Continuing a Legacy of Compassion

From the start of her legal career, Savannah Sherman has been driven by a clear purpose: to use her training as an attorney to improve the lives of animals. “Non-human animals are often tragically overlooked by the legal system,” she explains, “whether due to weak laws, lacking enforcement, or lengthy court processes.”

That commitment has now earned Savannah the distinction of being named the second recipient of the Thomas Bloom Raskin Animal Protection Scholarship, an annual award honoring an incoming Animal Law LLM student dedicated to advancing protections for animals, with a focus on farmed animal welfare. The scholarship was established through a generous $50,000 gift from a former Lewis & Clark employee and long-time supporter of the Animal Law Program, in memory of Thomas Bloom Raskin, whose life and work reflected his deep compassion and dedication to justice for animals. With the gracious endorsement of the Raskin family, the scholarship provides a $10,000 tuition award to a new recipient each year over five years, continuing Tommy’s legacy through the work of advocates like Savannah.

Going forward, CALS aims to expand the reach of the scholarship, enabling more students to pursue advanced training in animal law and continue the vital work of protecting farmed animals — the area Tommy, a passionate animal advocate and vegan, championed most.

Savannah already brings an impressive record of animal advocacy. While in law school, she served as president of Florida State University College of Law’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter, completed a legal externship with the animal law nonprofit Pets Ad Litem, Inc., and testified before the Florida Senate on animal-related legislation. Additionally, she served as editor-in-chief for the Florida Bar Animal Law Section’s Florida Animal Law Treatise. Her contributions earned her the Florida Bar Animal Law Section’s Distinguished Achievement Award, presented annually to one law student who demonstrates exceptional dedication to the field.

Since recently graduating from law school and becoming licensed to practice in Hawai‘i, Savannah has continued to be a force for animal protection. She collaborated with fellow attorneys, including CALS Animal Law LLM alum David Raatz (’24), to establish the Animal Law Section of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association, furthering awareness and advocacy for animal issues in the state. She currently practices full-time as an associate attorney while pursuing her LLM in CALS’ online advanced degree program. Her work focuses on farmed animal protection and advancing efforts to prevent animal cruelty.

“Having a deeper understanding of the current laws surrounding animal welfare is crucial in becoming an effective animal advocate,” Savannah says. “No amount of personal research compares to the educational value of learning from others who have dedicated their careers to understanding and teaching.”

Savannah’s law school professors describe her as an accomplished scholar and emerging leader in the field. She has also distinguished herself as a legal scholar, authoring a number of articles, including “Cosmetic Animal Testing: The Future of Cruelty-Free Beauty in Florida,” published in The Florida Bar Journal.

The Center for Animal Law Studies congratulates Savannah on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to supporting her — and future recipients of the Thomas Bloom Raskin Animal Protection Scholarship — as they continue to champion stronger legal protections for farmed animals. To contribute to the Raskin scholarship fund, donate via this link and note that your gift is in honor or memory of Tommy Raskin.

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. In addition to JD study, CALS offers an advanced degree program in-person and online. CALS’ Alumni-in-Action from more than 30 countries are making a difference for animals around the world. CALS is a self-funded Center within the law school operating under the Lewis & Clark College 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and is able to provide these educational opportunities through donations and grants.