History of the Conference

Lewis & Clark Law School and the Animal Legal Defense Fund have a rich history hosting and supporting animal law conferences for students, practitioners, scholars and activists. In 1982, the Animal Legal Defense Fund hosted its first animal law conference in San Francisco, California and thereafter held annual conferences until 1992. In 1993, a small contingent of Lewis & Clark Law School Student Chapter Members interested in animal welfare hosted a one-day symposium addressing wildlife issues. From that humble beginning, The Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark Law School started its tradition of hosting an annual academic conference to address the subject of animal law.

Over the years, the annual Animal Law Conference at Lewis & Clark continued to grow in size and popularity with the support and shared vision of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Center for Animal Law Studies, which was founded at Lewis & Clark Law School in 2008. At the same time, the Animal Legal Defense Fund continued to host animal law conferences every three years, aptly called “The Future of Animal Law.” In 2013 we joined forces to create “The Animal Law Conference,” co-presented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Center for Animal Law Studies.

As an annual event, the conference alternates between Portland, Oregon, and another city each year. The organizers of the Conference hope that by hosting the event in different parts of the country, it will become accessible to those who may not be able to travel to Portland, Oregon. With this exciting merger, the Animal Law Conference is the preeminent event in the field of animal law today.