The conference will kick off with an evening reception and keynote at the Hilton Portland Downtown. We invite you to enjoy appetizers and drinks while networking with fellow conference attendees.
921 SW 6th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204

There is a reason Joyce Tischler is commonly referred to as “The Mother of Animal Law.” She has been a visionary leader in the field for over 40 years, working on everything from cutting edge legislation to groundbreaking litigation. Without Joyce’s ideas, creativity, passion, and energy, one could argue there would be no animal law movement today. Pamela Frasch first met Joyce in 1989, and they have enjoyed working together ever since. As the creator of the Criminal Justice Program at Animal Legal Defense Fund, founder of the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark, and the first and only dean of animal law, Pam has been at the forefront of many of the most important advances for animals. Together, they have decades of experience and perspective about the origins and history of animal law and animal law education.

Please join them for an inspiring, poignant, and at times hilarious, retrospective of the animal law conference, the many successes and failures of the movement, and why it’s more important than ever to do this work. Note: There’s a rumor that photos and film from “the olden days” might be involved, so be prepared for your senses to be assaulted by fabulous 70s and 80s fashion choices…

Introductions by: Maral Cavner & Ashlyn Whitbeck, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Co-Directors, Lewis & Clark Law School

Final comments by: Megan Amos, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Chair, Lewis & Clark Law School

Factory farming negatively impacts not only the animals who are exploited, but also nearby communities, farm workers, food safety, and the environment. Let’s explore the big picture and the latest efforts to respond to this crisis.

Animal cruelty prosecutions are expanding in number and scope. This creates opportunities to broaden who society considers to be worthy of meaningful protections, including those that flow to traditional victims in the legal system. Is the capacity to suffer enough to redefine what it means to be a victim? Join this panel as they imagine a world where all sentient beings are entitled to greater protection under the law.

Left unaddressed, systemic racism and sexism corrupts the animal protection movement. This panel is a call for broad based internal reflection, hard questions, and real solutions. If we care about animals, shouldn’t we be equally compassionate toward human animals? The presenters will delve into the problem and explore next steps.

Attorneys working to get animals out of harm’s way often face difficulty finding places for those animals to live out the rest of their lives with dignity and respect. Animal sanctuaries address a crucial need, giving animals a place to live a more natural life. However, they play an equally important, but less recognized role in education, law, public policy, and rehabilitation, among others. This session will provide insights about the complex role of animal sanctuaries, and the vital nature of their work in developing principles of animal protection.

In this dynamic, richly illustrated presentation based on his New York Times best-selling book What A Fish Knows, ethologist Jonathan Balcombe takes us under the sea, through streams and estuaries, and to the other side of the aquarium glass to reveal the surprising capabilities of fishes. Although they exceed thirty thousand species―more than all mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians combined―fishes are rarely considered by us to be individuals with thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Combining science with stories and the author’s own personal experiences, Balcombe upends our common biases toward fishes as primitive and dull, showing them instead to be sentient, aware, social, and even Machiavellian. Books will be available for signing after the presentation.

Introduction by: Kathy Hessler, Clinical Professor of Law and Animal Law Clinic Director, Lewis & Clark Law School

Start the morning with an inspiring and interactive seminar exploring some of the most challenging ethical dilemmas animal law attorneys face in both practice and volunteer positions. Animal law ethics expert Russ Mead will lead attendees through a series of hypotheticals, examining difficult scenarios and how to handle them effectively while adhering to the Model Code of Professional Responsibility. All this for one hour of Ethics CLE credit.

Tier, Kafshë, Dýr, Zwierzẹ: whichever language you speak, the word “animal” is the subject of a growing body of law. Animal law experts around the globe are exploring the issues of import in their societies, and revolutionary developments are happening in Africa, Europe, and beyond. Attendees of this session will learn about specific initiatives aimed at building an awareness of animal law and legal education more inclusive of animal interests, as well as the ways in which legal practitioners have adapted their strategies in response to culture, society, and local communities.

It is hard for some people to connect with land animals like cows and chickens, and it can be even more difficult to feel empathy for aquatic animals, who live in a world that feels so foreign to us. Our lack of empathy leads to inadequate legal protection for animals who are harmed by captivity and fishing. We have seen an increase in empathy for some aquatic animals, such as whales and dolphins. Can we open hearts and minds and start to include fish in our circle of compassion too?

A perennial favorite at the Animal Law Conference, we bring the most recent animal law developments to you. These presenters will critique precedent-setting state and federal animal law litigation that advocates need to know now.

The new administration and current congress have introduced some radical shifts in federal and international policy. So, how will animals fare in the coming years? These seasoned political movers and shakers will give us the lay of the land.