My Life as an Animal Lawyer — Career Pathways & Advice: Legislation

Kim Kelly, Animal Legal Defense Fund Legislative Affairs Director

Kim Kelly is the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Legislative Affairs Program Director. In this position, Kim works to develop and advance the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s key legislative initiatives to improve and create stronger animal protection laws. She received her Bachelor’s in English and Political Science from U.C. Berkeley. Kim was a merit scholar at Charleston School of Law, where she received her JD and was president of the school’s Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter. She also served as inaugural chair of the South Carolina Bar’s Animal Law Committee.

Praveen Varanasi, Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund Executive Director

Praveen Varanasi is the Executive Director of the Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization affiliated with ALDF and focused on advancing animal protection policy. He previously served as a general attorney in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of the Chief Counsel, and worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary and for the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Praveen earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was president of the school’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter. He holds a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Florida, and is admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.