Gain Hands-on Experience Advocating for Animals in the Animal Law Clinic

Professors Rajesh K. Reddy and Joyce Tischler

The Animal Law Clinic is now in session! Through its Clinic, the Center for Animal Law Studies offers JD and Animal Law LLM students the opportunity to apply their legal training to the needs of real-world clients, and offer creative legal thought to advance protections for animals. Co-led by Professors Raj Reddy and Joyce Tischler, the Clinic provides comprehensive training as students engage in a wide range of animal-focused legal work, from wildlife and farmed animals to research and companion animal issues and more. Students gain a valuable understanding of how policy and legislation work; they will be supporting the development of litigation brought by others and contribute to the academic growth of the field, in ways that will help prepare them for their future legal careers. “When students graduate law school, they don’t have a lot of on-the-ground skills unless they have clerked or taken a clinic,” explains Tischler. “This clinic is where they’re going to get those experiential, on-the-ground skills.”

While Lewis & Clark Law students can choose from more than 25 diverse animal law courses, the Clinic offers a unique environment in which to put that knowledge into action for animal protection clients. Students explore current legal issues and engage in cutting edge research, writing and discussion of the issues in a safe and supportive setting, where they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, and learn from them, all under the watchful eye of Professors Reddy and Tischler. “I see the Clinic as this transitional moment where students get to put into practice — under our tutelage and guidance — the substantive knowledge they’ve gained through our [many] animal law courses,” affirms Reddy.

In addition to providing essential professional experience, the Animal Law Clinic incorporates critical legal thinking and research that will challenge students to think strategically about how they can more effectively use the legal system to improve the lives of animals and empower the organizations that advocate for them. The Clinic offers legal and client projects, with all of their interconnected issues, stimulating students to think outside the box in order to construct solutions. “In the Clinic we’re giving students an opportunity to make a significant contribution by working on current animal law issues with animal protection organizations,” Reddy explains.

Professor Tischler, widely known as “the Mother of Animal Law” given her extensive experience founding and practicing animal law since the late 1970s, underscores the importance of students having the opportunity to work with clients. “What I love about CALS” she says, “is that we are training the next generation of animal law advocates, and I think that’s a big part of my legacy. With the Clinic, we’re digging even deeper. I encourage students who are passionate about gaining legal skills and working in the interest of animals and social justice to join us.”

Applications are open for students to participate in the Clinic in Spring 2026. Students can apply for this impactful opportunity by December 1st. Contact Professors Reddy (rajreddy@lclark.edu) and Tischler (jtischler@lclark.edu) for more information.

Students interested in learning more can visit the CALS website and explore the “Experiential Learning” section for information about the Animal Law Clinic and other hands-on opportunities.

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.