Spotlight: Paige Scatena

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

This past academic year was the first year of the SALDF chapter at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served as vice president. I am most proud of the executive board’s unwavering dedication to reactivating the chapter this year. We partnered with UIC’s Animal Law Program and hosted multiple hybrid events as part of an engaging animal law lecture series during the spring semester. I am proud that these events often reached maximum capacity. By attending these events, UIC Law students have gone from having little to no knowledge of animal law to being highly engaged and eager to get involved in animal advocacy and protection. This series has created opportunities for valuable discussions with guest speakers, each contributing groundbreaking work to the field. One noteworthy event involved a compelling discussion and screening with Dr. Emily Trunnell. It was an honor to host Dr. Trunnell and learn about the profound impacts of animal experimentation on both science and students. The screening of Test Subjects, a powerful short documentary featuring Dr. Trunnell’s and others’ experiences, offered a crucial new perspective on this topic. It was an impactful event that ended with students asking questions to further expand their knowledge on the topic and the impact it has on humans and non-human animals.

Any other noteworthy experience?

Another noteworthy experience of our first year was the success of our engaging panel discussions. Our first panel delved into the complex legal issues surrounding animal agriculture, while the second brought together four experts with firsthand experience in research labs. These discussions not only effectively educated students about these critical topics and the legal field’s efforts to address them but also sparked students’ interest in animal law. This surge of interest has allowed our chapter to see great growth in our first year. We recognized the importance of a broad reach, so we offered these events in a hybrid format which allowed us to connect with a wider audience and amplify our impact.

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

While this past year we focused on growing the chapter, this upcoming year our goal is to broaden the Animal Law Program at UIC and continue to become more active on campus. This past academic year marked the successful return of the Animal Law Program at UIC, with an animal law course offered in the spring semester. We hope to continue to cultivate this program by actively gauging student interests and engaging in discussions with administration. Our chapter would like to continue to organize events to allow students to learn more about animal law issues and meet professionals working in the field. However, we also want to focus on creating opportunities for students to actively engage in animal advocacy within our community whether this be through legislation or volunteer work. We are working diligently to establish our SALDF chapter as a lasting force at UIC Law and will continue to expand our reach and impact next year.

Personally, I would like to gain more experience advocating for animals in the legal field this upcoming year. As the incoming President of the Chicago Animal Law Student Initiative (CALSI), I am eager to continue fostering a stronger Chicago Animal Law community and continue working on projects that will benefit our community. CALSI brings together professionals and law students from Chicago-area law schools with the goal of identifying potential reforms to local and state law and policy to better protect animals. These projects not only contribute to animal protection but also provide students with invaluable hands-on experience. My aim is to lead projects that will have a lasting positive impact and inspire students to get involved in animal protection.

What are your plans/goals for post-graduation?

After graduation, I am committed to using my degree to continue advocating for animal rights. While I am still open-minded to the exact type of work I will be doing once I graduate, I am particularly drawn to legal challenges to the constitutionality of Ag-Gag laws and litigation addressing “humane-washing.” However, I plan to use these next two years to gain practical experience and refine my focus within animal law. Ultimately, my goal is to establish legal precedents that expand the protections and rights of animals. I intend to leverage my background in activism and strategic campaign planning to support the development of impactful animal protection legislation.

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

One piece of advice that I’d like to pass on to other ALDF student chapter leaders is to never underestimate the power you hold and remember who you are doing this for, the animals. Please don’t get discouraged if your chapter starts only as a small group of students, you can still have an impact! I am a firm believer that as an activist I may never be aware of my greatest accomplishment. Every time you organize an event, send a letter, or engage in a conversation you are having an impact on individuals. The hope is that these individuals then go on to do great things to save animals. My activism journey stemmed from one encounter with an individual that set up a table at a concert to educate people on captivity. This one person will never know what an impact he had on the animal community through engaging with me. The dedication of a small group of individuals can have a lasting impact. As law students, we have the power to foster change and inspire future lawyers to make the world a better place for animals! Use your passion to organize consistent events that will engage current members and recruit new ones. Law school is busy but it is critical to dedicate time to organize events and create a community on campus. I always believe that your passion allows you to make the time no matter how busy you are. Animals are being exploited in our world and need our help. It is important to continue fighting for animals and your dedication for the movement will inspire others to do the same.

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