wonderful team were integral to my law school experience, and I wouldn’t have felt the community and strength that I needed to earn my JD without them. I would also like to give a special shout out to Professor Rajesh Reddy, who encouraged and supported me at every step of the way.”

The Center for Animal Law Studies

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) was founded in 2008 with a mission to educate the next generation of animal law advocates 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. In addition, CALS is the only program that offers two advanced legal degrees in animal law (an LLM degree and a Master of Studies degree for non-lawyers, both degrees are offered in person and online) and three Animal Law Clinics. CALS’ Alumni-in Action from more than 20 countries are advancing legal protections and making a difference in the lives of animals around the world.