Student News: 2025 Student Animal Legal Defense Award Samantha Joles

Congratulations to rising 3L Samantha Joles, who has been named the recipient of the 2025 Student Animal

Legal Defense Award. Originally from Wesley Chapel, Florida, Joles studied psychology and criminology at FSU during undergrad and

now channels her passion for animal advocacy into both her legal studies and nonprofit work. She is the owner and director of Feline Fine Animal Rescue, an organization focused on rescuing and rehoming animals in need.This past spring, Joles externed with Ralph DeMeo, an FSU Law adjunct professor teaching animal law and a shareholder at Guilday Law. She attended legislative and commissioner meetings and authoring several legal articles. Her most recent piece, “Horseracing: The Unbridled Truth,” was published in the Florida Bar Journal, and she previously wrote “Legal Battles Against Animal Abuse, Puppy and Kitten Mills, and Other Inhumane Activities” for the ABA’s GPSolo Journal.

"I am honored to receive this award. Thank you to the Animal Law Section for providing me with tools to combine my two passions: the law and my love for animals."