Nicole Rutherford Email & Phone Number

Miami, Fl, Us

Miami, Florida, United States

Miami, Florida, United States

Investigated allegations of civil rights violations related to Titles VI, VII, IX, ADEA, Section 504, FMLA, ADA, and School Board policies filed by district applicants, employees, parents, students and vendors. Drafted district responses to charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Florida Commission on Human Relations. Served as department’s representative at Americans with Disabilities Act-District Consultative Committee meetings. Serves as a department representative at Incident Review Team Meetings to review alleged incidents of employee misconduct and assign to the most appropriate investigative unit. Advised M-DCPS school site personnel on Civil Rights Compliance issues. Assisted in the development and implementation of training programs for district staff related to Civil Rights Compliance in employment and educational programs and activities. Assisted Executive Director in drafting district responses to charges filed with the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. Attended the District’s Diversity Equity and Excellence Advisory Committee (DEEAC) meetings on behalf of the Civil Rights Compliance Office monthly. Stood in for Civil Rights Compliance Executive Director in their absence.

Miami, Fl

Managed the legal practice of up to 12 attorneys within the 17th Circuit to ensure assertive and effective best interest advocacy in dependency and termination of parental rights cases. Trained, supervised and evaluated both legal and non-legal staff on issues relating to effective legal advocacy. Developed staff’s legal advocacy skills through coaching and support with an emphasis on cultivating written and courtroom practice skills. Handled case load consisting of highly contentious and high profile dependency and termination of parental rights cases. Established and implemented office protocols and procedures for efficient and effective office management. Provided legal counsel to volunteers and program staff. Drafted legal pleadings and correspondence. Created county-wide Psychotropic Medication Protocol for the program. Collaborated with Chief Legal Counsel, Regional Director and Circuit Director in hiring and disciplinary actions of program personnel. Developed and fostered strong partnerships with community partners, opposing counsel and the judiciary.

Represented the best interests of children in the dependency system. Managed one half of the Program’s legal staff. Litigated dependency and termination of parental rights matters including trials, depositions, and mediations. Worked with both volunteer and staff guardians to ensure that dependent children’s needs were being met. Reviewed and revised legal pleadings filed by staff attorneys. Stood in for Supervising Attorney in her absence. Developed and implemented legal training for program staff and volunteers.

Represented the Guardian ad Litem Program in dependency and termination of parental rights matters including trials, depositions, and mediations. Worked with both volunteer and staff guardians to ensure that dependent children’s needs were being met. Conducted legal research. Prepared written and oral motions to the court, ensuring that abused, abandoned and neglected children found safe, loving, permanent homes.

Juris Doctor, Law

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Criminology