Experience

Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Staff Attorney- Independent State Agency

  • 2021 - Present

  • Execute comprehensive legislative advocacy on the intersection of individuals with mental health challenges and the policy sectors of healthcare, education, criminal justice systems, and psychiatric voluntary and involuntary care. • Engage with diverse coalitions, government agencies, and community partners to promote, develop, and up-lift alternatives to law enforcement for mental health crisis response across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Innovate approaches to accountability for law enforcement when interacting with community members in mental health crisis. • Lead class action litigation for failure to provide ADA accommodations by a government entity for those seeking parole in Massachusetts, specifically for those with mental health and cognitive challenges. • Participate in ongoing best practices policy implementation on access to court functions for those with mental health challenges. Show less



Colorado State Public Defender

• United States
• Legal Services
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Deputy Public Defender

  • Aug 2018 - Nov 2021

  Deputy Public Defender • Sustain a case-load of around 150 felony cases at a time, ranging from traffic offenses to homicide. • Skillfully author, file, and argue client centered motions on diverse legal issues including probation revocations, post-conviction relief, and evidentiary and Constitutional violations. • Appointed, and act as, the Defense Bar Representative to the Forth Judicial District DUI Diversion and Recovery Court. Spearheaded the restructuring of the DUI Diversion program, including the Participant Contract and Bench Instructions. Attend weekly staffing meetings and attend the DUI Diversion docket. • Execute outstanding client management skills through exceptional organization and client-centered practice, while maintaining productive professional relationships with Deputy District Attorney counterparts, and the Court. Due to outstanding advocacy and courtroom management, assigned to two hardship courtrooms. • Collaborated, designed and enhanced office-wide training, while mentoring newly hired and promoted attorneys. • Nominated for Junior Attorney of the Year for outstanding advocacy and litigation. • Chaired 27 jury trials. Show less



Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

• United States
• Legal Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Law Clerk- Trial Division

  • Aug 2017 - May 2018

  • Delivered high quality work product at every stage of case development. Key achievements included producing two successful motions to dismiss, a granted motion for sanctions for failure to preserve evidence, and jury instructions. • Worked independently with clients, incarcerated and on bond, on the progression of various aspects of their cases and in development of their pre-sentencing letters. • Awarded responsibility for all litigation preparation and motions for a misdemeanor child sexual abuse case due to exemplary work and dedication. • Supported lead counsel in preparation, response, and adaptation of cases from initial pick-up to hearings, to jury trials, and sentencings. Show less



Public International Law & Policy Group

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Research Associate

  • Feb 2017 - May 2018

  The Public International Law & Policy Group, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, is a global pro bono law firm providing free legal assistance to states and governments involved in peace negotiations, drafting post-conflict constitutions, and prosecuting war criminals. To facilitate the utilization of this legal assistance, PILPG also provides policy formulation advice and training on matters related to conflict resolution.Conduct extensive legal and country research to draft and edit corresponding memoranda for global clients in South Sudan, Iraq, and Syria on issues related to post-conflict constitution drafting, peace negotiations, war crimes prosecutions, and transitional justice.Participate in meetings with on-the-ground PILPG personnel and work closely with senior counsel and the President of PILPG on special projects.PILPG is spearheading a consortium to develop a human rights documentation toolkit designedto help bridge the gap between the needs of documenters on the ground and the vast array ofavailable documentation resources. PILPG partners with other international organizations to train a network of regional actors in transitional justice programming and assist them in more effectively engaging in transitional justice planning within their state. PILPG partners with other international organizations to assist civil society and other stakeholders in South Sudan to increase and coordinate their documentation efforts. PILPG partners with local and other international organizations to build the capacity of local Iraqis to document human rights violations.Operated as team expert on Reintegration of Former Extremists for the Countering Violence Handbook and Judicial Institutional Reform for the Transitional Justice Handbook. Handbooks published by the Public International Law and Policy Group are distributed as resources in peace agreement negotiations, post-conflict constitution drafting, and State Department training around the world. Show less

• Research Associate

  • Apr 2016 - Apr 2017

  Conduct extensive legal and country research to draft corresponding memoranda for globalclients in South Sudan, Iraq, and Syria on issues related to post-conflict constitutiondrafting, peace negotiations, war crimes prosecutions, and transitional justice.PILPG works with civil society organizations in Burma to support the peace process;partners with international and local organizations in Iraq to build the capacity of local Iraqis todocument human rights violations; and provides legal assistance to the National Coalition forSyrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces.HRD Documentation Toolkit:PILPG is spearheading a consortium to develop a human rights documentation toolkit designedto help bridge the gap between the needs of documenters on the ground and the vast array ofavailable documentation resources.Iraq Documentation:PILPG partners with local and other international organizations to build the capacity of localIraqis to document human rights violations.South Sudan:PILPG is providing support to civil society-led working groups on transitional justice andwomen’s engagement in the peace process.South Sudan Documentation:PILPG partners with other international organizations to assist civil society and otherstakeholders in South Sudan to increase and coordinate their documentation efforts. Show less



US Government Accountability Office

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Summer Legal Honors Intern

  • May 2017 - Sep 2017

  • Conducted extensive legal research on topics requested by Congress and GAO Professionals while working on the Defense Capabilities and Management Team, as well as the Financial Management and Assurance Team • Presented conclusions and recommendations to GAO attorneys and analysts • Researched, wrote and presented conclusions through memorandum on audit support topics to assist GAO attorneys • Worked with and assisted attorneys in GAO-audit support work • Synthesized extensive statutory, regulatory, and policy material in both memoranda and oral presentations for non-legally trained employees. • Advanced the GAO mission of meticulous, nonpartisan, and impeccably detailed review of Federal Agency programing to improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. • Specialized in Department of Defense and NDAA regulation. Produced a regulatory review which was published in the Government Accountability Office Congressional Report on Department of Defense housing. Show less



Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legal Intern for Regulations and Security Standards, and Civil Enforcement Groups

  • May 2016 - Aug 2016

  Tasked with reviewing claims, both internal and external, and providing legal memorandum to the Office of Chief Counsel. Participate in research and development of new regulations, while also exploring possible improvements to current regulation. • Advised and authored memoranda for the 9-11 Commission Act Vulnerability Assessment and Security Planning Rule Task Force, on the development of new Federal Regulations. • Supported regulatory enforcement litigation, brought by the Department of Homeland Security against private entities, by drafting court documents, preparing and participating in depositions, and conducting discovery review and analysis. • Synthesized diverse statutory and regulatory materials under time, and security sensitive, conditions. Show less



Bryn Mawr College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Career and Professional Development Office Student Ambassador

  • Dec 2010 - May 2014

  Triaged students coming into the office as well as provided advice and assistance on resumes, cover letters, online resources, and in the internship and job search. Assisted and supported staff in clerical duties, development, preparation and administration of workshops, and data management. Preformed general office duties while managing and training new student employees. Triaged students coming into the office as well as provided advice and assistance on resumes, cover letters, online resources, and in the internship and job search. Assisted and supported staff in clerical duties, development, preparation and administration of workshops, and data management. Preformed general office duties while managing and training new student employees.



Office of US Senator Jeanne Shaheen

• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Summer Intern

  • Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

  Worked for advancement of the legislative and governmental affairs of Senator Shaheen as well as in the needs and desires of the New Hampshire community. Contributed to the office with congressional research, and communication with constituents on the phone and through written material. Further responsible for general organization and assistance, congressional errands and the entrance of collected data. Worked for advancement of the legislative and governmental affairs of Senator Shaheen as well as in the needs and desires of the New Hampshire community. Contributed to the office with congressional research, and communication with constituents on the phone and through written material. Further responsible for general organization and assistance, congressional errands and the entrance of collected data.



Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Events and Outreach Intern

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  Contributed to the advancement of the Planned Parenthood Organization mission in legislative and governmental affairs as well as in the wider community. Planned, coordinated and executed multiple community events, a national Youth Leadership Conference and various visibility outreach tables. Assisted with office organization, entrance of collected data, and critical research. Contributed to the advancement of the Planned Parenthood Organization mission in legislative and governmental affairs as well as in the wider community. Planned, coordinated and executed multiple community events, a national Youth Leadership Conference and various visibility outreach tables. Assisted with office organization, entrance of collected data, and critical research.



Strawbery Banke Museum

• Portsmouth, NH

• Classroom and Events Educator

  • Jun 2009 - Aug 2011

  o Youth Summer Programs Teacher: Oversaw the safety and education of campers’ ages 6-16 years. Managed program activities, directed camp lessons and trained role-players ages 12-16 to work as living parts to the museum. o Workshop Teacher for School Field Trips: Acted at representative and educator of the museum in work with students on specified lessons. o Events Volunteer Coordinator and Educator: Directed and taught the public while representing the museum during community events. Coordinated volunteers and oversaw programing Show less