Experience

Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Services Program Manager & Attorney

  • Feb 2020 - Present



DC-MD Justice For Our Neighbors

• United States
• Legal Services

• Managing Attorney

  • Oct 2018 - Jan 2020

• Staff Attorney

  • Sep 2015 - Oct 2018

  • Provide legal representation to low-income immigrants before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Executive Office for Immigration Review (Baltimore and Arlington Immigration Courts).• Maintain large caseload including: affirmative/defensive asylum, U visas, T visas, VAWA, TPS, SIJS, removal defense, DACA, waivers, family-based petitions, adjustment of status, and naturalization.• Manage three legal clinics per month at host churches in Washington, D.C.; and Hyattsville, Baltimore, and Gaithersburg, MD to provide advice and consultation to immigrant community members. • Supervise part-time legal assistant, teams of volunteers, and interpreters in office and at legal clinics.• Manage office and legal services program as only attorney and only full-time employee.• Deliver Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations to communities throughout D.C./MD region.• Participate in advocacy through larger JFON network and community partnerships.



Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Staff Attorney

  • May 2013 - Aug 2015

  Staff Attorney for Access to Justice• Manage Detained Torture Survivors’ Legal Support Network, a legal services program that provides Know Your Rights presentations in detention facilities, screens for torture, assesses/ensures appropriate legal services, advocates for release to alternative to detention programs, and provides holistic post-release services: Conduct legal research and analysis on issues including the definition of torture, gender and gang-based asylum claims, changes to credible fear interview (CFI) practice, and criminal bars to asylum; Lead trainings on removal defense, legal services, pro bono development, and humanitarian claims; Manage federal grant, monitor & evaluate program, compile trends to feed advocacy, build capacity; Provide legal and technical support to partners and equip them to provide holistic legal services.• Provide legal representation on a pro bono basis to detained immigrants in removal proceedings.• Authored First Steps: An LIRS Guide for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Migrants Released from Detention, which provides information on rights, responsibilities, and eligibility for benefits based on immigration status. First Steps and status-specific supplements are available at: www.lirs.org/firststeps. • Advocate for legal and policy reforms such as community alternatives to detention, improved CFI, humane enforcement practices, increased ICE & CBP accountability, and improved parole policy.



Justice Centre Hong Kong

• Hong Kong
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Staff Attorney

  • Jan 2011 - Apr 2013

  Staff Attorney (Jan. 2011 – Dec. 2012) • Provided legal representation and advice to clients from African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries seeking asylum/refugee status before UNHCR at first instance, appeal, and re-opening stages. Conducted client intakes and assessments. Conducted legal and country research. Drafted legal briefs, client testimonies, and expert witness statements. Prepared and represented traumatized clients.• Developed expertise on sexual and gender-based violence claims and on working with torture victims.• Initiated and developed HKRAC’s approach to working with counselors of severely traumatized clients.• Supervised Refugee Law Clinic students on asylum cases at HK Univ. and Chinese Univ. of HK.• Trained and recruited pro bono attorneys, caseworkers, and interns; supervised work at all stages. • Developed pro se materials, provided instruction and education on pro se representation.• Conducted domestic and regional advocacy for more fair and transparent legal procedures at UNHCR.Pro Bono Attorney (January 2013 – April 2013)• Continued drafting and editing legal briefs on a pro bono basis after returning to the U.S.



Our Place, DC

• Legal Fellow

  • Sep 2009 - Jun 2010

  • Provided direct legal services to women involved in the criminal justice system in civil and criminal law, including immigration, public benefits, bankruptcy, and family law including parental rights, divorce, and domestic violence.• Represented clients in parole revocation hearings and facilitated transfer to rehabilitative facilities. • Drafted legal briefs and motions for submission to DC Superior Court and U.S. Parole Commission.• Developed pro se and other educational materials, conducted trainings in and out of confinement.• Supervised interns, volunteers, and legal assistant.



American University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Student Attorney

  • Aug 2008 - Jun 2009

  • Successfully represented clients in complex asylum cases and adjustment of status applications. Won challenging Central American gender and domestic violence-based asylum case. Conducted interviews and counseling; conducted legal and country-condition research; drafted and submitted briefs, motions, and memoranda to Immigration Judges and U.S. Dept. of Justice; drafted and conducted direct examination questions; composed and delivered opening and closing arguments, communicated with witnesses; drafted personal statements; prepared persecuted client for trial.• Represented two organizations at the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights in ongoing cases: Drafted and submitted merits brief for Jamaican case on police brutality and extra-judicial killing. Coordinated Working Group and submitted memoranda on indigenous land rights in Ecuador.

• Dean's Fellow & Volunteer

  • Sep 2006 - Aug 2008

  • Provided updates and analyses on substantive and procedural developments at the ICTY and the War Crimes Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina.• Drafted legal briefs and memoranda for international criminal tribunal clients, including the International Criminal Court, on subjects including interlocutory appeal, victim participation, and due process.• Helped develop a guide on international criminal law for a Bosnian judicial client, to support the reform of Bosnia’s new constitution, criminal codes, and legal system to comply with international law.



Our Place, DC

• Law Clerk

  • Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

  • Provided direct legal services to women involved in the criminal justice system in a variety of areas of criminal law and civil law, including family law, bankruptcy, the intersection of criminal law and immigration law, civil rights, and parole revocation. • Conducted jail and prison visits, investigated confinement conditions. • Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda of law. • Provided direct legal services to women involved in the criminal justice system in a variety of areas of criminal law and civil law, including family law, bankruptcy, the intersection of criminal law and immigration law, civil rights, and parole revocation. • Conducted jail and prison visits, investigated confinement conditions. • Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda of law.



Human Rights Brief

• United States
• Writing and Editing

• Co-Editor-in-Chief

  • Aug 2007 - Jun 2008

  • Directed, edited, and produced three issues of legal publication focusing on human rights. Managed all editing and production. • Solicited articles from field practitioners, managed staff of 26 law students, and created staff trainings. • Directed, edited, and produced three issues of legal publication focusing on human rights. Managed all editing and production. • Solicited articles from field practitioners, managed staff of 26 law students, and created staff trainings.



Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN)

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Media Production
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Legal Intern

  • Jul 2007 - Aug 2007

  • Wrote daily legal briefs and analyses of trials at the War Crimes Chamber in Sarajevo. • Researched sentencing policies and gender-related litigation at the War Crimes Chamber. • Wrote daily legal briefs and analyses of trials at the War Crimes Chamber in Sarajevo. • Researched sentencing policies and gender-related litigation at the War Crimes Chamber.



Human Rights Brief

• United States
• Writing and Editing

• Staff Writer: International Criminal Court Column

  • Sep 2006 - May 2007

  • Wrote column covering substantive and procedural legal developments at the International Criminal Court. • Wrote column covering substantive and procedural legal developments at the International Criminal Court.



World Federalist Movement/Institute for Global Policy

• Netherlands
• International Affairs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Program Associate

  • Jan 2004 - Apr 2006

  • Co-created and managed Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Project, dedicated to advocating governments and the international community to respond more effectively to genocide and humanitarian crises.• Created and executed advocacy strategies for endorsement of R2P and the ICC at meetings with UN, government, and non-government officials; wrote advocacy letters, press releases, and reports. • Co-created and managed Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Project, dedicated to advocating governments and the international community to respond more effectively to genocide and humanitarian crises.• Created and executed advocacy strategies for endorsement of R2P and the ICC at meetings with UN, government, and non-government officials; wrote advocacy letters, press releases, and reports.



Human Rights Watch

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• International Justice Intern

  • Jan 2002 - May 2003

  • Researched trial of Slobodan Milošević and other ICTY issues, wrote daily summaries and legal analyses.• Conducted advocacy and implementation of International Criminal Court Campaign. • Researched trial of Slobodan Milošević and other ICTY issues, wrote daily summaries and legal analyses.• Conducted advocacy and implementation of International Criminal Court Campaign.