Susan Francis Email & Phone Number

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Oversee day-to-day operations of organization. Responsibilities include leading the consumer law initiative, providing case guidance to staff across all legal areas, supervising staff, administering case placement for pro bono and low bono cases, resolving any client or attorney issues, coordinating grant oversight and reporting, building partnerships across a variety of agencies, and representing client in consumer law matters.

Baltimore, Md

Manage the foreclosure prevention activities of the organization. Provide direct representation in mediations before the Office of Administrative Hearings, and assist individual clients with foreclosure issues. Coordinate with volunteer attorneys including review of client files, assignment to attorneys, providing information and mentoring, implementing quality control measures, and recruitment of new volunteer attorneys. Partnering with other major legal service providers to coordinate foreclosure efforts. Develop outreach possibilities for the project.

Takoma Park, Md

Assist with a variety of cases including immigration, employment, and contracts, but major focus has been on family law involving divorce, custody, separation agreements, and adoptions with an emphasis on second-parent adoptions, both in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Work also includes drafting petitions, motions, and orders for divorce, custody and adoptions cases, writing discovery documents, and interacting with clients. Conduct legal research on a wide variety of family law issues, and for municipal questions including open meetings act and the impoundment and release of firearms. Create educational materials and articles primarily on family law issues including in Maryland Domestic Law Report and conduct speaking engagements.

Annapolis, Md

Tasks included developing a comprehensive analysis of juvenile related programs throughout the state, research and data analysis of juveniles being waived into the criminal system, and creating an informational brochure to help parents understand the CINA process. Additionally, research and analysis on a variety of family law issues including the best interest of the child standard and the mental health privilege evidence exception, and expungment process for criminal charges when a juvenile is transferred back into the delinquent system.

Conducted research on state legislative action impacting children’s issues and effective communication strategies. Compiled data and projections on candidates, and state and federal elections, and research on newly elected governors. Assisted with coordination of Kids Count conferences and other events.

Introduction to Lawyering Skills - Taught weekly class of first year law students that focused primarily on using appropriate and correct citations and learning both print and electronic legal research. Second semester focus was on effective oral arguments.

Drafted several legal memorandum focused on environmental and bankruptcy issues, and a motion to compel discovery. Updated an extensive environmental training outline and participated as juror in mock trial for DOJ attorneys.

Drafted appellate brief, motion response, motion to dismiss, plea agreement, and other legal memorandum, participated in witness preparation meetings, and observed federal court trials.

Focused primarily on the Prisoners' Rights Project regarding access to medical care to detainees at the Baltimore City Detention Center. Interviewed detainees, attended inmate council meetings, conducted follow-up advocacy including requesting medical records. Conducted intake calls for the civil Gideon project to help determine viability of test case to secure legal counsel for indigent persons in fundamental interest areas like child custody, and provided legal reference information to callers. Prepared legal research memo on all aspects of arresting, charging and sentencing juveniles as adults.

Implemented all aspects of development and stewardship for statewide GLBT civil rights advocacy group, including fundraising for c3, c4 and PAC components. Responsibilities included creation and implementation of multi-year development plan including board development, planned giving, special events, major donor solicitation, grant writing, direct mail and web appeals. Developed marketing and branding strategies including redesign of web page, as well as created publications including newsletters and brochures.

Oversaw all aspects of development/fundraising for $2.6 million agency, providing pre-school and supportive services to low-income families in Northern Virginia. Responsibilities included all oversight and implementation of development plan including fostering board fundraising efforts, conducting grant stewardship, coordinating special events, building individual donors and corporate supporters, communicating with donors, and overseeing annual appeal.

Created, coordinated and was responsible for all aspects of communication and fundraising for this statewide non-profit housing and homelessness advocacy organization. Responsibilities included grant writing and reporting; fundraising projects; expansion of COHHIO's membership and workers' compensation group membership; creation and production of newsletters, brochures, and annual reports. Creation and maintenance of web page. Planning and coordination of special events, trainings and conferences. Coordination of media events and press releases.

Sought public awareness and support through the creation of several materials; including newsletters and fliers representing speakers and other events. Wrote and edited press releases. Planned and coordinated news conferences with media and speakers. Helped coordinate special events, trainings and award ceremonies. Created promotional materials to advertise these events.

Support special event through media work and on-site logistics. Publicized ALA and Car Care in Southeast Ohio through press releases and public service announcements. Provided on-site coordination and assisted with volunteers.

J.D.

Activities and Societies: University of Baltimore Law Review Member, UB Circle of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society.

Masters - Journalism

Activities and Societies: Member of Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society

Journalism, Public Relations

Activities and Societies: Summa Cum Laude, Golden Key Honor Society