For Sophia Pastorini, J.D. ’24, the University of Miami School of Law is more than just a former stomping ground—it’s the current headquarters for her mission to redefine legal advocacy. As a post-doctoral research and environmental law advocacy fellow at the School of Law, Pastorini is transforming her passion for the planet and its inhabitants into a powerful dual career that bridges high-stakes indigenous advocacy with the critical task of mentoring future attorneys.
Pastorini’s rise to this role follows a storied law school career where she became a force in the niche field of animal law. A cum laude graduate and Animal Legal Defense Fund scholarship recipient, she didn’t just study the law; she challenged its boundaries, winning the eleventh annual Animal Law Writing Competition and placing as a finalist in the National Animal Law competitions in legislative drafting and lobbying, where she advocated for legislative reform on the national stage.
A foundation of advocacy and global insight
Pastorini’s legal career is rooted in a commitment to using the law as a tool for systemic change. Reflecting on her time at Miami Law, she points to her leadership of the school's Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter as a pivotal moment.
"One of my most memorable experiences at Miami Law was serving as president of our school’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund," Pastorini said. "In that role, I was able to travel to the Florida state capital in Tallahassee to advocate for the interests of animals in our state".
Her advocacy extended beyond state lines. Through the UN Negotiations course, Pastorini traveled to COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to study the global impacts of industrial animal agriculture. These experiences fueled her scholarly work, including her published article, “Neither Covered nor Excluded: Impacts of Speciesism on Aquatic Animal Experimentation under the Animal Welfare Act,” in the Animal Law Review.
Bridging education and litigation
In her current fellowship, Pastorini balances high-stakes legal work with academic support. She serves as a consulting attorney on the Environmental Justice Clinic’s Miccosukee Tribe case working with the Tribe to advance advocacy efforts aimed at restoring the Everglades. Simultaneously, she works alongside Alexis Martinez the Associate Dean for Bar Success and Lawyering Excellence at Miami Law to prepare recent graduates for the bar examination.
"Part of my role involves preparing graduates to take and pass the bar examination by running the alumni mentorship program, supporting graduates to keep them motivated throughout bar prep, and lecturing in the classroom,” Pastorini said. “The other part of my role as a consulting attorney with the Environmental Justice Clinic includes legal research and drafting, leading client calls, supervising students, and delivering guest lectures.”
A vision for the future
Pastorini’s trajectory—from an intern with the EJC to a post-doctoral fellow—reflects a career dedicated to those often overlooked by the legal system. Looking forward, she hopes to transition her experience into working for an organization that focuses on protecting animals.
"My experiences at Miami Law influenced my career trajectory by reinforcing my commitment to using the law as a tool for systemic change on behalf of animals and vulnerable communities," Pastorini said. "I would also one day love to return to Miami Law to teach an Animal Law course as a way to give back to the institution that shaped me and to work for an organization that is tackling the many ways we exploit animals—whether for food, clothing, entertainment, or scientific research.”
As she continues her fellowship, Pastorini remains focused on her primary goal: influencing the next generation of advocates to approach their work with passion and the highest ethical standards.
Read more about the School of Law’s environmental area of study.
