Education: 1989: J.D., New York University School of Law; 1986: B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Career in Brief: 2019–present: ADP, Senior Counsel; 2016–2018: Best Friends Animal Society (2018: Adoption Specialist; 2016–2017: Cat Caregiver); 2009–2016: Goodwin Procter LLP (2014–2016: Partner; 2009–2014: Counsel); 1998–2009: Clifford Chance US LLP, Senior Attorney; 1994–1998: Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard & Kristol, Staff Attorney; 1989–1994: Rogers & Wells, Associate.

Organization Mission and Description: ADP is devoted to protecting animals from abuse and suffering. We provide pro bono legal and consulting services to non-profits that advocate for animals, run sanctuaries and rescues, and support plant-based eating. ADP’s work enables our clients to put their resources to best use in reducing animal anguish and misery while receiving free, high-quality legal services in support of their missions.

What led you to become an attorney for a non-profit? What attracted you to this organization? During my legal career in private practice, I felt very strongly about doing pro bono work for non-profits. I worked on matters such as political asylum for a refugee from Somalia, legal and immigration assistance for domestic violence victims, and restroom access for a transgender high school student. Separate from my legal career, I have always loved animals and volunteered at local shelters since 2008.

When I first explored working for an animal non-profit in 2016, I soon learned that the universe of available legal jobs was very limited, especially because I did not have a background in that type of law. I decided to leave my job as a securities litigation partner and work directly with animals, both to fulfill my passion and to learn about animal non-profits from the ground up. My employment included positions with Best Friends Animal Society as a special needs cat caregiver and an adoption specialist, and with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a volunteer in the kitten nursery and adoption center. I continued to seek an opportunity to apply my legal skills to benefit animals while still having time to do the hands-on work that I love. Joining ADP was a perfect way to combine my interests and legal expertise.

What is your typical day like? Every day is different, depending on which clients contact us for legal assistance. For example, recently a sanctuary for farmed animals needed review of an agreement with a veterinarian hospital, a wildlife rehabilitator asked for guidance on a zoning issue, a rhinoceros conservation group sought advice about state requirements for soliciting donations, and a new client requested assistance in forming a non-profit to promote plant-based eating.

I often spend time on calls or emails to connect clients with our pro bono law firm partners who have in-depth and specialized expertise in areas such as tax, real estate, IP, or data privacy. I also review and comment on client documents or coordinate with my colleagues on fundraising proposals. We are very fortunate to have individual attorneys reach out to us and volunteer their services, and I coordinate and supervise their work. Once a week I have a call with the other members of ADP to stay connected, because we all work remotely.

What is unique about working for a non-profit compared to other types of employers? How do the rewards and challenges compare? The financial benefits of working for a non-profit are usually less than employment at a for-profit corporation or law firm. However, in the for-profit world, there are certain performance metrics and billable hours requirements that can create a tremendous amount of stress. Animal non-profits may also have metrics and goals, but the overall focus is on the mission to protect these most deserving creatures that lack a voice of their own. Being a part of ADP and supporting this mission is very rewarding.

Fundraising is always a challenge for any non-profit, and particularly for ADP, because we are one step removed from the organization doing the direct work for animals. The client testimonials on our website attest to the vital support that ADP provides for our clients, freeing up resources that they can devote to protecting animals.

What do you enjoy most about your role? What are the greatest challenges? It is very gratifying to hear the relief in our clients’ voices when they realize they can get high-quality legal advice for free, particularly in a specialized area that would normally require hiring an attorney. I also enjoy learning about the incredible work that these organizations do on behalf of animals.

Working remotely for a small organization with no centralized office or administrative staff can sometimes present logistical challenges in getting the work done, but we meet by phone at least once each week and always manage to find a way to accomplish everything. It is also challenging to convince my cats that “working from home” does not mean that I will feed them on demand, and that the usual mealtimes still apply!

What special knowledge or skills should an attorney seek to develop in preparing for a non-profit role? What did you learn after you became a non-profit attorney that you wished you had learned sooner? I started my work for ADP not knowing much about non-profits. If someone wants to prepare for a role as a non-profit attorney, I think it would be helpful to take some basic courses about entity formation, different types of structures and tax considerations, and special considerations about corporate governance for non-profits, in addition to learning the substantive law in their area of interest. They also may want to volunteer or take on pro bono projects in a particular area before leaping to a full-time role, to gain a better understanding of the typical day-to-day operations.

What are some things that have surprised you since becoming involved with your organization? I was very familiar with companion animal (dog and cat) rescue organizations and shelters, but the majority of our client base is focused on protection of farmed animals and promotion of plant-based diets. I was shocked to learn about the cruelty that exists in the agricultural industry and the lack of basic humane treatment of these least-protected animals. I am proud to be helping many of these organizations that fight to improve the lives of farmed animals and reduce both suffering and the number of deaths.

What advice would you give to an attorney considering becoming involved in this type of work? Explore every available opportunity to learn more about the animal non-profit world, for example, by taking classes in law school, reading books, volunteering (for either legal or non-legal work), joining bar association committees and other professional organizations that focus on this work, and connecting with non-profit attorneys through LinkedIn. I regret that many of those opportunities did not exist when I was in law school or starting my career, and I thought the only path to working with animals was to be a veterinarian.

Who or what inspires you? To me, it is so inspiring to see the depth and breadth of our clients’ efforts on behalf of all aspects of animal protection. While it is disturbing that these problems exist, it is also gratifying to see these tremendous organizations trying to do something about them. Assisting our clients with legal issues to free up resources for their missions really motivates our work at ADP.

Does the organization have a pro bono legal program? How can legal volunteers get involved with the organization? All of our legal work for animal non-profits is pro bono. We encourage any attorneys who would like to get involved to reach out and volunteer your services, and we will definitely find a project for you that fits your skills and interests! I can be reached at [email protected].