Emily Kaas-Mansfield Email & Phone Number

Law Clerk to the Honorable Christopher F. Droney. Reviewed trial court records and parties’ briefs, researched applicable laws and case law, reviewed other chambers’ draft opinions.

Law Clerk to the Honorable Stefan R. Underhill. Intensive research and writing experience; wrote legal memoranda and drafted judicial opinions. Specifically: Assisted with four criminal trials (charges included murder, kidnapping, robbery, fraud, extortion), analyzed motions to dismiss and pretrial evidentiary motions, drafted jury instructions, analyzed post-verdict motions for judgment of acquittal and/or new trial. Assisted with products liability trial alleging wrongful death against a tobacco company, drafted jury instructions, analyzed Daubert motions in limine regarding expert testimony. Extensively researched securities fraud and drafted bench memorandum for Motion to Dismiss hearing in fraud case against a pharmaceutical company.

Hartford, Connecticut

Law Clerk for two Judge Trial Referees sitting on the Connecticut Appellate Court: Honorable Thomas A. Bishop & Honorable Thomas G. West. Reviewed trial court records and parties’ briefs, researched applicable laws and case law, reviewed other chambers’ draft opinions. Drafted roughly fifteen judicial opinions in areas of the law including: criminal, habeas corpus, medical malpractice, and contracts.

Ga 23

Interviewed potential clients to determine eligibility for Public Defender services. Met with clients held in lock-up facilities at Geographical Area 23, crafted bond arguments, and argued arraignments in court.

Worked with professors to provide civil legal assistance to low-income clients in areas of family law, employment law, prisoner re-entry, and the rights of homeless people. Drafted complaints, wrote memorandums of law, argued in court, wrote briefs to the court, prepared for trial and participated in settlement conferences. Awarded honors.

Hartford, Ct

Worked as a summer intern researching and writing memorandum of law on a number of civil liberties and constitutional issues. Interviewed potential clients about civil liberties concerns, preliminarily analyzed legal issues, and provided referrals where needed.

New Haven, Ct

Worked for a semester as a legal extern mediating and conciliating housing court cases, as many as 10 per day. Drafted agreements, informed parties of their obligations and rights, and ensured that agreements were fair to both parties and understood by all.

Legal intern at Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Inc. (GHLA) which is a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to those in Hartford living in poverty. The mission statement is “to achieve equal justice for poor people, to work with clients to promote social justice, and to address the effects of poverty.” I primarily worked with the housing unit on a number of different research projects regarding impoverished tenants who are being taken advantage of either by landlords and/or the larger “system.” Additionally, I am helping the housing attorneys work with clients who are on state assistance and, due to unforeseen circumstances (i.e. illness, unexpected expenses), fell behind on rent and were evicted, in order to create an agreement to continue to stay housed.

Hartford, Ct

As Volunteer Coordinator for Hands On Hartford, I coordinated, managed and engaged hundreds of monthly volunteers at the various HOH programs: soup kitchen, food pantry, supportive housing for people living with HIV/AIDS, weekend backpack program for children, etc. In addition, I kept monthly statistics and created new, effective ways of tracking volunteers. Throughout my time there, the food pantry was expanded, which resulted in a higher need for volunteer support. I outreached to new volunteers to establish a new, reliable volunteer base for that particular program, while also supporting various groups in running food drives to fill the shelves.I also planned and implemented large-scale service projects for corporate, civic, religious and school groups which were sometimes multi-day, multi-site projects with hundreds of volunteers. I oversaw and managed interns and AmeriCorps staff members to ensure their goals were in place and met as well as experiences were fulfilling for both staff and agency. In addition to volunteer and staff support, I also provided client services to hundreds of soup kitchen and food pantry patrons including but not limited to: filling out job applications and birth certificate request forms as well as providing meals, hygiene products and clothingBecause there was so much exposure in the community in my position, I was referred to as "The Face of Hands On Hartford" and represented the agency at numerous community events, meetings, non-profit fairs, as well as on television interviews.

Peter'S Retreat

With Hands on Hartford, Peter's Retreat, I coordinated volunteers who come to perform service projects and/or cook for the residents, as well as piloting a newsletter to announce any upcoming projects, etc. and thank volunteers for their time and energy.I also implemented trips and events to build community within the house, as well as between Hartford and our Peter's community. In doing so, I brought mediation services to Peter's Retreat as a means of conflict resolution between residents.

Hartford, Connecticut

Public Allies, part of AmeriCorps, is a leadership development program that places young social change makers in non-profit organizations for a 10-month apprenticeship in order to learn more in the field of NPOs and social services. Allies also attend weekly (or monthly, depending on how long an Ally has been with the program) trainings to develop leadership style, personal growth and team dynamics. Topics include: Non-Defensive Communication, Strengths Based Leadership, Myers-Briggs, Giving & Receiving Feedback, etc. As a third component of the year of service, Allies complete a Team Service Project in their city - Public Allies CT is broken into Hartford, New Haven & Bridgeport. Before implementing a project, extensive research must be conducted by speaking with residents and those invested in the city to identify a strong need in their community, and how Allies can best go about helping to correct that need.For my first year with Public Allies, I was placed with the Hartford Area Mediation Program as Volunteer Coordinator, Assistant Court Liaison and Case Manager. The Hartford Allies Team Service Project (TSP) was a 6-week internship for high school students focusing on urban beautifucation and environmental justice, culminating in a park clean-up and revitalization, planned and implemented entirely by the youth.As a second year in Public Allies, I was placed with Hands On Hartford, doing Volunteer Coordination & Community Engagement at Peter's Retreat, the congregate living facility for people that are HIV/AIDS + who would otherwise be homeless. I also mentored the First Year Allies through their Team Service Project.

Hartford, Connecticut

With HAMP, I re-engaged volunteer mediators by coordinating events and scheduling volunteer opportunities. As an assistant case manager and court liaison, I interviewed defendants and victims, monitored no contact orders as well as conciliated and/or mediated cases referred to our office by the State's Attorney in Hartford Community Court and Hartford Superior Court.

Juris Doctorate

Activities and Societies: Quinnipiac Law Review (Note/Casenote Editor); Student Bar Association (Public Service Chair); Society.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Journalism & Mass Communication

Activities and Societies: Online & Print Publications (Staff Writer & Fact Checker), Swim Team (Captain & Coach's Award Recipient)

Completion Certificate, Mass Communication

Education record

Activities and Societies: National Honor Society (Treasurer), Varsity Swimming (Captain, Coach's Award Recipient, MVP, Top 10 All-Time.