Event

National Animal Law Competitions

Registration Opens September 15, 2026

NALC Save the Date

The National Animal Law Competitions (NALC) brings law students together with animal law practitioners, scholars, and state and federal judges to work through the most demanding legal questions in animal protection. Competition problems are drawn from real and emerging issues within the field, bridging theory and live practice. Law students not only advance their knowledge and understanding of important concepts but also develop their written and oral advocacy skills while networking with the top minds in the field and the broader legal community.

Originally founded in 2004 at Lewis & Clark Law School with support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and Harvard Law School, the NALC ran for thirteen consecutive years before a hiatus beginning in 2017. Revived in 2023 for a couple of years by The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law & Policy, the competition is now hosted by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

For the 2026/2027 NALC season, two distinct events will be included:  

  • Appellate Advocacy Competition
  • Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competition.

In the Appellate Advocacy Competition, two-person teams submit a written brief in advance and then deliver oral arguments for both sides of a complex animal law case before a panel of competition judges. For the Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competition, individual competitors draft a model animal law protection bill and fact sheet, then attend mock lobbying meetings before hypothetical state legislators with varying levels of support for the bill.

Key Dates

September 15, 2026
  • Registration Opens!
    • Participation in the Legislative Drafting & Lobbying Competition is open to all JD candidates at ABA-accredited U.S. law schools, regardless of year, as are students currently enrolled in a related master’s or PhD program. First-year law students are not eligible to participate in the Appellate Advocacy Competition.
Winter 2026/2027
  • Written components are submitted and graded.
  • Semi-finalists are selected, and semi-final rounds are held remotely via Zoom.
March 12, 2027
  • Final Round – Portland, OR
    • In-person finals take place during the 11th annual Student Convention at the Portland Hilton Downtown. Finalists will receive travel and accommodation grants to attend.

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Enter your email address below to receive updates when registration details, competition problems, and other event information are released, or reach us directly at events@aldf.org.

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