Cory Dodds
Lead Benefits Staff Attorney at Kentucky Legal Aid- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Bar, Western District of Kentucky
U.S. District CourtsMar, 2021- Oct, 2024 -
Certified Housing Counselor
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJul, 2020- Oct, 2024 -
Attorney
Kentucky Bar AssociationOct, 2018- Oct, 2024
Experience
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Kentucky Legal Aid
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United States
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Legal Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Lead Benefits Staff Attorney
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Jul 2020 - Present
Manage and supervise team of benefits counselors, paralegals, and volunteers to ensure competent provision of legal services, compliance with legal ethics, and fulfillment of grant billing goals.Challenge termination of public benefits and overpayments through written and oral advocacy in federal and state administrative hearings and appeals for a variety of federal programs, including Social Security, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, unemployment insurance benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.Counsel elders and individuals with disabilities on Medicaid and estate planning to establish and preserve eligibility for public benefits programs.Conduct legal research and craft persuasive legal briefs, memoranda, motions, etc. supporting preservation of benefits in federal and state administrative hearings and courts.Develop program-wide expertise in administrative and benefits law by cross-training fifteen staff attorneys and providing substantive review of their work, monitoring federal and state legislation and proposed rulemakings to anticipate impact on benefits programs, drafting advocacy materials, leading subject-matter task forces, and providing strategic leadership to diversify KLA’s caseload through innovative practices.Lead community education and presentations on public benefits programs and elder law services; collaborate with and complete referrals to community and statewide nonprofits and agencies to promote access to public benefits.Assist Grants & Pro Bono Director with initial applications for federal and state grants and reporting on existing grants.All other duties of Staff Attorney listed below. Show less
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Staff Attorney
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Jan 2019 - Present
Independently maintain high-volume (100+ active clients), diverse litigation caseload in all areas of poverty law (e.g., housing, consumer, domestic relations, benefits), representing marginalized individuals, including victims of interpersonal violence, immigrants and refugees, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals, in economically-depressed southcentral Kentucky through all phases of court and administrative proceedings.Helped more than 880 individuals, obtained more than $1.2 million in property, assets, and public benefits, and secured more than $21,500 in recurring monthly income, such as child or spousal support and continuation of public benefits.Designed and implemented innovative Eviction Diversion Clinic to prevent unlawful evictions and foreclosures through “on demand” intake, counsel and advice, and extended representation. Certified by the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development as a housing counselor. Developed eviction diversion legal internship program and secured grant funding from Equal Justice Works Rural Summer Legal Corps program to host legal intern in summer 2020; supervised legal intern’s substantive legal work and timekeeping.Secure protective orders for victims of interpersonal violence, including at “on demand” dockets. Obtain dissolution of marriage, custody, and child/spousal support for victims of interpersonal violence. Completed National Institute for Trial Advocacy-certified Trial Skills Institute through American Bar Association Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence.Coordinated successful transition to a new document management system (Sharepoint) as liaison between internal stakeholders and technology contractor and successful completion of Technology Improvement Grant; designed and implemented program-wide client management metadata and file naming conventions. Show less
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The White House
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United States
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Government Administration
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700 & Above Employee
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Office of Science and Technology Policy
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Jan 2016 - May 2016
Evaluated voluminous documents for responsiveness, disclosure, or redaction pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act using electronic discovery software. Provided counsel and advice to federal employees on issues arising under federal ethics law. Monitored agency rulemaking proceedings on telecommunications and technology. Applied original legal analysis on complex issues of first impression in administrative law. Evaluated voluminous documents for responsiveness, disclosure, or redaction pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act using electronic discovery software. Provided counsel and advice to federal employees on issues arising under federal ethics law. Monitored agency rulemaking proceedings on telecommunications and technology. Applied original legal analysis on complex issues of first impression in administrative law.
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Georgetown University Law Center
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Institute for Public Representation: Communications and Media Clinic
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Aug 2015 - Dec 2015
Conducted legal research, developed positions, and drafted public comments for Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. before the Federal Communications Commission in several rulemaking proceedings. Drafted documents for pending litigation before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Conducted legal research, developed positions, and drafted public comments for Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. before the Federal Communications Commission in several rulemaking proceedings. Drafted documents for pending litigation before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
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U.S. Department of Commerce
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Government Administration
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700 & Above Employee
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National Telecommunications and Information Administration
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May 2015 - Aug 2015
Drafted select provisions of the Obama Administration’s consultation letter in the Sixth Triennial Digital Millennium Copyright Act Section 1201 Rulemaking. Conducted legal research on complex privacy and consumer protection issues of first impression for the Administration’s multi-stakeholder processes. Developed agency policy positions on proposed Lifeline reform. Drafted select provisions of the Obama Administration’s consultation letter in the Sixth Triennial Digital Millennium Copyright Act Section 1201 Rulemaking. Conducted legal research on complex privacy and consumer protection issues of first impression for the Administration’s multi-stakeholder processes. Developed agency policy positions on proposed Lifeline reform.
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Research Assistant
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Jan 2015 - May 2015
Conducted legal research and editing for Professor Brad Snyder's forthcoming book "The House of Truth," which is about about judges, lawyers, prominent politicos, and others who lived at or frequented a Dupont Circle political salon known as the House of Truth Conducted legal research and editing for Professor Brad Snyder's forthcoming book "The House of Truth," which is about about judges, lawyers, prominent politicos, and others who lived at or frequented a Dupont Circle political salon known as the House of Truth
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Federal Communications Commission
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United States
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Telecommunications
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700 & Above Employee
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Enforcement Bureau
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Aug 2014 - Nov 2014
Conducted legal research and drafted legal memoranda regarding the Enforcement Bureau’s goals and priorities; reviewed documents and testimony relevant to Enforcement Bureau actions; and edited Small Business Compliance Guides for accuracy.
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Wireless Bureau
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May 2014 - Aug 2014
Conducted legal research; drafted public notices, briefing sheets, and legal memoranda; assisted with stakeholder and industry outreach; and assisted with planning and conducting Commission’s public workshops.
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WKU Student Government Association
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United States
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Government Administration
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1 - 100 Employee
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Student Body President and Student Regent
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May 2012 - May 2013
Served as the official elected representative of over 21,000 students, including as the chief executive of the Student Government Association, member of the university governing body, the Board of Regents (including Academic Affairs and Student Affairs committees), and ex officio member of the University Senate. Served as the official elected representative of over 21,000 students, including as the chief executive of the Student Government Association, member of the university governing body, the Board of Regents (including Academic Affairs and Student Affairs committees), and ex officio member of the University Senate.
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State Sentinel
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Jun 2009 - Jun 2010
Represented approximately 15,000 members statewide; responsibilities included the development and facilitation of leadership workshop materials for high school students and speech writing and delivery. Also served as 2009 National FFA Convention delegate and ex officio member of the Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators Executive Committee. Represented approximately 15,000 members statewide; responsibilities included the development and facilitation of leadership workshop materials for high school students and speech writing and delivery. Also served as 2009 National FFA Convention delegate and ex officio member of the Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators Executive Committee.
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Education
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2013 - 2016
Georgetown University Law Center
Juris Doctor -
2009 - 2013
Western Kentucky University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Political Science
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