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Faculty & Staff

Pamela D. Frasch, Esq., Assistant Dean of the Animal Law Program & Executive Director of the Center for Animal Law Studies

Executive Director Pamela Frasch joins Lewis & Clark Law School from the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a national non-profit animal protection law organization that seeks to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. In 1996, Ms. Frasch created the ALDF Criminal Justice Program which has since assisted law enforcement and animal advocates in investigating and prosecuting thousands of animal abuse and neglect cases nationwide.

In addition to her duties with the Center, Ms. Frasch is co-author of the premier American legal casebook in the field, Animal Law, Cases and Materials now in its third edition (Carolina Academic Press, 2006) and used in most Animal Law courses being taught in the United States. She is also co-author, with Professor Kathy Hessler, of the forthcoming Animal Law in a Nutshell (Thomson West, 2010). She has taught survey and advanced courses in Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School since 1998.

Ms. Frasch is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on issues of Animal Law and is the principal author of Oregon’s first felony anti-cruelty law. She has authored or co-authored many articles and book chapters in the field, and has been recognized by the Humane Society of the United States and the Oregon Humane Society for her contributions.

Kathy Hessler, Esq., Professor & Clinic Director

Professor Kathy Hessler comes to the Center from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she both taught and served as Associate Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Study of Conflict and Dispute Resolution. She was also a Founding Director of the Summer Legal Academy, a program of the Center for Social Justice designed to support the interest of minority high school students in the law. She taught in the Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic Center, and also taught courses on Animal Law, Mediation, and Focuses Problem Solving.

Prior to teaching at Case, Professor Hessler taught in clinical programs at Cornell Law School, the University of Dayton Law School, and the Capital University School of Law. She has been an advisor to the Animal Law Review since 1998.

Professor Hessler has published:

- Where Do We Draw the Line Between Harassment and Free Speech? An Analysis of Hunter Harassment Law, 3 Animal Law Journal 129 (1997). CITED in People v. Sanders, 696 N.E.2d 1144, 1150 (Ill. S.Ct., 1998).

- Early Efforts to Suppress Protests: Unwanted Abolitionist Speech, 7 Boston University Public Interest Law Journal 185 (1998).

- Bridge of Hope, Journey to Justice: An Essay, Volume 3, Issue 1 Seattle Journal for Social Justice 429 (Fall/Winter 2004).

- Mediating Animal Law Matters, 2 Journal of Animal Law and Ethics 21 (2007).

- Ohio Non-violent Civil Disobedience Protest Manual, 1996, updated 2002, 2003.

Professor Hessler is also co-author, with Executive Director Pamela Frasch, of the forthcoming Animal Law in a Nutshell (Thomson West, 2010).

Professor Hessler received her B.A. in Sociology from George Washington University, her J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary, and her LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to focusing her career on becoming a law professor, Ms. Hessler practiced law with Northern Virginia Legal Services in their Fairfax Office.

Laura Handzel, J.D., Animal Law Program Assistant

Laura Handzel joins the Center for Animal Law Studies as its first Program Assistant. Previously, Ms. Handzel was associated with a law firm in Tucson, Arizona, while also focusing much of her time on grassroots animal welfare and humane education work. Ms. Handzel earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she also completed a Certificate of Special Training in Environmental Law & Policy Analysis. Ms. Handzel is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Arizona. She speaks French and studied at the University of Pau, France. Ms. Handzel has significant managerial, funding, and media relations work experience in the legal and non-profit fields. When not working for the Center, Ms. Handzel spends her time managing her three rescued dogs and rescued cat.

Amber Lange, Legal Assistant

Ms. Lange graduated from Portland Community College in June of 2008 with an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies. She has plans to next work towards her Bachelor's Degree. Before joining the Lewis & Clark Law School team in July of 2008, Ms. Lange worked as a Legal Assistant at a downtown Portland law firm specializing in family law. Ms. Lange also served as a judicial clerk in Washington County for the presiding family law judge. She has over five years of experience as a legal assistant. When not working, Ms. Lange loves spending time golfing, playing soccer, attending a variety of sporting events, and spending time with her family and two dogs.