Experience

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  University Of Florida

  • Attorney At Student Legal Services

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  University of Florida

  • Gainesville, Florida, United States

  • Staff Attorney at Student Legal Services

    • Mar 2022 - Present
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States

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  Third Judicial Circuit Court of Florida

  • Lake City, Florida, United States

  • Senior Staff Attorney

    • Jun 2021 - Mar 2022
    • Lake City, Florida, United States

    Drafted memoranda, opinions, and orders. Reviewed briefs and case files and conducted legal research. Advised circuit court judges in seven counties on pending litigation and issues.

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  The Office of the Public Defender, 5th Judicial Circuit

  • Florida

  • Assistant Public Defender

    • Jun 2015 - Jun 2021
    • Florida

    Zealously advocated for indigent clients charged with criminal offenses in both County and Circuit CourtsLitigated numerous jury trials, including complex forensic, medical, and computer-related subject mattersManaged a caseload averaging 80 cases at any given time, with charges including drugs, weapons, fraud, arson, child abuse, sexual battery, involuntary civil commitment, and murder

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  UF Law Center for Governmental Responsibility

  • Gainesville, Florida

  • Research Assistant for Professor Joan Flocks

    • Jan 2014 - Mar 2017
    • Gainesville, Florida

    After receiving the Book Award in Social Justice Lawyering, Professor Flocks offered me this research position. I evaluate and visit Florida PACE Centers for at-risk girls as well as conducting extensive research and writing projects on the effectiveness of the PACE program.

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  Office of Criminal Conflict Counsel and Civil Regional Counsel

  • Gainesville, Florida

  • Certified Legal Intern

    • Jan 2014 - May 2014
    • Gainesville, Florida

    Assigned to and worked on felony and misdemeanor cases from start to finish. Second chaired felony trials and cross-examined police officers on the stand. Went to the Alachua County Jail to interview clients and go over plea forms. Spoke on behalf of clients in trial status, pre-trial conferences, bond reduction motion, and violation of probation hearings.

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  UF Levin College of Law

  • Gainesville, Florida Area

  • Student

    • Aug 2011 - May 2014
    • Gainesville, Florida Area

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  Weiss, Alden & Polo, P.A.

  • Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

  • Summer Law Clerk

    • May 2013 - Aug 2013
    • Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

    At this immigration law firm, I am assigned to, and work on, client cases from start to finish. In my first three weeks, I helped research, organize, and write an appellate brief to the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals in Washington, D.C. I have completed and assembled several Petition For Alien Relative I-130 Applications, including organizing bona fides of marriage, filling out all of the USCIS forms, and writing several cover letters. Similarly, I have also completed L-1A: Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager visas, Petition I-485: Application to Register Permanent Status applications, DACA applications, I-131 Re-Enry Permits, I-129 Petitions for Nonimmigrant workers, DS-230 Applications for Immigrant Visas, and FOIA requests to EOIR, the Department of State, and USCIS. In order to complete these tasks, I have had to communicate successfully with various clients. In addition to this work, I also have written dozens of research memos on obscure areas of immigration law for the partners and associates at this law firm.

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  Department of Justice, EOIR Miami Immigration Court

  • Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

  • Federal Judicial Law Clerk

    • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012
    • Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

    Assigned to and worked on cases from start to finish, wrote and prepared motions for the court, listened to court testimony, counseled judges on deportation proceedings, visited Krome Detention Center, the Coast Guard, and the Miami International Airport to further study immigration law in a real world setting.

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  BlackBerry

  • Assistant Lab Technician

    • May 2011 - Aug 2011

    I created and edited multiple databases, assisted with calibration and repair of machinery, and catalogued new equipment.

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  The Kenyon Review Literary Magazine

  • Kenyon Review Associate

    • Aug 2007 - May 2011

    I read and critiqued submissions for the Review, assisted with organizing an annual literary festival, and tutored children on how to write fiction.