The Animal Law Conference co-sponsored by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School is the preeminent gathering of its kind. Now in its 28th year, the conference draws top experts in law, policy and government. This year’s theme was timely: Impacts on Animals in a Changing Climate.
Attorneys for Animals was pleased to provide scholarships to six students at Michigan State University College of Law. They attended (virtually) the weekend of October 23-25.
Yara Khalil is a first year (1L) student interested in food policy, climate change and animal agriculture.
“…the status of animals, as well as the way in which we treat and interact with them impacts our health, societies, economies, food supply, and especially people of color and minority communities.“
Matthew Kramer is a 2L and a member of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund board.
“Over the weekend, Animal law went from theory to almost-practice by having supply chains explained, international players examined, and how treaties are playing out. It was the re-invigoration I needed to get out of a law school slump and power through the last bit of my third semester of law school. “
Morgan Pattan is a 3L and heads the school’s SALDF. She writes for the school’s Animal and Natural Resources Law Review. Morgan has co-authored a comment that AFA submitted earlier this month on a proposed rule.
“One panel that I found particularly insightful was the Legislative and Regulatory Updates. Having had the opportunity to work with Attorneys for Animals on drafting a comment for a proposed rulemaking that had the effect of weaking the ESA, I have grown increasingly aware of the importance of staying informed on the pending legislation that affect animals and the environment … and leaves me even more excited to continue contributing to these movements through public participation in the legislative process.“
Skylar Steele is a 1L who has a strong interest in pursuing a career in animal rights law.
“… learning about combatting animal abuse on the medical as well as the legal side. I have a special interest in the relationship between animals and Zoonotic diseases as my partner is going into Zoo Medicine and has shared her research with me.”
Haley Wadel is a 2L, a member of the SALDF board and a new law student member of Attorneys for Animals.
“[My interest in AFA] is working on animal law cases and outreach at my law school.”
Katherine Wheeler is a 2L and member of the school’s SALDF board.
“The intersections between climate change, animal welfare, and Covid-19 were especially interesting! It was also heartening to learn about ways to cope with the ‘climate anxiety’ and ‘compassion fatigue’ that comes with caring so deeply about our shared world.“