Champion Global Animal Protection: Apply to Become a CALS Ambassador!

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) is excited to announce a new application window for our Global Ambassador Program (GAP) for 2026. Applications are open now and are due by September 15, 2026.

The GAP empowers and supports our alumni as they cultivate animal law education and advocacy through self-designed, high-impact projects around the globe. Selected CALS Ambassadors will receive a grant from CALS of up to $5,000 to bring their advocacy projects to life, as well as outreach and public awareness raising regarding their project and its impacts.

This sixth round of the GAP welcomes proposals of all varieties but prioritizes initiatives targeting neglected species and underserved communities. By focusing on these crucial areas, we aim to help alumni transform their legal expertise into urgent, systemic change for farmed animals, aquatic animals, wild animals, and companion animals worldwide. We also highly encourage proposals from first-time applicants and projects that will create lasting impacts for animals in geographic regions where GAP funding has not yet been directed.

Since its launch in 2020, the program has supported 21 animal law alumni across 15 countries. Our previous CALS Ambassadors have championed an incredibly diverse array of projects, including raising awareness about farmed animal protection, developing and teaching new animal law courses, hosting webinars to share global animal law developments, preparing comprehensive animal law compendiums, founding new nonprofit organizations, strengthening animal protection laws, and implementing innovative approaches to combating animal cruelty, and more. To see the remarkable momentum this program builds, you can read the project profiles for our first, second, third, fourth, and fifth round awardees.

To qualify, an applicant must be a Lewis & Clark Law School alum by September 1, 2026, with one of the following degrees: Animal Law LLM, Animal Law MSL, or JD with an Animal Law Certificate. GAP projects can advance animal protection in the United States or abroad.

Applications are due by September 15, 2026, and those interested can apply here. CALS will announce the selected alumni and their individual projects in mid-October. Ambassadors for this round will serve from November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027. Please see the application for additional details and instructions, and direct any questions to cals@lclark.edu.

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 30 countries are making a difference for animals around the world. CALS is a nonprofit organization funded through donations and grants.