Spotlight: Amanda Houdeschell

What Animal Legal Defense Fund student chapter activities are you proudest of and why?

A highlight of our work this year was organizing a Zoom event with ALDF staff members Alicia Prygoski and Christine Ball-Blakely, where we discussed biogas and how students could advocate against a state bill in Michigan that would have incentivized biogas production. We also hosted Monica Miller, a senior staff attorney from the Nonhuman Rights Project, who presented on their ongoing lawsuit in Michigan representing seven chimpanzees held captive in a roadside zoo.

Any other noteworthy experience?

I also serve on the executive board for another student group, Lawyers for Active Wellness. We organized a fantastic event called Spartans Set Sail, a sailing and networking event that brought together law students and attorneys for an afternoon of outdoor wellness and community-building. Among the lawyers I invited were Alyssa Crowell from ALDF and Bee Friedlander from Attorneys for Animals. We received feedback from multiple students that this was the best event they have attended throughout their law school careers, and I was very excited to use it as an opportunity to promote the field of animal law.

What is an animal law related goal of yours for the upcoming academic year?

I would like to get more involved with the Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. I was recently invited to join the Section’s events committee and I look forward to helping plan future events that promote the advancement of animal law in the state. I am also very excited to have been selected to compete in the National Animal Law Competitions and hope to learn a lot from this opportunity.

What are your plans/goals for post-graduation?

I hope to secure a fellowship with an animal protection organization, focusing on strategic litigation that advances animals’ legal rights. I also have an interest in representing activists who have been arrested for animal rescue or other forms of civil disobedience. Long term, I would love to become a professor, with a particular interest in remaining involved in litigation by teaching students hands-on through a clinic.

What is one piece of advice that you’d like to pass on to other Animal Legal Defense Fund student chapter leaders?

Take care of yourself! It is no joke that 2L works you to death if you extend yourself both academically and extracurricularly. Try to be mindful of when the workload becomes too much and take steps to mitigate this if it happens. Seek support from the rest of your chapter because delegating is part of excelling as a leader.

Learn more about the other 2025 Advancement in Animal Law Scholarship winners.