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LISA K. OKAMOTO
<br />1905 Oxley St., South Pasadena, CA 91030 626.622.7689 lisa.okamoto@brooklaw.edu
<br />BAR ADMISSION: State of California, December 2014
<br />EDUCATION
<br />Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, NY, J.D., cum laude Aug. 2011 – May 2014
<br />Awards: CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Appellate Advocacy
<br />Fellowships: Edward V. Sparer Fellowship, Brooklyn Law Students for the Public Interest Summer Fellowship
<br />Scholarships: Centennial and Academic Achievement Grants, Sho Sato Memorial Scholarship, Japanese American Bar
<br />Association Scholarship
<br />Pitzer College, Claremont, CA, B.A. in Linguistics and Spanish Aug. 2001 – May 2005
<br />Award: Fulbright Scholarship, Madrid, Spain
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<br />LEGAL EXPERIENCE
<br />Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Los Angeles, CA, Managing Attorney Apr. 2017-present
<br />Supervise a team of staff attorneys representing low-income undocumented children in immigration removal proceedings.
<br />Coordinating and supervising law student interns. Participate in development of universal representation program. Representing
<br />and pursuing forms of relief in court and through administrative agencies for undocumented children. Filing petitions seeking
<br />custody and guardianship orders in state family and probate court.
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<br />Immigrant Defenders Law Center, Los Angeles, CA, Staff Attorney Sept. 2015 – Apr. 2017
<br />Representing low-income undocumented children in immigration removal proceedings. Pursuing forms of relief in court and
<br />through administrative agencies. Filing petitions seeking custody and guardianship orders in state family and probate court.
<br />Coordinating law student and volunteer outreach efforts.
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<br />Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, Catholic Charities of LA, Los Angeles, CA, Staff Attorney Dec. 2014 – Sept. 2015
<br />Represented low-income undocumented children in immigration removal proceedings. Filed petitions seeking custody and
<br />guardianship orders in state family and probate court. Provided community education to pro se respondents in court.
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<br />Public Counsel, Los Angeles, CA, Summer Law Clerk – Community Development May 2013 – Aug. 2013
<br /> Aug. 2014 – Sept. 2014
<br />Researched and analyzed City’s compliance with earlier promises to preserve and create affordable housing and helped draft
<br />public comment on City’s proposed plan. Researched Korean speaking Section 8 tenants’ rights to notice of eviction in Korean.
<br />Researched legal issues surrounding incorporation. Drafted contracts for non-profit organizations and small businesses
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<br />Brooklyn Law School Legal Services Corp, Brooklyn NY, Community Development Clinic Jan. 2014- May 2014
<br />Provided legal assistance for existing and new non-profit organizations in Brooklyn. Researched non-profit corporate
<br />governance issues. Drafted bylaws and helped clients file for federal tax-exempt status.
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<br />South Brooklyn Legal Services, Brooklyn, NY, Elder Rights Clinic Intern Aug. 2013 – Dec. 2013
<br />Represented older adults in eviction hearings in administrative proceedings. Researched procedural protections for public
<br />housing tenants and drafted post-hearing brief in support of maintaining tenancy for low-income tenant.
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<br />Honorable Dora L. Irizarry, U.S. District Court, E.D.N.Y., Brooklyn, NY, Judicial Intern Jan. 2013 – May 2013
<br />Researched issues presented in summary judgment motion and wrote memorandum recommending disposition. Drafted
<br />proposed opinions in response to motion for judgment on pleadings regarding denial of Social Security disability benefits.
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<br />NY State Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Bureau, Brooklyn, NY, Law Clerk Aug. 2012 – Dec. 2012
<br />Interviewed elderly and non-English speaking consumers to monitor deceptive business practices. Wrote internal memoranda
<br />on procedural and evidentiary issues to protect consumer rights. Documented price gouging during Hurricane Sandy.
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<br />AARP Foundation Litigation, Pasadena, CA, Summer Law Clerk May 2012 – Aug. 2012
<br />Researched and wrote memoranda on federal public benefits, age discrimination in employment, grandparent visitation rights,
<br />and implications of Affordable Care Act. Researched and helped draft public comment on changes to federal regulations.
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<br />OTHER EXPERIENCE
<br />Medicare Rights Center, New York, NY, Client Service Associate Sept. 2009 – May 2011
<br />Assisted Medicare beneficiaries through advocacy, casework, education, and policy initiatives in English, Spanish, and
<br />Japanese. Managed volunteer-based consumer helpline. Gave training to professionals about Medicare and healthcare appeals.
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