After getting feedback from the students, we are confident that AFA’s Animal Law Conference Scholarship program will continue to earn dividends for many decades to come.
The 30th annual conference was held in Portland, OR, Nov. 4 through 6 (a student conference was held on Nov. 3). This year’s theme was “Building a Brighter Future,” and it could not have been more appropriate because the scholarship recipients will be starting their careers to improve the lives of animals through law and public policy.
Here’s what they had to say:
- Melissa Baines, Lewis & Clark, graduates May 2024, “It was an absolute privilege to attend the Animal Law Conference in person. Not only did I find all the sessions educational, but I also had the pleasure of meeting like-minded professionals and students working to help animals. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to speak with some of my heroes. The positive energy in the room was rejuvenating and has given me fresh hope that I will one day have the privilege of working with some of these inspiring individuals one day.”
- Kaitilyn Bestor, Lewis & Clark, graduates May 2024, “The Animal Law Conference was a great experience to meet with individuals across a wide range of backgrounds and fields to discuss our shared interest in protecting animals. As a current law student, I found the speakers that described the work that they do especially useful because it provided insight into future career paths. Additionally, the conference allowed me to meet students from various ALDF student chapters and hear about the amazing work happening on other campuses. Most importantly, the Animal Law Conference showcased the ever-growing dedication to protect animals, which left me feeling inspired and hopeful for the future of animal law.”
- Dominique Ditmore, University of Toledo, graduates December 2022, “Attending the Animal Law conference allowed me the opportunity to network with animal law experts, discuss animal law with animal advocates, and gain exposure to various aspects of animal law that I had not been previously exposed to. I particularly enjoyed learning about cultivated meat, the environmental effects of CAFOs, wildlife law, humane programs for children to participate it, and programs for farmers to guide them through ensuring humane treatment and guide them to switching over to cultivated meat. I am exceedingly thankful to AFA for the opportunity to attend, and I feel confident that the knowledge I learned at the conference, will assist me in becoming a better advocate for animal rights/welfare!”
- Meghan Jones, Lewis & Clark, graduates December 2023, “When I was 7, I would tell anyone who would ask that I wanted to go to law school. When I was 10, I went vegetarian after my 6th grade health teacher showed us a documentary about the flaws in our food system. In college, I studied political science and comparative history of ideas, with a focus in critical animal studies, and for the last 5 years I have worked in the animal advocacy movement to raise awareness of our food system. Just recently, I began an MSL degree at Lewis and Clark in Animal Law, and the Animal Law Conference was the first time since this career shift that made me realize that my childhood dreams of using the legal system to change the lives of animals in our food system is not only possible, but that it’s happening, and the movement is strong. I was so inspired by the creativity, confidence, and boldness of the speakers on stage at each session, using the legal frameworks available to challenge the status quo. I left the conference determined to be back, and up on the stage in the future with research and contributions of my own. Thank you so much again for enabling me to attend! I had a truly profound experience and can’t wait for next year’s.”
- Julius Metcalf, Lewis & Clark, graduates April 2023, “I am most interested in hearing about the “Role and Future of Animal Sanctuary” because it directly relates to my studies and as an environmental/animal lawyer.”
- Ankita Shankar, PhD student at the Universities of Basel and Antwerp. graduates January 2026, ““Despite the long travel from The Netherlands and the jetlag that followed, I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the Animal Law Conference 2022. I of course found the presentations to be very informative and interesting, and the networking opportunities to be excellent. While there were many wonderful speakers with interesting stories and important knowledge to share, I most enjoyed Miyoko Schinner’s keynote address, where her inspirational entrepreneurial skills and indomitable spirit were on full display. A captivating speaker, she spelt out the difficulties of expanding the animal rights and vegan movements in a world where misinformation and indifference are rampant, in an engaging and humorous way. She also shared her strategies for dealing with these obstacles—containing many lessons from which we can all learn as we advance this cause. Her message was one of hope in the face of adversity, of action in the face of opposition, and compassion in the face of apathy. She handles it all gracefully as she pushes forward, unwavering in her determination for an animal-friendly world.”
- Rebecca Sutton, MSU College of Law, graduates May 2023, “Attending the Animal Law Conference was an incredible and invaluable experience! It was truly inspiring to be in a room full of animal advocates that share my passion for utilizing the legal system to better safeguard and protect animals. It was wonderful to meet and chat with so many other law students that are eager to work in the animal law field upon graduation. Additionally, meeting so many professionals in the field was fantastic—they were not only kind but also insightful and ready and willing to give advice. Attending the conference in person was the perfect opportunity to meet and network with other animal advocates. Further, the panels offered me a lot of food for thought pertaining to how lawyers can better advocate for animals and opened my eyes to a lot of issues involving animals I have not previously thought about. In particular, I thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Animals Caught in Human Conflicts’ panel because it was not a topic I’ve spent much time on, but one that left me wondering how I can better safeguard animals during human conflicts in the future.”