Externships
The Animal Law Externship Program allows students to deepen their classroom learning by earning academic credit through hands-on legal experience. As part of the law school’s broader Externship Program, the Program expands opportunities for students interested in practicing animal law—including its intersections with areas such as public health, the environment, and more.
Students have the opportunity to earn academic credit for a carefully supervised, well-crafted work experience. Externships must be supervised by a qualified attorney (or equivalent), authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction where the externship takes place, in accordance with program requirements. Students can select between a variety of externship models to suit their needs. Please refer to the Externship Guide for an overview of the Models.
The Animal Law Externship Program fosters strategic partnerships with animal protection nonprofits, private law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and other aligned entities. Students may also propose their own placements, subject to approval.
Past animal law externship employers have included:
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals;
- Animal Equality;
- Animal Legal Defense Fund;
- Animal Welfare Institute;
- Best Friends Animal Society;
- Center for Animal Law Studies;
- Center for Food Safety;
- Compassion Over Killing;
- Foundation for Animals in the Law;
- Humane Society of the U.S. (now Humane World);
- Mercy for Animals;
- New England Anti-vivisection Society;
- Non-human Rights Project;
- Oregon Humane Society;
- Oregon State Bar - Animal Law Section;
- PETA Foundation;
- and more!
The Law School’s Externship webpage provides a comprehensive overview of the externship requirements, credit models, eligibility, and available opportunities. Are you an employer interested in creating an animal law externship for a Lewis & Clark student? Please contact us at cals@lclark.edu.