By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Animals have been a passion for Kaitlyn Basel since childhood. In high school, she volunteered at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing; and became involved in the fight for environmental preservation and protection of endangered species. During undergrad, she was on a research team that spent a year observing the behavioral development of juvenile elephants at the Indianapolis Zoo.
So, it’s no surprise Basel chose Michigan State for law school, because of the Animal Law program—and where she is the recipient of this year’s Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section. The annual award, that Basel received on April 11, recognizes a 3L law student at a Michigan law school for substantial contributions to animal law.
Basel was nominated by Professor David Favre and Animal Law Fellow Angie Vega.
With an undergrad degree in criminology, Basel has dreamed of entering the legal field for as long as she can remember. Her father and grandfather were both lawyers.
Several personal experiences led to a growing passion for criminal justice. She was a victim of sexual assault at the hands of Larry Nassar, the former MSU sports-medicine and USA Gymnastics doctor who sexually abused girls and young women for decades. A dancer who was first abused by Nassar at the age of 12. Basel gave her victim impact statement at his sentencing trial.
Nassar’s abuse led Basel to suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and when she began law school, she looked into getting a service dog. In the spring of her 1L year, she brought home Major, a black Labrador Retriever, now trained to perform tasks to assist Basel with management of PTSD.
As part of an MSU?Law research class, Basel wrote a paper about the legal protections around service dogs, and the difference between service dogs and other types of assistance animals in the eyes of the law.
Basel also has Chevy, a pitbull-mix; and he is the reason she is a strong advocate against pitbull discrimination and misinformation.
During her 2L year, she learned Grosse Pointe enacted a city-wide ban on pitbulls.
“Since this issue was incredibly close to my heart, as part of my Animal Law class with Professor David Favre, I wrote a research paper about the overall effectiveness of breed-specific bans, their pitfalls and inadequacies, and proposed alternative ways to use legislation to prevent instances of dog-related violence,” she says. “Grosse Pointe has since revoked their pitbull ban, and the Michigan House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that would prevent any cities or municipalities from imposing breed-specific legislation.”
Basel has enjoyed serving as vice president of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, . The organization hosted several informational events including Speak Out for Farm Animals month, a Halloween event for Happy Feet Pet Rescue, and a Companion Animal Estate Planning event; and held fundraisers for the Capital Area Humane Society.
Basel, who received a Dean's Fellowship in Leadership, has enjoyed several legal internships. Her 1L summer, she worked in the Ionia County Prosecutor’s Office, and after her 2L year was selected to participate in PAAM’s summer internship program.
She also acted as lead prosecutor in jury trials in both District and Circuit Court.
As secretary of the Public Interest Society, she enjoyed working with other students interested in working in the public sector, and for the opportunity to meet attorneys working in public interest jobs.
“I went to law school so I could make a difference for the people in my community, and I feel an understanding and passion for public service is an important part of that,” she says.
After graduation, Basel’s goal is to begin a career in prosecution, working with cases involving sexual abuse and special victims—and one day to become a trial court judge.
She also plans to continue advocating for animal welfare and the protection of animal rights.
“I intend to remain a dedicated supporter and volunteer at local animal shelters and humane societies, and hope that I’ll be able to use my law degree to make the world a better place for all living creatures,” she says.
Legal News
Animals have been a passion for Kaitlyn Basel since childhood. In high school, she volunteered at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing; and became involved in the fight for environmental preservation and protection of endangered species. During undergrad, she was on a research team that spent a year observing the behavioral development of juvenile elephants at the Indianapolis Zoo.
So, it’s no surprise Basel chose Michigan State for law school, because of the Animal Law program—and where she is the recipient of this year’s Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section. The annual award, that Basel received on April 11, recognizes a 3L law student at a Michigan law school for substantial contributions to animal law.
Basel was nominated by Professor David Favre and Animal Law Fellow Angie Vega.
With an undergrad degree in criminology, Basel has dreamed of entering the legal field for as long as she can remember. Her father and grandfather were both lawyers.
Several personal experiences led to a growing passion for criminal justice. She was a victim of sexual assault at the hands of Larry Nassar, the former MSU sports-medicine and USA Gymnastics doctor who sexually abused girls and young women for decades. A dancer who was first abused by Nassar at the age of 12. Basel gave her victim impact statement at his sentencing trial.
Nassar’s abuse led Basel to suffer Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and when she began law school, she looked into getting a service dog. In the spring of her 1L year, she brought home Major, a black Labrador Retriever, now trained to perform tasks to assist Basel with management of PTSD.
As part of an MSU?Law research class, Basel wrote a paper about the legal protections around service dogs, and the difference between service dogs and other types of assistance animals in the eyes of the law.
Basel also has Chevy, a pitbull-mix; and he is the reason she is a strong advocate against pitbull discrimination and misinformation.
During her 2L year, she learned Grosse Pointe enacted a city-wide ban on pitbulls.
“Since this issue was incredibly close to my heart, as part of my Animal Law class with Professor David Favre, I wrote a research paper about the overall effectiveness of breed-specific bans, their pitfalls and inadequacies, and proposed alternative ways to use legislation to prevent instances of dog-related violence,” she says. “Grosse Pointe has since revoked their pitbull ban, and the Michigan House of Representatives is currently considering a bill that would prevent any cities or municipalities from imposing breed-specific legislation.”
Basel has enjoyed serving as vice president of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, . The organization hosted several informational events including Speak Out for Farm Animals month, a Halloween event for Happy Feet Pet Rescue, and a Companion Animal Estate Planning event; and held fundraisers for the Capital Area Humane Society.
Basel, who received a Dean's Fellowship in Leadership, has enjoyed several legal internships. Her 1L summer, she worked in the Ionia County Prosecutor’s Office, and after her 2L year was selected to participate in PAAM’s summer internship program.
She also acted as lead prosecutor in jury trials in both District and Circuit Court.
As secretary of the Public Interest Society, she enjoyed working with other students interested in working in the public sector, and for the opportunity to meet attorneys working in public interest jobs.
“I went to law school so I could make a difference for the people in my community, and I feel an understanding and passion for public service is an important part of that,” she says.
After graduation, Basel’s goal is to begin a career in prosecution, working with cases involving sexual abuse and special victims—and one day to become a trial court judge.
She also plans to continue advocating for animal welfare and the protection of animal rights.
“I intend to remain a dedicated supporter and volunteer at local animal shelters and humane societies, and hope that I’ll be able to use my law degree to make the world a better place for all living creatures,” she says.
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