An inspirational and highly informative interview with the recent board co-directors of The Lewis & Clark Law School Animal Legal Defense Fund. The Animal Legal Defense Fund files high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, provides free legal assistance and training to prosecutors in their fight against animal cruelty, supports animal protection legislation, and provides resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the field of animal law. As the very first student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Lewis & Clark Animal Legal Defense Fund is devoted to enhancing the welfare and legal status of all nonhuman animals. Our primary goal is to educate ourselves and others concerning the issues and laws that affect animals and to influence positive change.
Kaiti Bestor’s dedication to animal rights began in high school and has become an integral part of her personal and professional life. Prior to starting her legal career, Kaiti earned her BA from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she majored in writing and rhetorical studies with a double minor in legal studies and public administration. During college, Kaiti was awarded a research grant to travel to Australia, where she worked with and learned from various animal advocacy groups.
As a law student, Kaiti was a member of the Animal Law Review, held multiple positions on the LC Animal Legal Defense Fund Board, including as the 2023-2024 Co-Director, and worked as a law clerk for Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program. Additionally, Kaiti was selected to present her research paper regarding banning male chick culling in the egg production industry at the 2023 Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Convention.
Kaiti is immensely grateful for the support, opportunities, and friendships that the Animal Law Community at Lewis & Clark offered. She is excited to continue her animal advocacy and is eager to pursue a career where she can use innovative and creative approaches to challenge the treatment of animals. Kaiti currently resides in Portland, Oregon, with her partner and their cat, Elfie. In her free time, she enjoys trying new vegan restaurants, thrifting, and exploring all the nature the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Eric Sugarman focuses on the nexus of animal law, environmental law, and transformative justice. Born and raised in North Carolina, he graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Sustainability and Geography.
Upon college graduation, Eric spent several years apprenticing with regenerative farmers across the United States in pursuit of a more intimate relationship with the art and practice of land stewardship. These experiences crystallized his conviction that we must transform our food system if we are to achieve a transition to a sustainable, equitable, and just future for animals, people, and the planet. Eric hopes to leverage legal tools to further the dismantlement of the industrial animal agriculture paradigm and champion the dignity and value of all beings, human and non-human alike.
For Eric, Lewis & Clark Law School, and the Animal Law Program in particular, have been a well-spring of insight, community, and mentorship over the past three years. He is grateful for the exceptional education he received at Lewis & Clark, and he is eager to commence his professional work as a legal advocate where he can apply his learnings in service to the public interest.
Congratulations to Kaiti and Eric on their recent graduation from law school and for earning The Animal Leadership Award from the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS)!
Website and Social Media:
Lewis & Clark Law School Animal Legal Defense Fund • Lewis & Clark (lclark.edu)
Insta: @lc.aldf
- KBOO