Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Third year as a J.D. Candidate at American University Washington College of Law. Note & Comment Editor on the Administrative Law Review, Managing Digital Editor of the Criminal Law Practitioner, and Teaching Assistant for 1L Criminal Law. Experience working in judicial chambers, criminal prosecution, and criminal defense. Passionate about holding a career working in criminal law facilitating the rehabilitation and reintegration of convicted individuals and juveniles.
Practiced criminal defense as a certified legal intern under Alaska Bar Rule 44, managing a high-volume caseload and appearing on the record in district court. I represented individuals who had been criminally charged by the Municipality of Anchorage at arraignments, bail hearings, changes of plea, petitions to revoke probation, and other block hearings without a supervising attorney. With supervision, I represented clients in trial. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to litigate a full case, from opening statement to closing argument! I have also written motions and conducted client interviews. This has been a defining life experience for me. Other than work, exploring Alaska has been incredible too!
• Provide tailored one-on-one and group training to individuals of all ages, including a number of clients with special health concerns who needed special guidance on exercise safety. • Maintain the facility, including opening, closing, cleaning, and setting up new circuits at end of day. • Earned personal trainer certification from National Academy of Sports Medicine and CPR/AED certification.
Serving as a judicial intern in the chambers of Magistrate Judge Katherine Wiedmann to assist with the Domestic Relations Branch, Mental Habilitation, and Juvenile Behavioral Diversion Program (JBDP) Calendars.
• Conducted research for and wrote various post-sentencing motions and sentencing memorandums for a multitude of cases, as well as reviewed and edited court documents written by the attorneys • Assisted in case preparation and attended court proceedings with supervising attorneys • Drafted blog posts for the Appellate Court of Maryland’s blog, which would provide a summarized breakdown of what happened in a certain case, as well as its implications for future issues • Provided translation services to Spanish-speaking clients in attorney-client meetings
• Reviewed and collected evidence, called and interviewed victims and witnesses, wrote factual narratives of events for cases, and made recommendations to Assistant State’s Attorneys on whether case should progress to trial. • Accompanied Assistant State’s Attorneys in court when screened cases went to trial. • Provided translation services to Spanish-speaking victims and witnesses to help them understand the legal proceedings in which they were involved