Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emma moved to Bellingham in 2008 to attend Western Washington University, where she earned her B.A. in Human Services from the Woodring College of Education. As an undergraduate, a passion for social justice and curiosity about the legal system brought her to LAW Advocates, the Volunteer Lawyer Program of Whatcom County, where she interned and managed the Access ID Project.
She later served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the same organization, and eventually became the Programs Manager in 2015. Emma also volunteered as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for dependent children in Whatcom County from 2012 to 2015. Having worked nearly six years in civil legal aid and the non-profit sector, Emma sought an expanded perspective of the legal field and jumped at the opportunity to work as a legal assistant at Shepherd and Allen, where she has been working since November 2016.
Education
Western Washington University – B.A., 2012
University of Washington Continuing & Professional Education – Certificate of Paralegal Studies, 2017
Trainings and Conferences
ABA/NDLA Equal Justice Conference – 2014, Portland, OR
Washington State Access to Justice Conference – 2015, Wenatchee, WA
Seattle University School of Law Annual Domestic Violence Symposium: Deepening the Dialogue – 2016
Volunteer Service
Project Homeless Connect
Habitat for Humanity*
AmeriCorps VISTA*
*Denotes past service