Spotlight: Francesca Fazio

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

My past two years with SALDF have been absolutely amazing and allowed me to do so many things, from legal research to community outreach, but my proudest and most favorite moments are seeing the campus come together. This semester, we ran an event about Cruelty Free Beauty and Hygiene. Not only was this event more crowded than any previous event SALDF has held, but it was probably one of the most attended events of any organization on campus this year. Not only was this event a testament to our organization’s networking and planning, but it also showed that we found an issue relatable, tangible, and changeable to the average person. Students who came learned about the true cruelty of animal testing, the current laws that do (or fail to) regulate testing practices, and how they can find and incorporate cruelty-free products into their own lives. This event, the product of months of planning to get donations and research on the topic, was so impactful that a staff member of the law school asked us to repeat it for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, which we happily did. This added an extra layer of pride as we got to educate and inspire the next generation of activists and cosmetics users!

Any other noteworthy experience?

One of my favorite experiences this year was being able to go to the Animal Law Conference with my e-board. It was truly a magical experience being surrounded by so many people who shared my passions and goals. I especially enjoyed the first day that was exclusively for students as we got to learn about different SALDF chapters’ initiatives, student papers, and network without peers and future colleagues. As the Animal Law field is small and everyone tends to know everyone, it was a great opportunity to start becoming part of that network. Additionally, the panels were so captivating and expanded, or sometimes even showed me for the first time, new, interesting, and developing topics in the field. Overall, the conference was incredibly inspiring and I can’t wait to attend in the future.

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

I have two main animal law-related goals for the year. One is personal, and one is for SALDF as an organization. For myself, I hope to do more writing and research on animal law issues and publish papers I’ve written in official publications and blogs. For the org, I hope to create/ expand student networking. First, locally getting in contact with other SALDF chapters in the greater NYC area, and then maybe even nationally. Through other networking experiences, I’ve met many people interested in animal law, but at universities without SALDF chapters. I hope to help support and build up these programs and connect the programs that do exist, so we can support each other! We have all done so many things independently, I can only imagine what we could accomplish together.

What are your plans/goals for post-graduation?

While graduation feels so far away, I know the ultimate goal is and always will be animal protection. At this time, I hope to build up my writing, litigation, and general legal experience, so I can work at a litigation organization fighting for animal rights, such as ALDF, the Humane Society, or the Animal Welfare Institute. I’m already starting this journey this summer as I will be interning with the Humane Society (recently rebranded as the Humane World for Animals). Until this goal is realized, I hope to stay within the environmental law and litigation sphere. Right now, my goal is to get barred and work in NY and NJ, but I’m open to where life takes me. This past summer, I worked in D.C. and had an amazing time. Overall, the exact path forward is uncertain, but the destination is clear and I can’t wait to reach it!

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

Talk to people! My greatest piece of advice is to get to know and talk to as many people in (and even out of) the field as possible. You never know what piece of information or connection you might create. Some of the coolest opportunities I’ve had came from word of mouth, and some of my best friends in law school came from our shared interest. Also, as I mentioned before, the animal law field is small, so it’s more than likely you will be surrounded by the same people. It pays to get to know them, so you can reconnect when you see them again or maybe help each other with different projects. On that note, also don’t be afraid to reach out to cool people! As a student, people want to help you and see you succeed!

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