Nicole Paquette director of legal and government affairs for Animal Protection Institute practicing animal law says demand for animal lawyers growing.

1. GCC PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Nicole Paquette: General Counsel and Director of Legal
and Government Affairs for the Animal Protection
Institute, Sacramento, CA
[By Jen Woods]
Animal law, a practice area that is only about 30 years old, is now a flourishing legal field. Aware of the growing demand for
animal lawyers, Nicole Paquette decided to pursue a career fighting for the underdog.
Paquette, who is now General Counsel and Paquette joined the institute in 1999 and In addition, Paquette oversees the institute’s
Director of Legal and Government Affairs was promoted to General Counsel two years litigation efforts in state and federal courts
for the Animal Protection Institute (API), later. In 2002, her role was changed to across the country. Oftentimes, the institute
initially considered specializing in women’s General Counsel and Director of Legal and takes legal action against organizations that
law. However, after researching law school Government Affairs. are mistreating animals. API is currently
programs, she became interested in animal suing Ringling Brothers and Barnum &
law. “I realized that there were a lot more The Animal Protection Institute, Bailey Circus, as well as its parent company,
women’s lawyers than animal lawyers, and I headquartered in Sacramento, CA, primarily Feld Entertainment, for mistreatment of
felt that the animals needed my voice more works on issues relating to wildlife, exotic Asian elephants, which is a violation of the
than probably women did,” Paquette said. animals, research animals, and farm Endangered Species Act.
animals. It is considered the leading
Disregarding the advice of many counselors, organization for exotic animal protection. The institute also works to enact new state
Paquette interned with animal groups while “We work on trying to prohibit the private and federal animal laws. However, the
she attended Vermont Law School. “[Many possession of exotic animals as pets,” institute focuses primarily on local and
people said] I should have interned at large Paquette said. state initiatives. For instance, last year the
firms, so I could at least be guaranteed a institute helped Kentucky and Arkansas pass
job,” Paquette explained. But her work at Paquette manages API’s legal department laws prohibiting the possession of exotic
nonprofits helped her realize that she did and develops strategies to handle all major animals as pets. Also, with the help of API,
not want to work for a big corporation or disputes and personnel issues. She reviews several states are currently in the process of
law firm. Instead, she wanted to work for a all of the institute’s contracts and materials passing new bills that would protect animals’
nonprofit that was helping animals. that will be sent to members and the public. rights, Paquette said.
Her hard work for nonprofit animal groups The institute is committed to protecting
ultimately paid off. Just one year after
Advice to Young Lawyers wildlife, as well, Paquette said. Last year,
graduation, equipped with the proper API challenged a California bill that would
experience and connections, Paquette “Be persistent because there have exempted nuisance animal control (pest
accepted the position of Government Affairs aren’t a lot of jobs out there. control) units, who trap and kill wild animals,
Coordinator at the Animal Protection At some point, when you know from fundamental competency requirements.
Institute, a national nonprofit organization The institute was instrumental in modifying
you really want to work in the
that works to protect animal rights. the bill, which now provides basic protections
animal field, it may seem like
for five animal species that are frequently
“I’ve been extremely lucky, but it’s also it’s never going to happen, but if trapped or poisoned because they are
because I kind of planned it out. I got you keep pushing and you keep “nuisance” animals.
involved right away with the Student Animal pursuing various organizations,
Legal Defense Fund group, and I went to the likelihood of it happening is The public plays an important role in API’s
conferences, and I met people. And so I legislative efforts. “We depend heavily on
greater than one would think,”
really put my name out there before I even our constituents, residents, and the general
Paquette said.
graduated from college,” she said. public to help us,” Paquette said.
PAGE continued on back

2. GCC PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
“For example, in order to get a bill passed, with their communities to make positive honors, from San Francisco State University.
you need people in that state writing their change,” Paquette said. She is a member of the District of Columbia,
own legislators. We send out our alerts far Massachusetts, and California bars.
and wide and post them on various listservs In an effort to keep the public informed, the
in the hopes that people are going to write institute publishes a quarterly magazine and
ON THE NET
their legislators and urge them to support sends weekly newsletters. The Action Alerts
a progressive piece of animal legislation,” and Announcements newsletter is geared
Paquette said. toward activists who want to help change Animal Protection Institute
legislation, while the API Bulletin newsletter www.api4animals.org
Therefore, public outreach is an targets animal rights supporters who want to
essential component of API’s campaigns. keep abreast of API’s actions. Vermont Law School
Representatives from the institute frequently www.vermontlaw.edu
speak at events to inform the public about Paquette graduated from Vermont Law
animal law. “We’re heavily dependent on School in 1998. In 1994, she earned a AnimalLaw.com
people showing up for those events, working Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with www.animallaw.com
PAGE