Announcing the ANIMALEX Initiative

The Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School (CALS) and the Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLE) at Bond University are pleased to announce an innovative collaborative project called “Animalex.” Animalex will be a first-of-its-kind global animal law educational resource library and networking hub to support animal law teachers, researchers, advocates, attorneys, and students across the world.

A combination of ‘animal’ and ‘lex,’ the Latin word for ‘law,’ Animalex will host freely available animal law education resources and provide animal law educators with opportunities to connect and collaborate online. The initiative was designed by CALS and CPLE to meet the need for a virtual space where animal law resources can be freely shared to increase global access to animal law expertise, educational materials, research, and more. By fostering interconnections throughout the field of animal law, Animalex holds the promise of advancing the interests of animals globally and effecting lasting change. The Animalex Executive Committee is Rajesh K. Reddy of CALS, and Nick James and Meg Good of CPLE. Looking ahead to the official launch of Animalex, CALS and CPLE wish to thank Voiceless for their generous support.

CALS Assistant Professor of Law and Global Animal Law Program Director, Rajesh K. Reddy, says, “We are delighted to collaborate with CPLE and eager to see the launch of Animalex in 2024 as a cutting-edge complement to CALS’ existing global animal law and educational outreach efforts.”

Animalex aims to:

• Empower animal law educators by increasing the visibility of and access to animal law education outside of the formal classroom
• Advance more robust animal protection laws and policies by facilitating the sharing of animal law research
• Develop connections and collaboration among international animal advocates, with the hope of fostering animal law communities in more countries

Of the collaboration, CPLE Co-Director and Executive Dean of the Bond University Faculty of Law, Professor Nick James, says that “Animalex will facilitate the creation and sharing of high quality educational resources and make it easier for law students globally to learn more about this critically important area of law.”

Former Voiceless Legal Counsel and Bond University Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor, Dr. Meg Good, says, “The Voiceless Animal Law Education program inspired the idea for Animalex, and we are honoured to continue the program’s legacy by creating a first-of-its-kind global online hub for animal law learning, sharing and networking.”

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. CALS’ Alumni-in-Action from over 25 countries are making a difference for animals around the world. CALS is a nonprofit organization funded through donations and grants.