Legal Experience

Maryland Judiciary - Access to Justice - Special Counsel for Technology Initiatives

January 2019 - Present

Oversee staff working on Access to Justice projects. Coordinate technology installations and training with Maryland judiciary staff. Train and provide software support to court personnel, contractors, and interpreters. Plan, build, test, and manage document assembly interviews, mobile applications, and legal programming for self-represented litigants. Foster and build vendor relationships. Manage and administer grants awarded to courts and non-profit entities. Document, respond to, and resolve public complaints regarding their court experiences. Research and draft fiscal notes analyzing proposed legislation from the Maryland General Assembly and its effect on the Maryland Judiciary.  Brainstorm and develop innovative technological solutions for self-represented litigants. Represent the Maryland Judiciary before other individuals and organizations in areas related to technology initiatives.

Innovative Discovery - Document Review Attorney

 

June 2018 - December 2018

Special Counsel - Document Review Attorney     

 

March 2018 - December 2018

Analyzed complex and confidential communications for responsiveness to client requests using Relativity. Determined attorney/client privilege and common interest with confidential communication. Redacted sensitive and privileged matters.

Catholic Charities: Esperanza Center - Volunteer Attorney

 

February 2016 - December 2018

Wrote and researched briefs for immigration court and USCIS regarding asylum claims. Completed forms and ascertained eligibility for TPS renewal. Prepared case plans and briefs for Special Immigrant Juvenile status clients. Assed clients’ immigration eligibility options including asylum, T-Visa, U-Visa, VAWA, DACA, and SIJS. Verified clients’ eligibility to naturalize as U.S. citizens. Participated in monthly immigration legal clinics for low-income, multicultural clients.

USILaw Inc. - Associate Attorney

 

May 2016 – June 2017

Finalized Adjustment of Status petitions (Forms I-485, I-131, I-765) and supporting evidence for over 50 foreign nationals. Prepared and reviewed over 300 H-1B, L-1B, H-Extension, L-Extension petitions for multinational companies.  Gathered evidence and additional requirements to respond to Requests for Evidence.  Created petition templates and process documents for general and specific use.  Researched issues regarding complex immigration issues such as F-1 OPT extensions.  Troubleshooted hardware and software technological issues.  Acted as a liaison between vendors, customers, and USILaw.

Law Offices of Jonelle Ocloo, LLC - Law Clerk

 

November 2015 – April 2016

Prepared and filed clients’ required evidence for immigration matters such as H-1B, PERM Labor Certification, J-1 Conrad 30 Waiver, L-1A, L-1B, R-1, TN Extension, asylum request, and a EB-2 National Interest Waiver.  Gathered evidence and responded to requests for evidence.  Researched issues regarding international adoption and issues effecting good moral character.

University of Baltimore Immigrant Rights Clinic - Rule 16 Student Attorney

 

August 2014 – May 2015

Represented clients in Master Calendar hearings.  Interviewed clients and witnesses to ascertain asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile eligibility.  Researched law and develop evidence for asylum hearing.  Prepared multiple filings for court including Motion to Withdraw and Motion to Change Venue.  Petitioned USCIS and CBP for various documents relating to clients.  Viewed immigration court proceedings in preparation for an individual hearing.  Viewed Family Court guardianship hearing in preparation for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status determination.

University of Baltimore School of Law - Research Assistant to Professor Kimberly Wehle

 

July 2014 – May 2015

Conducted research and wrote memos on the third-party doctrine, legislative intransigence, data collection, and constitutional protections.  Compared, contrasted, and proofed documents of up to seventy-five pages in length.

Nakamura & Partners - Legal Intern

 

Summer 2014

Drafted contract provisions including limitation of liabilities and indemnity clauses between major corporations. Gathered potential infringement evidence between a Japanese corporation and an American corporation. Summarized recent 2nd Amendment developments for a presentation to Japanese attorneys.  Observed Japanese intellectual property court proceedings.

Maryland Court of Appeals - Judicial Intern for the Honorable Clayton Greene

 

August 2013 – December 2013

Conducted legal research on various issues in draft opinions and verified sources in the Petitioner and Respondent briefs before the Court of Special Appeals. Drafted bench memoranda on issues such as child custody, ballistics evidence, and warrantless GPS tracking.  Observed oral arguments.  

Conwell Law, LLC - Legal Intern

 

May 2013 – July 2013

Interviewed clients regarding asset allocations in divorce proceedings. Drafted motion memoranda and pleadings. Performed research on employment and patent issues. Observed client negotiations, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings. Curated and verified expert witness information. Proofed various legal documents for legal conclusions and readability. Completed and filed patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Corresponded with, collected, and analyzed information from 40+ class action members.


Awards and Recognition

  • 2019 – 2021 Maryland State Bar Association – Leadership Academy Fellow

    • Project: Courthouse Closet collects blazers and belts to provide to litigants for use in court proceedings. Courthouse Closet seeks to increase access to justice and assist low-income and pro se litigants by providing information and resources to address disparities resulting from a lack of access to courtroom attire.

  • 2018 Maryland State Bar Association - Young Lawyers Section Alex Fee Pro Bono Service Award

  • 2015 University of Baltimore School of Law - Silver Level Pro Bono Service Award

  • 2015 University of Virginia / International Committee of the Red Cross - International Humanitarian Workshop


Professional Memberships

Maryland State Bar Association

  • 2021 - Present; Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Section Representative

  • 2022 - Present; Bylaws Committee Member

  • 2016 - Present; Young Lawyers Section Council, Public Service Co-Chair

  • 2021 - 2022; Membership & Content Committee Member

  • 2016 - 2020; Immigration Section Council Member


Publications

MSBA Leadership Academy Launches Courtroom Closet Program. MSBA Bar Bulletin, Vol. XXXVII, No. 3. Maryland State Bar Association. March 15, 2020. pp. 11 (https://www.msba.org/msba-leadership-academy-fellows-launch-courtroom-closet-program/)


Education

University of Baltimore School of Law - Juris Doctor

Honors:

  • University of Baltimore Journal of International Law, Emerging Issues Editor

  • Center for International and Comparative Law, Student Fellow

  • Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society

  • Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition, Competitor


 

May 2015

Activities:

  • Immigration Law Association, President

  • OutLaw, Treasurer

  • International Law Society, Treasurer

  • Latin American Law Students Association, Treasurer

  • Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Vice Justice of Professionalism

  • International Law Society, 3L Representative

Study Abroad:

  • International Business Transactions, Tokyo, Japan

  • Comparative & International Law Program, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

 

 

Summer 2014
Winter 2013

 

Penn State University - B.A. International Politics

 

December 2008


Additional Experience

Pro Bono experience at CASA de Maryland, Tahirih Justice Center, Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), Maryland Volunteer Legal Service, the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, and FreeState Justice. Community volunteer experience at Habitat for Humanity, Operation Welcome Home, Whispering Rise Farm, Our Daily Bread, Polar Bear Plunge, and Jessup Correctional Institution (Storybook Project).