Experience

Resolution Systems Institute

• United States
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Eviction Mediation Program Manager

  • Jan 2022 - Present

  - Oversees programs providing mediation services for tenants and landlords going through the eviction process in three northern Illinois county courts. The program’s goal is to provide a high-quality, neutral mediation for parties in eviction court and increase access to justice for tenants in a vulnerable situation - Directly works with participants to explain eviction process, enroll in program, access vital support services and schedule for mediation - Manages and provides administrative support to roster of independent mediators, including process design, relevant training and quality control - Regularly collaborates with stakeholders, including judges, social service organizations, government agencies, funders and more to discuss eviction trends, update partners on program developments and ensure public knowledge of program - Maintains state foundation grant through monthly reporting, auditing data and writing grant proposals for new and repeat funding - Supervises three other positions under eviction mediation program, including hiring, onboarding and workflow oversight Show less



Open Communities

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Fair Housing

  • Apr 2019 - Jan 2022

  - Investigates discriminatory housing practices through document review, witness interviews, FOIA, “testing” program, census/GIS data and more- Enforces fair housing laws through civil litigation, settlement negotiations and state/local administrative bodies- Educates both housing providers and potential victims of discrimination on fair housing rights and responsibilities- Oversees a fair housing “testing” program which utilizes secret shoppers to uncover disparate treatment of protected classes. Work includes tester recruitment, training, investigation implementation, chain of custody consideration, evidence review and payment- Maintains two federal grants from HUD totaling ~$500,000 per year. Responsibilities include quarterly reporting, complying with auditing and monitoring requirements and composing grant proposals for new and repeat funding- Manages other positions under fair housing program, including hiring, onboarding and workflow oversight. Show less

• Fair Housing Testing Coordinator & Staff Attorney

  • Apr 2018 - Apr 2019



Nemeroff Law Offices, Ltd.

• Greater Chicago Area

• Attorney

  • Sep 2016 - Apr 2018

  - Manage a variety of plaintiff personal injury cases, including car accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice and workers’ compensation - Depose various parties, as well as prepares clients for depositions - Appear in Cook County Circuit Court Law Division daily for case management conferences and motion calls - Research, write and argue motions covering an assortment of issues that arise during personal injury cases - Negotiate settlements with defense attorneys and participates in settlement conferences - Answer interrogatories, requests for productions and propounds discovery requests to opposing parties Show less



Michael D. Robbins & Associates; Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Neslund

• Greater Chicago Area

• Law Clerk

  • Jul 2015 - Aug 2016

  Michael Robbins and Jeffrey Neslund are law partners who regularly collaborate on plaintiffs’ civil rights cases, primarily focusing on excessive force and false arrest, the most notable being their representation of the estate of Laquan McDonald. I serve as the sole law clerk for both their individual and joint practices and my duties entail: - Researching and preparing legal briefs during all stages of litigation covering a variety of issues; topics ranging from qualified immunity to the Prisoner’s Litigation Reform Act - Engaging in motion practice by writing motions for summary judgment and responding to motions to dismiss - Drafting discovery responses, requests and general correspondence with opposing counsel - Reviewing, compiling and organizing all discovery materials from a case’s inception to its conclusion at trial or settlement - Investigating the potential of civil rights cases by reviewing local police reports, sending FOIA requests and interviewing eye-witnesses Show less



Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Law Clerk

  • Mar 2015 - Jul 2015

  - Researched a wide range of topics primarily concerning the Fair Housing Act - Drafted requests for reasonable accommodations from landlords on behalf of disabled clients - Performed intake interviews to determine whether the client’s problems could be resolved by the agency - Participated in settlement conferences to negotiate early solutions to cases - Contributed in weekly enforcement staff meetings to discuss case updates and brainstorm strategies - Researched a wide range of topics primarily concerning the Fair Housing Act - Drafted requests for reasonable accommodations from landlords on behalf of disabled clients - Performed intake interviews to determine whether the client’s problems could be resolved by the agency - Participated in settlement conferences to negotiate early solutions to cases - Contributed in weekly enforcement staff meetings to discuss case updates and brainstorm strategies



Orleans Public Defenders

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Law Clerk

  • Mar 2015 - May 2015

  - Wrote appeals to the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn erroneous trial court evidentiary rulings - Prepared attorneys for probable cause motions hearings, including drafting cross examination questions - Assisted division by brainstorming defense case theories - Wrote appeals to the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn erroneous trial court evidentiary rulings - Prepared attorneys for probable cause motions hearings, including drafting cross examination questions - Assisted division by brainstorming defense case theories



Loyola University Chicago

• Greater Chicago Area

• Library Assistant

  • Oct 2011 - Jun 2014

  Circulation desk attendant. Aided students in legal research strategies. Circulation desk attendant. Aided students in legal research strategies.



Illinois Attorney General's Office

• United States
• Legal Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Law Clerk

  • May 2013 - Aug 2013

  Clerkship with the Criminal Enforcement Division, aided in prosecutions through oral arguments and expert testimony research. Clerkship with the Criminal Enforcement Division, aided in prosecutions through oral arguments and expert testimony research.



New Orleans Criminal District Court

• New Orleans, La

• Law Clerk

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  Clerk for the Honorable Karen K. Herman, Section I. Observed criminal trials, motion hearings, and daily court call; Researched evidentiary issues; Composed jury instructions. Clerk for the Honorable Karen K. Herman, Section I. Observed criminal trials, motion hearings, and daily court call; Researched evidentiary issues; Composed jury instructions.



The Historic New Orleans Collection

• Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Volunteer Docent

  • Jul 2010 - Jan 2011

  Created and administered informational tours through New Orleans history museum. Created and administered informational tours through New Orleans history museum.