Registration Is Open for the Comparative Animal Law Symposium, March 17-18, 2026

Now in its fourth year, the Comparative Animal Law Symposium brings together scholars, students, and practitioners from around the world to examine animal law through a comparative lens. The two-day program highlights emerging research and innovative approaches while fostering dialogue across disciplines and cultures. With presentations by early-career academics, the sessions aim to advance scholarship in comparative animal law and support the development of a global community of researchers in the field.

This year’s symposium will open with a keynote address by Geoffrey Samuel, Professor Emeritus at Kent Law School, on March 17th. His remarks will explore how comparative lawyers should engage with animal law, drawing on his extensive experience in comparative law theory. Day two will feature a roundtable panel discussion with experts from Brazil, India, the U.S., and Zimbabwe regarding comparative animal law as a means to challenge the expansion of industrial animal agriculture around the world.

CALS co-hosts the Symposium with the Faculty of Law and Political Science, Aix-Marseille Université, France; Kent Centre for European and Comparative Law, Kent Law School, Canterbury, UK; NALSAR University of Law and Animal Law Centre, India; Faculty of Law, Universitatea de Vest din Timișoara, Romania; and the South African Institute for Advanced Constitution, Public, Human Rights and International Law, a Centre of the University of Johannesburg.

Registration is now open and all are encouraged to attend. To review the full schedule, speaker list, and to register to join us, click here.

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.