Experience

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  Illinois trial team

  Aug 2008 - Apr 2015

  Head coach, vice-president internal, a-team co-captain

  • Directed the A Team to the National Championship Tournament, raising the rank of the program to #25 in the country• Trained undergraduate students in all aspects of civil and criminal trial advocacy, including direct and cross examinations, opening statements and closing arguments, and evidentiary objections (areas of law instructed include products liability (strict liability and negligence per se), defamation, accomplice liability, murder, intentional shooting, and negligent parental supervision)• Earned an invitation to the Great American Mock Trial Invitational in Washington, D.C. (2014) and advanced team to the National Championship Tournament in Orlando, FL (2014) • Competed as an attorney and witness, winning 3 Outstanding Attorney Awards and 11 team trophies at national competitions; led A-Team to the National Championship Tournament as a double-attorney for prosecution and defense, finishing in the top 5% of teams in the country (2012)• Created a new budget of $25,000 to account for tournament costs, travel expenses, and team revenue and utilized cost-cutting measures to save $4500 of spending• Negotiated with national tournament directors for entry into 10 different invitational tournaments• Created a syllabus for the Invitational Season to educate new and returning members Show less

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  Hillel

  Aug 2009 - May 2011

  • Served on the Hillel Governing Board as a member of the Finance Committee, assessing past budgets and working on balancing the future budget of over $1 million• Interviewed and evaluated candidates for the new Executive Director, Program Director, and Engagement Associate positions• Managed the Student Executive Board and Leadership Council of over 20 people• Maintained Hillel’s Registered Student Organization monetary account with the University of Illinois • Customized programming for over 60 new students on campus • Hosted professors from the University of Illinois' Political Science and Economics departments in workshops for over 20 students • Promoted Hillel events for incoming freshmen by utilizing both traditional and new media (Facebook, etc.)

  • Student Leadership Council President

    Apr 2010 - May 2011

  • Peer Network Engagement Intern

    Aug 2009 - May 2010
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  Consulate general of israel to the midwest

  Jun 2010 - Aug 2010

  Media intern

  • Arranged front page coverage of the Israeli Consulate in the Russian newspaper, Reklama• Composed media lists of radio, television, and print contacts for the Midwest region of 11 states• Monitored media coverage during events such as the Gaza Flotilla and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US to prepare diplomats for press appearances

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  Champaign county state's attorney's office

  Jan 2012 - May 2012

  Intern

  • Reviewed non-arrest police reports and subsequently wrote case summaries, determined charges, and submitted to an Assistant State’s Attorney for review• Observed plea negotiations and wrote factual bases for pleas• Evaluated trial techniques of bench and jury trials for attempted murders, armed robberies, and domestic batteries• Assessed cases going to trial to determine potential witnesses, required evidence, and points for cross examination

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  Office of the honorable paul p. biebel, jr., presiding judge, criminal division of cook county

  May 2013 - Aug 2013

  Legal extern

  • Drafted orders denying prisoners’ petitions for post-conviction relief after conducting analysis of petitioners’ legal claims and factual allegations under the Illinois Post-Conviction Hearing Act• Drafted memoranda of law on topics including felony-murder, criminal class actions, and indictments alleging inchoate offenses• Researched and drafted updates to case law regarding prisoner claims pursuant to the Illinois Post-Conviction Hearing Act under claims of voidness/non-existence of statute and summary dismissal Show less

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  University of illinois college of law

  Aug 2013 - Jun 2015

  Student attorney, federal civil rights clinic

  • Provisionally admitted to the Trial Bar of the Central District of Illinois• Handled two jury trials and successfully completed federal mediation for claims arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, including deliberate indifference to medical and mental health needs, failure to protect, and excessive force• Responsible for jury selection, numerous direct and cross examinations of adverse and expert witnesses, and the closing argument• Drafted and successfully argued motions in limine and a motion for summary judgment, including a matter of first impression within the 7th Circuit• Managed all stages of written and oral discovery, including conducting depositions Show less

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  Federal public defender

  Sept 2013 - May 2014

  Law clerk

  • Drafted an appellate brief on the issue of language barriers during a 4th Amendment search and seizure case• Drafted briefs for submission to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals pursuant to Anders v. California• Negotiated with various State's Attorney's Offices to aid clients in Bureau of Prisons placement• Drafted legal memoranda on topics including prohibiting, as a violation of the Constitution's ex post facto clause, the sentencing of a defendant under a guideline enacted after the commission of a crime, preventing a higher sentence Show less

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  Swanson, martin & bell, llp

  May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Summer associate
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  Swanson, martin & bell, llp

  Sept 2015 - Mar 2021

  Litigation associate
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  Chapman spingola, llp

  Apr 2021 - Jan 2023

  Senior litigation associate
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  University of illinois college of law

  Jan 2023 - now

  Director, first amendment clinic; clinical assistant professor