FVAP’s mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of survivors of domestic violence and their children by helping them obtain effective appellate representation. FVAP partners with pro bono attorneys from California and Washington’s top law firms and corporate legal teams to provide free, high-quality legal representation to survivors, giving them the best possible chance at success in their appeal. By working at the appellate-court level, each of FVAP’s published cases helps not just one survivor, but also becomes binding legal precedent that helps countless other survivors. As Deputy Director of FVAP, my job was to lead and strategize operations, administration, people, technology, and legal while providing guidance on finance, development and communications. I worked collaboratively with stakeholders to set strategy for mission impact through an equity lens, creating systems to evaluate key goals and metrics and following up with action plans to drive change as indicated. I worked closely with staff, the Board of Directors, and community members to facilitate transparent and effective communication. I initiated and managed infrastructure and technology projects to improve efficiency and cadence. I supported resource development with individual, foundation and governmental donors and grantors, and worked closely with internal and external finance teams to prepare and effectuate financial strategy, budgeting and accountability. I led compliance, risk, liability and insurance for the organization to ensure alignment with our legal, contractual and ethical obligations as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. I oversaw all HR and People initiatives, including strategy, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, compensation, payroll and benefits, retention, training and employee wellness, and supervised internal staff and external contractors.

Founded in 1975, the mission of API Legal Outreach is to provide culturally competent and linguistically appropriate legal representation, social services, and advocacy for the most marginalized segments of the community including low-income women, seniors, recent immigrants, and youth.As Managing Attorney of APILO, my job was to lead, co-manage and support programs, strategy, development, finance and operations for APILO's Bay Area-wide legal services and staff. Joining the organization in March 2020, I helped to support staff and clients through the unexpected and unprecedented fear and change of the Covid-19 pandemic. I mentored and supervised APILO's legal teams, practicing law with the Family Law and Domestic Violence team. I helped to develop and lead new initiatives responsive to the community's needs during the pandemic, including programs to support struggling small businesses in cultural historic districts and those experiencing anti-Asian hate. I led and project-managed infrastructure upgrades including a complete CMS transition, and guided policy creation and revision. I recruited, hired, onboarded, and supported professional development and retention of team members organization-wide, including initiating updates to the internship program. I collaborated with the finance, development, grants and communications teams to obtain, sustain, and increase resources for the organization. I advocated for and beside the community in collaborative spaces, before government agencies, and with journalists.

Katz & Lapides, APC is a boutique litigation and real estate law firm serving Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and Bay Area counties.As a Partner at K&L, my primary work included: assessing potential cases, clients, matters and strategy for the firm; drafting and negotiating contracts on behalf of individual and corporate clients; litigating contract, bad faith insurance and personal injury cases in state court; and, advising nonprofits pro bono on corporate, governance and real estate matters. I also participated in firm management, including fiscal, risk and people strategy.

Tate & Associates is a 100% women/minority owned law firm specializing in personal injury, premises liability, medical malpractice and Fair Credit Reporting Act litigation.As an Associate Attorney at Tate Associates, my primary work included: advising clients on best practices and risk management; and, mediating and litigating a significant caseload (carrying dozens of cases at a time) of medical malpractice, premises, personal injury, insurance, and consumer lawsuits in state and federal court.

Minami Tamaki LLP is a San Francisco-based law firm serving clients in the areas of Consumer and Employment Rights, Corporate and Nonprofit Counseling, Immigration, Personal Injury, and Entertainment. Established in 1975, this minority owned law firm is known for its civil rights advocacy including the successful reopening of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Korematsu v. the United States (overturning Fred Korematsu’s criminal conviction for refusing government exclusion orders aimed at Japanese Americans during WWII based on the prosecution’s misrepresentations and falsified evidence presented to the United States Supreme Court in 1944) that led to reparations for interned Japanese Americans.As an Attorney in the Employment and Consumer Law Group, my primary work included: advising and representing individuals and classes in employment discrimination andwage and hour litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies.

Minami Tamaki LLP is a San Francisco-based law firm serving clients in the areas of Consumer and Employment Rights, Corporate and Nonprofit Counseling, Immigration, Personal Injury, and Entertainment. Established in 1975, this minority owned law firm is known for its civil rights advocacy including the successful reopening of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Korematsu v. the United States (overturning Fred Korematsu’s criminal conviction for refusing government exclusion orders aimed at Japanese Americans during WWII based on the prosecution’s misrepresentations and falsified evidence presented to the United States Supreme Court in 1944) that led to reparations for interned Japanese Americans.Three-month, full-time law school internship ("co-op") with the litigation practice groups (employment law, personal injury, pro bono nonprofit).

Minami Tamaki LLP is a San Francisco-based law firm serving clients in the areas of Consumer and Employment Rights, Corporate and Nonprofit Counseling, Immigration, Personal Injury, and Entertainment. Established in 1975, this minority owned law firm is known for its civil rights advocacy including the successful reopening of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Korematsu v. the United States (overturning Fred Korematsu’s criminal conviction for refusing government exclusion orders aimed at Japanese Americans during WWII based on the prosecution’s misrepresentations and falsified evidence presented to the United States Supreme Court in 1944) that led to reparations for interned Japanese Americans.Three-month, full-time law school internship ("co-op") with the litigation practice groups (employment law, personal injury, pro bono nonprofit).

The National Homelessness Law Center (founded as the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty) has a mission to fearlessly advance federal, state and local policies to prevent and end homelessness while fiercely defending the rights of all unhoused persons.The Program in Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE)'s mission is threefold: To promote human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, within the Northeastern community; To support cutting-edge scholarship on human rights with a particular focus on economic, social, and cultural rights; To work to implement human rights norms and sound economic development approaches worldwide.Selected through competitive process as a PHRGE Fellow, spent three months full-time working with the National Homelessness Law Center on domestic and international advocacy. Engaged in domestic legal advocacy through research, support, and amicus briefs to support cases challenging laws that criminalize homelessness. On the international stage, worked with the United States Civil Society Shadow Report group on the United Nations review of the US Report on its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination; specifically drafting and organizing around the racism inherent in the US failures to protect and rebuild low income housing after Hurricane Katrina and the inherent racism in the US government's failures to provide for accessible housing as a human right. Traveled to Geneva in January 2008 testify with the Shadow Report Civil Society group before the United Nations and to conduct meetings with the UN Special Rapporteur.

The Sixth District is located in San Jose and has jurisdiction over the following counties: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz. The court has seven authorized judicial positions, consisting of a presiding justice and six associate justices. Hon. Richard M. McAdams was appointed to the Sixth District appellate bench in 2003, after 26 years as a trial court judge in the Superior Court of Santa Cruz County.Three-month, full-time judicial externship in the chambers of Justice McAdams. Participated in chambers meetings to review cases and opinions, and prepared initial draft of opinion that went on to be published on assumption of risk in recreational sports.