Welcoming Applications for the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy LLM Fellowships

Last spring, the Brooks Institute and the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) at Lewis & Clark Law School announced a first-of-its-kind collaborative effort that creates a cohort of up to three premier fellowships leading to a LLM degree in animal law. The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy LLM Fellowships are designed for exceptional candidates seeking to engage in for-credit fellowship work while earning the world’s first Animal Law LLM as a full-time student in Portland, Oregon. Candidates selected as Fellows will receive a full-tuition scholarship and generous living stipend. We are delighted to now welcome fellowship applications for the 2024-25 Academic Year.

The targeted and ideal fellowship candidates must demonstrate: a commitment to pursuing the protection and rights of nonhuman animals; and either superb scholarship potential or superb practice potential. Candidates must also meet all application requirements for Animal Law LLM admission. Mid-career animal advocates who can take a nine-month sabbatical from their advocacy organization are particularly encouraged to apply.

The cohort of three fellows is expected to create synergistic relationships among the fellows and academic faculty that will carry forward throughout their careers.

Candidates will undergo a highly competitive application process. If selected and awarded a Fellowship, Fellows will receive the benefit of:

• A full-tuition scholarship for up to 27 credits toward the Animal Law LLM for the 2024-25 Academic Year and the following additional scholarship support: LLM registration fees (estimated at $85), textbooks and supplies stipend (of $1,500). The award will also include the following (​​the amounts shown are for the 2023-24 academic year and are adjusted by Lewis & Clark annually): a stipend toward housing for the time period of August 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025 (of $10,000), maximum available on-campus meal plan or equivalent meal stipend (of $6,666), and basic health insurance offered by Lewis & Clark College (if not otherwise covered), excluding dental/vision coverage;
• The opportunity to establish a formal or recognizable scholarly, academic, and career mentorship with a CALS faculty professor;
• Supervision for rigorous pursuit of research intended for either: (1) publication in a recognized journal or law review, or (2) establishing a demonstrable legal practice expertise that can also benefit the animal law community; and
• Fellows will work with CALS faculty during the 2024-25 Academic Year for 2-3 credits per semester that will count toward the Animal Law LLM.

Fellows must agree to forgo paid or other than insignificant volunteer work outside of student animal law-related activities during the Fellowship period. Applications for the Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy LLM Fellowship for the 2024-25 academic year are due by February 1, 2024 (11:59pm Pacific). To learn more information and to apply, visit this link.