CALS Welcomes Robyn Pekala as Professor of Practice

The Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) is pleased to announce that Robyn Pekala (Animal Law LLM ’24) has joined the faculty of Lewis & Clark Law School as a Professor of Practice. Bringing extensive legal experience and dedicated animal law advocacy to the role, Robyn will co-teach the Animal Law Clinic alongside Professor Raj Reddy, and will also teach the Aquatic Animal Law course.

Before dedicating her career to animal law, Robyn spent nearly a decade practicing at Morrison & Foerster in the Bay Area. There, she counseled multinational corporate clients on complex state tax issues and assisted with cases involving constitutional implications at the California and U.S. Supreme Courts. She received her BA in Physics from Duke University (magna cum laude) and a JD from Harvard Law School (cum laude).

Drawn by a deep commitment to animal protection, Robyn decided to pivot to animal law, graduating summa cum laude from Lewis & Clark’s Animal Law LLM Program. “Given her extensive practice experience, intelligence, and demonstrated commitment to animal protection, I am excited to work with Robyn to advance the interests of animals through the Animal Law Clinic and shape the development of Lewis & Clark graduates to come,” says Professor Reddy.

Robyn’s animal law work focuses on animal cruelty proceedings, legislative reform, and the role of legal institutions in shaping outcomes for animals. Her legislative initiatives include revising local dangerous dog ordinances and working to establish a Courtroom Animal Advocacy Program (CAAP) in Oregon. Her recent legal scholarship includes articles on the implications of AI-assisted animal communication and the regulation of pre-slaughter handling.

Robyn is also an active leader within the broader legal community. She will serve as Co-Chair of the Crimes Against Animals Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee for 2026-2027. In addition, she has served as a humane policy volunteer leader with Humane World for Animals and a hotline operator for the Chintimini Wildlife Center.

In addition to teaching, Robyn will be a co-advisor of the Lewis & Clark Animal Law Review, the nation’s oldest law journal devoted entirely to the discussion of legal issues relating to animals. Of her new role at Lewis & Clark Law School, Robyn shares: “Returning to Lewis & Clark as a faculty member is both an honor and a privilege. I’m grateful for the education and mentorship I received here, and I look forward to helping students develop the knowledge and skills to translate their passion for animals into effective advocacy.”

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 30+ countries are making a difference for animals around the world. The advanced degree program is offered in-person and online. 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.