Experience

Disability Rights Washington

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

• Director of AVID Program

  • 2017 - Present

• Associate Director of Legal Advocacy

  • 2014 - 2017

• Attorney

  • Aug 2009 - 2014

  Represented individual clients by investigating abuse and neglect allegations, conducting legal research, drafting and arguing motions, and assisting in mediation. Provided callers who have disability-related legal issues with self-advocacy tips, legal information, and appropriate referrals. Wrote amicus briefs in several cases regarding issues ranging from special education to criminal law to right to counsel for youth in dependency proceedings. Assisted in class action litigation and projects affecting Washington’s psychiatric hospitals, prisons, and children’s mental health system. Starting in 2011, spent significant portion of time on prison issues, including regularly attending meetings with prison administrators. Assisted DRW in getting grants to expand prison and jail-related work and headed prison-related project at DRW.



Washington Appellate Project

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Part-time Criminal Appellate Attorney

  • Jul 2008 - Apr 2011

  Provided full representation of indigent criminal appeals, including researching applicable law, writing legal arguments, formatting briefs and tables of authorities, and oral argument.



Nielsen, Broman & Koch

• Contract Criminal Appeals Attorney

  • Apr 2008 - Jun 2008

  Reviewed clerk’s papers and verbatim reports of proceedings in two felony appeals. Researched and drafted argument portions of appellant’s opening briefs.



Snohomish County Public Defender Association

• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Criminal Defense Attorney

  • Nov 2005 - Mar 2008

  Professionally and compassionately represented indigent criminal defendants in pre-trial hearings, motions, and trials. Promoted from misdemeanor to felony division after nine months. Adult felony attorney for over a year, juvenile attorney for four months, district court felony and research attorney for three months.



Federal Public Defender

• United States
• Legal Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Legal Intern

  • Jun 2004 - Sep 2004

  Researched and drafted memoranda about a variety of criminal issues, including search and seizure, federal sentencing guidelines, and retroactivity. Observed criminal trials, sentencings, and appellate arguments.



Honorable Steven Gonzalez, King County Superior Court

• Judicial Extern

  • Jan 2004 - Mar 2004

  Researched issues related to pending pre-trial motions and drafted memoranda. Observed court proceedings including oral arguments for various pre-trial motions, sentencings, and criminal trials.