155 Maple Street
Suite 305
Springfield MA
01105
T 413-486-0789
F 866-276-3955
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
·Lawyer and journalist who led staff to record number of awards as managing editor of the largest daily newspaper in Western Massachusetts
·Editor and originator of journalism projects honored by Harvard University’s Nieman Fellows
·Launched citizen summits on crime and education and diversified journalism coverage before taking on full-time law school and coordination of community literacy efforts in Hampden County, MA
·Passed July 2010 bar exams in Massachusetts and Connecticut and admitted to practice in both states.
LAW
Immigration Law - Successfully crafted petitions and appeals in a wide variety of immigration cases as certified student practitioner for Western Mass Legal Services (Spring 2010) and independent contractor (September 2009-Present)
Appellate Law - Distilled hundreds of pages of briefs into recitation memos and draft opinions on pending cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as intern for Hon. Judge Francis X. Spina (Fall 2009)
Federal Criminal and Civil Law - Wrote legal memos on a variety of pending cases for U.S. Attorney’s office in Springfield, MA., as intern (Fall 2008)
Massachusetts Child Protection Law - Assisted with trial preparation, including arguing successful motion as certified student practitioner for Children and Family Law Program, Massachusetts Division of Public Counsel Services (Volunteer, Spring/Summer 2009)
LITERACY
Literacy Works, Regional Employment Board, Springfield, MA (Feb. 2007-Dec. 2009) - As director and later liaison, managed legislative advocacy and awareness, including writing monthly columns for five newspapers
JOURNALISM
The Republican, Springfield, MA, 1990-2006
·Managing editor (1998-2006), previously enterprise editor, assistant city editor and reporter
oLed staff of 150 to record seven, first-place Associated Press awards in 2005 and first-place Freedom of Information awards in New England in 2005-2006
oLaunched citizen summits on crime and education
oLaunched annual Hispanic heritage, student character and mentoring program
The Manchester Herald, Manchester, CT, 1987-1990
·Managing editor, promoted from city editor at this former Connecticut daily
The Union-News, Springfield, MA, 1985-1987
·Reporter
The Palmer Journal Register, Palmer, MA, 1984-1985
·Assistant editor for Palmer Journal Register and associated weeklies; promoted from writer
EDUCATION
·Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, MA.: juris doctorate, May 2010; Class rank, 36/173; (three “Excellence for Future” Awards in Criminal Adjudication, Immigration, Mediation)
·Northeastern University, Boston, 1984: BA with honors in journalism; executive editor, Northeastern News; winner, Ford Award for promoting diversity
Suite 305
Springfield MA
01105
T 413-486-0789
F 866-276-3955
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
·Lawyer and journalist who led staff to record number of awards as managing editor of the largest daily newspaper in Western Massachusetts
·Editor and originator of journalism projects honored by Harvard University’s Nieman Fellows
·Launched citizen summits on crime and education and diversified journalism coverage before taking on full-time law school and coordination of community literacy efforts in Hampden County, MA
·Passed July 2010 bar exams in Massachusetts and Connecticut and admitted to practice in both states.
LAW
Immigration Law - Successfully crafted petitions and appeals in a wide variety of immigration cases as certified student practitioner for Western Mass Legal Services (Spring 2010) and independent contractor (September 2009-Present)
Appellate Law - Distilled hundreds of pages of briefs into recitation memos and draft opinions on pending cases before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as intern for Hon. Judge Francis X. Spina (Fall 2009)
Federal Criminal and Civil Law - Wrote legal memos on a variety of pending cases for U.S. Attorney’s office in Springfield, MA., as intern (Fall 2008)
Massachusetts Child Protection Law - Assisted with trial preparation, including arguing successful motion as certified student practitioner for Children and Family Law Program, Massachusetts Division of Public Counsel Services (Volunteer, Spring/Summer 2009)
LITERACY
Literacy Works, Regional Employment Board, Springfield, MA (Feb. 2007-Dec. 2009) - As director and later liaison, managed legislative advocacy and awareness, including writing monthly columns for five newspapers
JOURNALISM
The Republican, Springfield, MA, 1990-2006
·Managing editor (1998-2006), previously enterprise editor, assistant city editor and reporter
oLed staff of 150 to record seven, first-place Associated Press awards in 2005 and first-place Freedom of Information awards in New England in 2005-2006
oLaunched citizen summits on crime and education
oLaunched annual Hispanic heritage, student character and mentoring program
The Manchester Herald, Manchester, CT, 1987-1990
·Managing editor, promoted from city editor at this former Connecticut daily
The Union-News, Springfield, MA, 1985-1987
·Reporter
The Palmer Journal Register, Palmer, MA, 1984-1985
·Assistant editor for Palmer Journal Register and associated weeklies; promoted from writer
EDUCATION
·Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, MA.: juris doctorate, May 2010; Class rank, 36/173; (three “Excellence for Future” Awards in Criminal Adjudication, Immigration, Mediation)
·Northeastern University, Boston, 1984: BA with honors in journalism; executive editor, Northeastern News; winner, Ford Award for promoting diversity
