Beth Patel Email & Phone Number

Sacramento, California, United States

Community lawyer representing low-income clients in maintaining housing, benefits, healthcare, and economic stability.

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Provided comprehensive support to new and on-going litigation, primarily with respect to wage theft in the greater Boston area. Developed online tools for worker centers and communities to learn their rights and understand new federal legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Justice at Work offers direct legal services and help ensure access to justice for worker center members; train workers and organizers on their workplace rights and ways to assert them; and provide ongoing legal counsel to groups of workers organizing for better conditions.

Philadelphia, Pa

Assisted in the representation of low-income tenants facing eviction. Interviewed clients to assess their needs and analyze potential defenses to eviction. Met with clients to prepare successful settlement agreements between tenant and landlord. Represented clients before the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission and Municipal Court. Successfully represented several domestic violence survivors in relocation and maintaining housing with the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

Greater Boston Area

Worked directly with descendants of lynching victims to develop restorative justice and litigation strategies under supervision of Northeastern Law School’s Civil Rights & Restorative Justice Clinic. Conducted archival and legal research, interviews in Alabama, and filed successful freedom of information requests. Advocated for the inclusion of individuals to the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act via written memos and meeting with a US Senator.

TA for first-year Criminal Justice course.

Sacramento, California

Drafted opinions and orders for dispositive motions and bench trials in a variety of civil matters. Specialized in legal research and writing for pro se litigation and federal habeas claims. Prepared memoranda and assisted with in-court proceedings, including trials and hearings.

Greater Boston Area

Facilitated a weekly seminar for the mandatory 1L course titled "Legal Skills in Social Context", focusing on social justice and racial justice. Guided 1Ls in the first stages of their partnership with the New England Innocence Project.

New York City

Worked within the Government Misconduct and Racial Justice docket to produce internal memoranda, conduct factual research, and contribute to federal complaints, briefs, and motions. Cases included on-going and new litigation with respect to solitary confinement within the California prison system, Native American land rights and Free Exercise claims, and anti-Muslim discrimination.

Advised social justice organizations and organizing campaigns on social media, earned media, and narrative strategies. Hired for workshops, long-term consulting, or special projects. Additionally, provided political education training on leadership development, power and privilege, and challenging oppression. Previous clients include: New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, The Food Trust, Center for Peace and Global Citizenship at Haverford College, Philadelphia Youth Network

Coordinated strategic communications for GGJ’s membership with respect to November 2016 elections. Crafted and coordinated communications for It Takes Roots, a partnership of GGJ, Climate Justice Alliance, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Right to the City Alliance. Coordinated earned media and strategic communications for 200 person delegation to D.C. for People's Climate March 2017. Crafted short and long term messaging, prepped spokespeople, and developed action-specific talking points. Spokespeople were featured on Democracy Now!, New York Times, Mother Jones, and other national outlets. Worked alongside national organizers to organize a caravan of Indigenous people and people of color, representing over 50 organizations, to travel from the Republican National Convention to the Democratic National Convention to highlight member campaigns with respect to militarization, climate change, and racial justice and build strategic relationships. Planned and coordinated events and actions in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, Pa

Managed all press and media relations, representing hundreds of high school students of color in Philadelphia. Wrote blog posts, media advisories, and press releases. Managed all social media platforms and website. Developed narrative and communication strategy. Trained student speakers for press briefings and events. Organized rallies, direct actions, workshops, conferences, and legislative visits with students and coalition partners. Travelled nationally with students and staff for public speaking engagements. Facilitated student-led media production of youth-produced podcast, bi-annual newsletter and videos. Strengthened coalitions and built new relationships with movement organizations locally and nationally. Increased Twitter reach from 300 followers to over 5,000. Coordinated organizational strategy with the Executive Director. Lead citywide coalition meetings. Used research skills to develop long term strategic organizing directives for all staff members. Trained staff on power-mapping, communications, and strategic decision-making.

Philadelphia

Co-facilitated a weekly radio workshop for Philadelphia high school students to produce radio stories that reflected their lives and experiences. Funding provided by the Leeway Foundation. Partnered with WHYY, Philadelphia's NPR affiliate.

Doctor Of Law - Jd, Concentration In Poverty Law And Economic Justice

Activities and Societies: Elected representative for the class of 2020 sitting on the Committee Against Institutionalized Racism (CAIR).

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science

Senior Thesis: Tuning into the Nature of Radio: A Normative Account of Speech and Voice in Community Radio; Through a presentation.