The National Animal Law Competitions were originally conceived in 2004 by Lewis & Clark Law School's Center for Animal Law Studies, with support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and in collaboration with Harvard Law School. The competition was created by Laura Ireland, who went on to become associate director of Vermont Law's Animal Law and Policy Institute. From the first competition through 2016, Lewis & Clark led the organization and administration, establishing the NALC as the most prestigious student competition in the field.

At its peak, the NALC drew over 60 law students from 22 or more law schools across the country, competing in three distinct events: Appellate Moot Court, Closing Argument, and Legislative Drafting & Lobbying. The competition was unique in its scope — it addressed animal law not just as a litigation exercise, but as a policy and legislative challenge as well, anticipating the field's evolution toward movement lawyering.

After a hiatus from 2017 through 2022, the competition was revived in March 2023 under The Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy, in partnership with Harvard, Lewis & Clark, Vermont Law, the University of Denver, the University of San Francisco, and Yale. The competition returned to its traditional home at Harvard Law School.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund now leads the NALC, bringing institutional depth, a national student chapter network, and direct connection to the frontlines of animal protection law. ALDF has been a founding partner of this competition since its inception and remains the primary professional organization supporting law students pursuing careers in animal law.