Title: Contract Attorney
Company: Animal Legal Defense Fund
Location: Bradenton, Florida, United States
Nicole Jergovic Harris, JD, Contract Attorney at Animal Legal Defense Fund, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in litigation, conflict resolution, and animal law.
Ms. Harris was immersed in the legal field and investigations from an early age, thanks to her father, who served as a dedicated detective. She initially pursued an education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English literature in 1997. As an undergraduate, she developed a strong communication and analytical thinking foundation, skills that would later serve her well in the courtroom. She continued her studies at Marquette University Law School, graduating with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2000. Ms. Harris also gained valuable experience through several legal internships, including working on the multi-state tobacco litigation that resulted in the Master Settlement Agreement through the Criminal Litigation and Consumer Protection Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice. She also interned as a lead prosecutor at the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office Domestic violence unit and worked at the workers compensation law firm of Hawks Quindel, S.C., between 1998 and 2000.
Ms. Harris was admitted to the United States District Court Bar for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in 2000 and was a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2008. She has been a member of the Oregon State Bar since 2002 and is currently on the House of Delegates for the Oregon State Bar. Her legal career began as an intern with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office prosecuting domestic violence in 1999, and then as an assistant district attorney in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, in 2001, where she gained her first experience as the lead litigation attorney. Ms. Harris subsequently served as a lead-level deputy district attorney between 2003 and 2023. She has been a member of the Animal Cruelty Advisory Committee of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys since 2017.
During her time as a prosecutor, Ms. Harris handled high-profile cases involving violent crimes, including gang homicides, assaults, and shootings. She became the primary attorney in her office to handle animal cruelty cases, for which she became known nationally. Moreover, she was a volunteer and team leader at the Oregon Humane Society from 2007 to 2018. She fostered animals through organizations such as the Oregon Humane Society and The Pixie Project.
Outside of her responsibilities in the courtroom, since 2023, Ms. Harris has found further success as a senior vice president and associate general counsel at Sherlock’s Home Base LLC and as an in-house counsel for CrowdDoing. She has remained active as a speaker, sharing her passion and knowledge of “Trial and Testimony” with groups such as third-year veterinary students at Ohio State University through her work with the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. She previously served as an adjunct assistant professor at Western Business College in Portland, Oregon, in 2002. She was appointed senior vice president of operations at J&H Law LLC from 2001 to 2003. She served on the Board of Advisors for CorePaws from 2017 to 2018. Ms. Harris continues to excel as a contract attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, a testament to her long-standing passion for animal law.
Ms. Harris’ professional achievements have not gone unnoticed, having been recently recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Professional Member in 2024. In 2015, she was honored as the “Best Animal Law Attorney” by Spot Magazine. Notably, Ms. Harris was previously presented with the Diamond Collar Award by the Oregon Humane Society in 2012.
Renowned for her resilience, hard work, and commitment to her profession and causes, Ms. Harris has aided the legal community through writing and public speaking. She has proudly authored national conference programs and been a speaker for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. She offered her wealth of expertise as a member of the development committee for the Multnomah County Justice Reinvestment Program, which reduced incarceration costs while lowering recidivism rates, saving taxpayers $42.3M in reduced prison costs. In the coming years, she envisions shifting her attention toward the corporate sector, where she aims to become affiliated with a growing company and help expand its legal team.
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