Experience

Neighborhood Defender Service

• United States
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Education Staff Attorney

  • Oct 2023 - Present



New York Law School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Adjunct Professor

  • Aug 2022 - Present

  Adjunct professor in the Education Law Clinic. Mentor and supervise a clinic student. Provide opportunities for clinic student to do legal research and writing assignments, develop client representation skills and manage case load of education cases. Co-teach seminar class. Adjunct professor in the Education Law Clinic. Mentor and supervise a clinic student. Provide opportunities for clinic student to do legal research and writing assignments, develop client representation skills and manage case load of education cases. Co-teach seminar class.



Brooklyn Defenders

• United States
• Legal Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Senior Staff Attorney & Team Leader

  • Nov 2014 - Oct 2023

  Address the educational needs of young people in Brooklyn who are involved in the criminal justice or family regulation systems through legal representation and informal advocacy. Advocacy includes ensuring students receive the appropriate special education supports and services; representing students at school suspension and special education due process hearings; and assisting families in navigating the public school system in New York City. Collaborate with attorneys and social workers to… Show more Address the educational needs of young people in Brooklyn who are involved in the criminal justice or family regulation systems through legal representation and informal advocacy. Advocacy includes ensuring students receive the appropriate special education supports and services; representing students at school suspension and special education due process hearings; and assisting families in navigating the public school system in New York City. Collaborate with attorneys and social workers to support BDS’s family defense, criminal defense and immigration defense clients. As Team Leader, mentor and advise team of staff attorneys on case strategy and client advocacy skills. Supervising mentor attorney for New York Law School Education Law Clinic students since Fall 2020.

• Staff Attorney

  • Nov 2014 - Aug 2019



Peter K. Ruhry Keys to Hope Foundation Inc.

• Garden City, NY

• Co-Founder and Secretary

  • May 2012 - Aug 2022

  Co-founded nonprofit in sibling’s memory to raise awareness of Substance Use Disorders. Formed partnerships with VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, Adelphi University School of Social Work, Young People in Recovery, I Am Not Anonymous and UNITE to Face Addiction. Co-founded nonprofit in sibling’s memory to raise awareness of Substance Use Disorders. Formed partnerships with VH1 Save the Music Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, Adelphi University School of Social Work, Young People in Recovery, I Am Not Anonymous and UNITE to Face Addiction.



Racial Justice Project

• New York Law School

• Post-Graduate Fellow

  • Sep 2014 - Nov 2014

  Assisted in drafting an amicus curiae brief to be submitted to the Supreme Court analyzing the use of disparate impact in the context of the Fair Housing Act and other anti-discrimination laws. Argued that disparate impact is critical in order to challenge systemic racial discrimination. Drafted blog post discussing the presence of school safety officers in New York City public schools and the effect these officers have on the school-to-prison pipeline. Assisted in drafting an amicus curiae brief to be submitted to the Supreme Court analyzing the use of disparate impact in the context of the Fair Housing Act and other anti-discrimination laws. Argued that disparate impact is critical in order to challenge systemic racial discrimination. Drafted blog post discussing the presence of school safety officers in New York City public schools and the effect these officers have on the school-to-prison pipeline.



Suspension Representation Clinic

• New York Law School

• Law Student Intern

  • Aug 2013 - Apr 2014

  Provided legal representation to low-income students in New York City public schools who received superintendent suspensions. Conducted interviews with students and parents. Represented students before hearing officers in order to safeguard student’s right to an education and to advocate for student’s right to re-enter the school community. Provided additional advocacy and representation for students with special education needs. Drafted successful appeal to Chancellor of the New York City… Show more Provided legal representation to low-income students in New York City public schools who received superintendent suspensions. Conducted interviews with students and parents. Represented students before hearing officers in order to safeguard student’s right to an education and to advocate for student’s right to re-enter the school community. Provided additional advocacy and representation for students with special education needs. Drafted successful appeal to Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education advocating on behalf of a client who was deprived of her right to a fair hearing as guaranteed under federal, state and local law. Show less Provided legal representation to low-income students in New York City public schools who received superintendent suspensions. Conducted interviews with students and parents. Represented students before hearing officers in order to safeguard student’s right to an education and to advocate for student’s right to re-enter the school community. Provided additional advocacy and representation for students with special education needs. Drafted successful appeal to Chancellor of the New York City… Show more Provided legal representation to low-income students in New York City public schools who received superintendent suspensions. Conducted interviews with students and parents. Represented students before hearing officers in order to safeguard student’s right to an education and to advocate for student’s right to re-enter the school community. Provided additional advocacy and representation for students with special education needs. Drafted successful appeal to Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education advocating on behalf of a client who was deprived of her right to a fair hearing as guaranteed under federal, state and local law. Show less



Legal Action Center

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Intern

  • Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

  Advised clients with criminal histories on ways to gather evidence of rehabilitation and explained employment discrimination laws in New York. Reviewed and summarized rap sheets. Worked on legal and policy issues affecting the re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals. Drafted initial version of letter to the editor of the New York Law Journal about the effects of the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms. Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda about client confidentiality issues and… Show more Advised clients with criminal histories on ways to gather evidence of rehabilitation and explained employment discrimination laws in New York. Reviewed and summarized rap sheets. Worked on legal and policy issues affecting the re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals. Drafted initial version of letter to the editor of the New York Law Journal about the effects of the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms. Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda about client confidentiality issues and organizational standing. Show less Advised clients with criminal histories on ways to gather evidence of rehabilitation and explained employment discrimination laws in New York. Reviewed and summarized rap sheets. Worked on legal and policy issues affecting the re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals. Drafted initial version of letter to the editor of the New York Law Journal about the effects of the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms. Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda about client confidentiality issues and… Show more Advised clients with criminal histories on ways to gather evidence of rehabilitation and explained employment discrimination laws in New York. Reviewed and summarized rap sheets. Worked on legal and policy issues affecting the re-entry of formerly incarcerated individuals. Drafted initial version of letter to the editor of the New York Law Journal about the effects of the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms. Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda about client confidentiality issues and organizational standing. Show less



New York Law School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Legal Practice Teaching Assistant

  • Aug 2012 - May 2013

  Drafted and reviewed legal research exercises. Worked with students to improve their legal writing and research skills. Drafted and reviewed legal research exercises. Worked with students to improve their legal writing and research skills.



Lawyers Alliance for New York

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Intern

  • May 2012 - Aug 2012

  Conducted intake meetings with nonprofits seeking pro bono legal assistance, and identified appropriate representation and resources. Drafted and reviewed contracts, resolutions, and agreements. Assisted nonprofits with transactions pertaining to incorporation, tax-exempt status, and annual filings. Conducted intake meetings with nonprofits seeking pro bono legal assistance, and identified appropriate representation and resources. Drafted and reviewed contracts, resolutions, and agreements. Assisted nonprofits with transactions pertaining to incorporation, tax-exempt status, and annual filings.



Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Litigation Paralegal

  • Feb 2009 - May 2011

  Reviewed pleadings, filed documents in State and Federal courts, and translated German language documents. Assisted with case management. Prepared for depositions and hearings. Reviewed pleadings, filed documents in State and Federal courts, and translated German language documents. Assisted with case management. Prepared for depositions and hearings.



Fulbright Commission

• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Fulbright Scholar - English Teaching Assistant

  • Sep 2007 - Jul 2008

  Taught English in a German middle school. Worked extensively with students who were first generation immigrants and who spoke German as a second language. In addition to assisting students with their English language skills, taught students about American history and culture. As one of 20 teachers in the Diversity Initiative, developed after-school cultural literacy programs. Created multi-cultural library with books and magazines in German, English, Russian, and Turkish. Taught English in a German middle school. Worked extensively with students who were first generation immigrants and who spoke German as a second language. In addition to assisting students with their English language skills, taught students about American history and culture. As one of 20 teachers in the Diversity Initiative, developed after-school cultural literacy programs. Created multi-cultural library with books and magazines in German, English, Russian, and Turkish.