Professor Jessica Rubin founded UConn’s Animal Law Clinic and worked with animal rights groups to pass and implement the groundbreaking 2016 Desmond’s Law, which allows courts to assign legal advocates, usually law students or lawyers working pro bono, to advocate for justice in animal abuse cases. It was the first law of its kind in the nation, but now several states have passed or are considering similar legislation. Rubin grew up surrounded by abandoned and abused animals. Her mother ran a rescue organization for dogs, cats, and wildlife. “It’s gratifying to use my legal skills to help animals, building on the humane values that were part of my upbringing and continue as important parts of my work and my life,” says Rubin. That’s one of her own rescues, Holly, with Rubin above.