Experience

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  Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

  • Housing Assistant Supervising Attorney

    • Dec 2022 - Present

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  Legal Assistance of Dakota County, Ltd.

  • Staff Attorney

    • Mar 2022 - Dec 2022

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  Mitchell Hamline School of Law

  • St Paul, Minnesota, United States

  • Reentry Clinic Staff Attorney/Assistant Teaching Professor

    • Feb 2021 - Feb 2022
    • St Paul, Minnesota, United States

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  Anoka County District Court

  • Anoka, Minnesota

  • Judicial Law Clerk

    • Jun 2017 - Aug 2018
    • Anoka, Minnesota

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  Legal Aid of East Tennessee

  • Knoxville, Tennessee Area

  • Cornell Graduate Fellow

    • Sep 2016 - Jun 2017
    • Knoxville, Tennessee Area

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  LAWNY- Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services

  • Americorps JD Fellow

    • May 2015 - Aug 2015

    Worked on the Reentry Project based in the office, helping address a variety of issues that serve as barriers to employment. Assisted with child support modifications and modifying conditions of parole, and issues related to the sealing of a drug-related conviction. Drafted an appeal to the New York State Division of Human Rights with regard to employer discrimination against ex-offenders in violation of state antidiscrimination laws.

  • Harold Oaklander Fellow

    • May 2015 - Aug 2015

    Worked on issues related to unemployment. Represented clients in telephone hearings in front of an Administrative Law Judge regarding denial of Unemployment Insurance benefits by the Department of Labor. Conducted research related to unemployment, including looking at how the state’s workforce centers and Rapid Response teams are utilized.

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  LAWNY- Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services

  • Ithaca, New York Area

  • Equal Justice America Intern

    • Oct 2014 - Mar 2015
    • Ithaca, New York Area

    Assisted attorney handling SSI/SSDI appeals. Assisted on case work, organized SSI files, and requested medical records to develop these cases. Drafted a brief in preparation for a Social Security hearing in front of an ALJ. Conducted research on New York State’s antidiscrimination laws affecting ex-offenders.

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  Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Summer Law Clerk

    • May 2014 - Aug 2014
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Worked with attorneys, conducted legal research, and prepared documents for trial. Wrote memos addressing topics including Fourth Amendment illegal search and seizure, illegal traffic stops, the validity of using criminal informants, involuntary intoxication as a defense for murder, and whether a learning disorder could negate a school-based criminal charge for a juvenile (the school having abrogated its duty to the student by calling the police, when the student had an IEP). Assisted attorneys with case and hearing preparation, and interviewed people charged with a variety of misdemeanors, both in and out of custody, for an ACLU survey addressing racial disparities in misdemeanor drug arrests.

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  Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc.

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Volunteer

    • Jun 2013 - Aug 2013
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Worked directly with clients, helping to locate sources of funding for overdue energy bills and negotiating payment plans with the power company to avoid utility shutoffs. Assisted on case work, conducted client interviews, organized SSI appeal files, transcribed hearing tapes, and performed other tasks for attorneys in the government benefits unit.

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  Minnesota Reading Corps

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Kindergarten Focused Literacy Tutor (Americorps)

    • Aug 2012 - Jun 2013
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Worked full time on a one-on-one basis and in small groups, primarily with kindergarten students who needed help practicing their pre-reading and reading skills. Planned daily lessons, assessed and monitored student progress, worked with student data, and communicated with parents and guardians.

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  Baltimore City Public Schools

  • Baltimore, Maryland Area

  • Baltimore City Teaching Fellow

    • Jun 2011 - Jun 2012
    • Baltimore, Maryland Area

    Taught 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English at the Excel Academy at Francis M. Wood High School, an alternative public high school in inner-city Baltimore. Planned daily 90-minute lessons, worked collaboratively with the school’s English department, provided small- and large-group instruction, and communicated with parents and guardians. The students at Excel Academy were largely youth who had not succeeded in traditional school programs. Most were parenting, many were on electronic ankle bracelets for past criminal acts, and most had literacy issues.

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  LAWNY- Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services

  • Ithaca, New York Area

  • Legal Assistant

    • Jun 2010 - May 2011
    • Ithaca, New York Area

    Conducted client intake interviews, compiled data, answered phones, filed, prepared documents for trial, and assisted with case work.

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  Metrowide Engagement on Shelter and Housing

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Intern

    • Jun 2009 - Aug 2009
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    MESH is a seven-county organization working to end homelessness in Minnesota. Wrote and edited website copy, conducted policy research, and wrote and compiled training materials (still being used) for “Homelessness 101” trainings.

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  Center for American Progress

  • Washington D.C. Metro Area

  • Intern

    • Jan 2009 - Apr 2009
    • Washington D.C. Metro Area

    The Center for American Progress is a non-profit think tank in Washington, D.C, dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action. Wrote and edited website copy for the “Mic Check Radio” program, conducted policy research, and compiled data.

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  Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless

  • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

  • Intern

    • May 2008 - Aug 2008
    • Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

    Conducted policy research, compiled data, and attended legislative work group meetings for the state’s “Commission to End Poverty by 2020.”