Spotlight: Miranda Groh

Miranda Groh is a 2022 recipient of the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Advancement in Animal Law Scholarship. This award honors students who demonstrate a commitment to the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission: “to advance the interests and protect the lives of animals through the legal system.” Recipients are actively involved in their Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter while in law school and show promise in the field after graduation.

Miranda Groh is a third-year student at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. She served as the 2021–22 Co-Director of the L&C Animal Legal Defense Fund student chapter and is currently Managing Editor of Animal Law Review. Last year, Miranda served as Animal Law Review’s Symposium Editor, and she planned a day-long event filled with discussion on the progress achieved in various areas of animal law.

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

I am extremely proud of our annual Animal Law Week, every year, but especially this year! We heard from more than a dozen amazing speakers, and one of our outstanding board members, Miranda Eisen, organized an awesome Animal Law Networking Event. With the help of ALDF, we also introduced the L&C community to some of the best plant-based food in Portland! Animal Law Week is important to me—and to the school as a whole—because it gives us time to come together as a community and raise awareness about important issues in the movement. Perhaps most importantly, it is an educational week, with law students learning about new issues and how to tackle them, and our peers learning how they can make small lifestyle changes to help animals.

Any other noteworthy experience?

We volunteered at Green Acres Farm Sanctuary outside of Portland and got to spend time with some adorable rescued animals. It was hard work too, and we all got a little taste of what it takes to sustain even a small farm!

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

I’m hoping to participate in our International Animal and Environmental Law Clinic on campus next academic year.

What are your plans/goals for post-graduation?

After graduation, I look forward to getting as much practice as possible working with federal law and learning the ins and outs of civil litigation, hopefully working with a federal judge. I plan to use this experience to advocate on behalf of animals and the environment with a nonprofit organization down the road. I am particularly interested in working on farmed animal welfare and food safety issues.

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

Don’t forget to plan fun events! It’s easy to get caught up in academic/educational events, and they definitely have their own value, but sometimes a movie screening or community networking event can bring a much needed break from the seriousness of the school setting. Serving great food is always a good way to get folks interested too.

Learn more about the other 2022 Advancement in Animal Law Scholarship winners.