“I work at the Advocacy Center because I believe in providing meaningful opportunities for access to the civil legal justice system in our country, and because I believe, as lawyers and advocates, we have a unique opportunity and obligation to help positively develop our systems.”

Experience

• Leah leads the Consumer Protection Program, which includes assistance with home preservation and foreclosure defense, predatory business practices and scams that can take away a family’s home, income and transportation, abusive debt collection practices, assistance with problematic student loans in the for-profit sector, and outreach and education in these and other areas. The Consumer Protection Program also includes the Community Empowerment Project.
• Before joining the Advocacy Center in April 2013, Leah worked as a public defender, lawyering process and evidence professor, legal services attorney handling consumer, disability, and civil rights cases, and an employment discrimination attorney. Commitment to quality advocacy, representation and outreach on behalf of people living with low income and in furtherance of systemic change has been an important part of Leah’s career.

Education

• Emory University School of Law, Juris Doctor
• Colgate University, Bachelor of Arts in History

Professional Affiliations:

• NC State Bar, Board of Directors for Continuing Legal Education
• National Association of Consumer Advocates
• 26th Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee, Prior Publications Committee, Community Service Committee, Member
• Nevada Task Force on Racial, Economic and Gender Bias in the Justice System, Prior Member
• Nevada State Bar Publications Committee, Prior Chair and Member

Community Affiliations:

• Habitat Charlotte, Neighborhood Reinvestment Oversight Committee Member
• OneMECK (Coalition Advocating for Equitable Access to Housing and Economic Opportunity)
• Mecklenburg County, Prior Elder Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team Member
• Neighbors for More Neighbors Coalition, Prior Member