By day, Avery Demland, JD ’23, is drafting legal briefs. By night, she’s burning rubber on the racetrack, and steering her legal career and racing ambitions into high gear.
A fourth-generation racer, Demland grew up immersed in motorsports, following in the tracks of her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father. From an early age, she was equally drawn to the world of law — and today, she’s accelerating toward success in both.
Just a few weeks ago, Demland made history at the prestigious Winchester 400, a 400-lap super late model stock car race held at Winchester Speedway in Indiana. Widely considered a crown jewel of short-track racing, the event marked a milestone in her career: for the first time, Demland was one of only two women to start the race.
Her journey began at age seven, behind the wheel of a junior sprint car — a high-speed, entry-level form of dirt track racing designed for children. As she honed her skills, she transitioned into stock car racing, initially serving as a spotter and steadfast supporter for her father, Brian Demland. This year, she took over full-time driving responsibilities and assumed ownership of the team. Her father now supports her as crew chief.
Although she dreams of one day merging her legal and racing careers, Demland is content — and grateful — to pursue both passions independently for now.
“Like law school, racing requires an immense amount of support,” she says. “It’s a lifestyle, not a hobby.”
The road hasn’t always been smooth, but Demland embraces the challenges both on and off the track. “There are always obstacles. But you never give up. My advice to anyone considering law school is to persevere — if there’s a will, there’s a way.”
She credits ONU Law with giving her the confidence to thrive. “I had great role models in my professors — strong, amazing women who helped shape my path. It’s why I’m where I am today.”
“They advocated for me, and now I advocate for my clients every day. You don’t find that kind of support on a larger campus,” she adds.
Whether she's navigating the courtroom or the oval, Demland is always moving forward — with purpose, passion, and the grit to make history.