By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Attorney Maggie Marshall may owe two elephants for her career in animal law.
After earning a B.A. in Screen Arts and Cultures, cum laude, from the University of Michigan, a wildlife videography internship in South Africa profoundly deepened her love for animals.
But in a terrifying moment, when filming two bull elephants fighting, one of them charged Marshall and her mentor.
“He spotted us, locked eyes, and for a few intense moments, we were completely frozen. He mock charged several times, coming alarmingly close before eventually turning away. It was terrifying, but also strangely humbling,” she says. “In that moment, I felt both the raw power of wildlife and a profound sense of connection.
“That encounter reminded me that animals are not just subjects of fascination or study, but are sentient, intelligent beings with agency, and they deserve our respect and protection. That experience still shapes how I advocate for animals today.”
Marshall earned her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law, where she served as an Articles Editor for the International Law Review.
Marshall, who worked part-time as a legal assistant at a criminal defense firm during 2L and 3L years, was also heavily involved in MSU Law’s ALDF student chapter; and worked in the school’s Animal Welfare Clinic.
“It gave me a deeper understanding of how the law can be used as a tool for meaningful change, and it solidified my commitment to using my legal career to advance animal protection,” she says.
After graduation, Marshall worked as an Assistant Prosecutor in Wexford County, handling animal-related cases.
She then spent 18 months as Legal Advocacy Counsel at the international nonprofit Animal Equality, leading litigation and legislative efforts addressing the systemic maltreatment of animals in industrial agriculture. Her work included filing private complaints to urge courts to bring animal cruelty charges against individuals and corporations involved in abuse, as well as spearheading local legislative campaigns; these included an effort to ban the sale in Ann Arbor of foie gras—a luxury food product made through the force-feeding of ducks and geese.
“My time at Animal Equality helped me grow tremendously, both as an attorney and as an advocate, and further reinforced my commitment to using the law as a powerful tool to protect farmed animals.”
Now a Criminal Justice Fellow for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Marshall assists in training and educating key stakeholders nationwide on animal cruelty cases, does extensive work with private complaint statutes, and has several cases in development.
“Being part of this innovative and justice-driven work at ALDF is both inspiring and deeply meaningful to me,” she says. “I love my job at ALDF and am lucky to work with some of the brightest and most compassionate people I’ve ever met.”
Recent work includes developing creative legal strategies to combat systemic cruelty in large-scale commercial operations, including industrial agriculture, puppy mills, and fur farms. A recently completed project, in collaboration with the group Animal Partisan, involved using a private complaint statute in Minnesota, where private citizens can file search warrant applications or criminal complaints directly with the court.
“Together, we filed an application for a search warrant alleging violations of Minnesota’s animal cruelty statute, which requires a ‘change of air’ for animals,” Marshall says. “The case focused on a company that killed over 50,000 turkeys using ventilation shutdown plus, a deeply inhumane method of mass killing that involves sealing barns and pumping in heat until the animals die slow, painful deaths.”
A member of the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section, and of Attorney For Animals, the skills developed studying screen arts at U-M aid in her advocacy.
“As a lawyer, it's essential not just to understand the legal issues, but also to make them accessible and compelling,” she says.
“My screen arts background helps me frame complex animal protection issues in a clear, emotionally resonant way, whether I’m writing legal arguments, preparing presentations, or contributing to public awareness campaigns.”
Legal News
Attorney Maggie Marshall may owe two elephants for her career in animal law.
After earning a B.A. in Screen Arts and Cultures, cum laude, from the University of Michigan, a wildlife videography internship in South Africa profoundly deepened her love for animals.
But in a terrifying moment, when filming two bull elephants fighting, one of them charged Marshall and her mentor.
“He spotted us, locked eyes, and for a few intense moments, we were completely frozen. He mock charged several times, coming alarmingly close before eventually turning away. It was terrifying, but also strangely humbling,” she says. “In that moment, I felt both the raw power of wildlife and a profound sense of connection.
“That encounter reminded me that animals are not just subjects of fascination or study, but are sentient, intelligent beings with agency, and they deserve our respect and protection. That experience still shapes how I advocate for animals today.”
Marshall earned her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law, where she served as an Articles Editor for the International Law Review.
Marshall, who worked part-time as a legal assistant at a criminal defense firm during 2L and 3L years, was also heavily involved in MSU Law’s ALDF student chapter; and worked in the school’s Animal Welfare Clinic.
“It gave me a deeper understanding of how the law can be used as a tool for meaningful change, and it solidified my commitment to using my legal career to advance animal protection,” she says.
After graduation, Marshall worked as an Assistant Prosecutor in Wexford County, handling animal-related cases.
She then spent 18 months as Legal Advocacy Counsel at the international nonprofit Animal Equality, leading litigation and legislative efforts addressing the systemic maltreatment of animals in industrial agriculture. Her work included filing private complaints to urge courts to bring animal cruelty charges against individuals and corporations involved in abuse, as well as spearheading local legislative campaigns; these included an effort to ban the sale in Ann Arbor of foie gras—a luxury food product made through the force-feeding of ducks and geese.
“My time at Animal Equality helped me grow tremendously, both as an attorney and as an advocate, and further reinforced my commitment to using the law as a powerful tool to protect farmed animals.”
Now a Criminal Justice Fellow for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Marshall assists in training and educating key stakeholders nationwide on animal cruelty cases, does extensive work with private complaint statutes, and has several cases in development.
“Being part of this innovative and justice-driven work at ALDF is both inspiring and deeply meaningful to me,” she says. “I love my job at ALDF and am lucky to work with some of the brightest and most compassionate people I’ve ever met.”
Recent work includes developing creative legal strategies to combat systemic cruelty in large-scale commercial operations, including industrial agriculture, puppy mills, and fur farms. A recently completed project, in collaboration with the group Animal Partisan, involved using a private complaint statute in Minnesota, where private citizens can file search warrant applications or criminal complaints directly with the court.
“Together, we filed an application for a search warrant alleging violations of Minnesota’s animal cruelty statute, which requires a ‘change of air’ for animals,” Marshall says. “The case focused on a company that killed over 50,000 turkeys using ventilation shutdown plus, a deeply inhumane method of mass killing that involves sealing barns and pumping in heat until the animals die slow, painful deaths.”
A member of the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section, and of Attorney For Animals, the skills developed studying screen arts at U-M aid in her advocacy.
“As a lawyer, it's essential not just to understand the legal issues, but also to make them accessible and compelling,” she says.
“My screen arts background helps me frame complex animal protection issues in a clear, emotionally resonant way, whether I’m writing legal arguments, preparing presentations, or contributing to public awareness campaigns.”
A
Criminal Defense Fellow at the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Maggie
Marshall is pictured with her fiancé Henry Majoros, and their dog Manny.
(Photo courtesy of Maggie Marshall)
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