Staff

Staff Attorneys & Legal Advocates

Marina Abraham
Marina Abraham
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership
B.A., Criminal Justice & Legal Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell (2013)
J.D., Suffolk University Law School (2016)
Marina works with health care providers and clients at Worcester’s UMass Memorial Health Care as the Medical-Legal Partnership Attorney. Before joining Community Legal Aid in February 2020, she worked at the Estate Recovery Unit contracted by MassHealth. During law school, she served as a student attorney for the Suffolk University Law School Immigration Clinic, where she helped clients seek removal defense, asylum, and naturalization. Marina was born and raised in Egypt and is fluent in Arabic.
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership
Adriana Alvez
Adriana Alvez
Legal Advocate, Family Law
B.A., Political Science, University of Connecticut (2021)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2024)
During law school, Adriana was a student attorney and legal assistant in Access to Justice Clinic, assisting low-income litigants with legal issues in the areas of housing and family law. She interned at Greater Boston Legal Services in the Family Law Unit representing low-income survivors of domestic violence and was a Hennessy Fellow at Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee.
Legal Advocate, Family Law
Peter Beck
Peter Beck
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
B.A., Humanities, Yale College (2012)
J.D., Yale Law School (2019)
Prior to joining CLA, Peter worked as a high school teacher since 2013, and served three years as the Head of School at Buxton School in Williamstown, MA (2020-23). During law school he worked at New Haven Legal Assistance and Vermont Legal Aid. Peter also worked as a cook and farmer in restaurants and farms in Italy, Hawaii, Virginia, and Maine.
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
Bex Bernocco
Bex Bernocco
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership
B.A., Journalism, Emerson College (2001)
J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law (2006)
Bex joined Community Legal Aid in 2019 as the Springfield office’s first Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) attorney. At the start of the pandemic, Bex assisted clients with unemployment insurance benefits, before moving to the Housing Law Unit as part of the Commonwealth’s COVID Eviction Legal Help Project. In March 2022, Bex returned to work as an MLP attorney, partnering with the Commonwealth Care Alliance to assist their patients with health-harming legal needs. Bex was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2006, the Connecticut Bar in 2007, has worked as a public defender in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, and as a Social Security Disability Benefits advocate.

They enjoy officiating roller derby in their spare time.
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership
Sarah Bodzinski
Sarah Bodzinski
Staff Attorney, Employment Law
B.A., Political Science, Assumption University (2019)
J.D., Western New England School of Law (2022)
Sarah received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Assumption University in 2019. She then went on to Western New England School of Law and earned her J.D. in 2022. During her time at Western New England School of Law, Sarah was in law school she was a Note Editor on the Western New England, a teaching assistant, and a member of the public interest law association. Prior to joining CLA, she interned with the Attorney General’s Office in the Administrative Law Department.
Staff Attorney, Employment Law
David Brown
David Brown
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., History and Political Science, Wabash College (1997)
J.D., Boston College Law School (2000)
Before joining Community Legal Aid’s Housing Law Unit in January 2020, David was a Staff Attorney at Northeast Legal Aid in Lowell, MA for 18 years. During his time there, he worked as both an attorney with the Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project and as a housing law attorney. David is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

In his free time, David coaches youth football, baseball, and basketball. He is a former Board Member of Community Teamwork Inc.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Helene Busby
Helene Busby
Coordinating Attorney, Benefits & Education Law
B.A., History and Sociology, Hampshire College (2002)
J.D., Vermont Law school (2007)
From 2007 to 2015, Helene worked at the HIV/AIDS Representation Project and Single Stop Program at the Legal Aid Society of New York’s Harlem Community Law Office. From 2015-2018, she worked in the Special Education Unit and Disability Advocacy Project at the Legal Aid Society of New York’s Brooklyn Neighborhood Office. She also served as a Commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Holyoke and is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association. Helene joined Community Legal Aid in 2018.
Coordinating Attorney, Benefits & Education Law
Manuela Carmona
Manuela Carmona
Legal Advocate, Fair Housing Project
B.A., Philosophy with a concentration in Latin American Studies, College of the Holy Cross (2018)
J.D., Roger Williams University School of Law (2024)
After graduating with her bachelor’s from The College of the Holy Cross, Manuela worked as a legal assistant in a worker’s compensation firm in Providence, RI. Following that she began working at an immigration firm in Providence where she continued to work throughout law school. During law school Manuela also spend her final year working with indigent clients at the Roger Williams Immigration Clinic. Additionally, before graduating law school Manuela completed her required pro bono hours at The Safe Passage Project where worked with Special Immigrant Juveniles in obtaining legal status. She received a juris doctorate from the Roger Williams School of Law in 2024.
Legal Advocate, Fair Housing Project
Elena CiaramellaLegal Advocate, Housing Law
Annie Connor
Annie Connor
Coordinating Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project

Coordinating Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
Sara Conroy
Sara Conroy
Staff Attorney, Family Preservation Project
B.A., Political Science, Clark University (2020)
J.D., Northeastern University (2023)
Sara came to Community Legal Aid in 2024 from Ropes & Gray, LLP, where she was a litigation associate. During law school, Sara pursued civil litigation skills through positions with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Health Care Division and Lawyers for Civil Rights.
Staff Attorney, Family Preservation Project
Monica Cooper
Monica Cooper
Staff Attorney, Education Law
B.A., Political Science, University of New Hampshire (2018)
J.D., Vermont Law School (2023)
Monica attended the University of New Hampshire for her undergraduate where she studied Political Science and Philosophy. After graduating college, she moved to Southern Ecuador to establish and co-run a non-profit association for people with disabilities. She also taught English as a second language and high school students with disabilities. Additionally, Monica worked at the New Hampshire State Senate as a legislative aide. Subsequently, she graduated Vermont Law School with honors. During law school, Monica served as chair of the Social Justice Mission Scholars and worked as an extern at the New Hampshire Disability Rights Center and Disability Rights Maine.
Staff Attorney, Education Law
Sam Davidson-Weiss
Sam Davidson-Weiss
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
B.A., Music, Columbia College
J.D., Northeastern University School of Law (2020)
Sam joined Community Legal Aid in 2020 after completing law school. Before law school, he worked as a housing advocate at the Community Action Agency of Somerville. During law school, he interned with the Greater Boston Legal Service’s Immigration Unit, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the Irish International Immigrant Center, and Demissie and Church. He also participated in the Poverty Law and Practice Clinic and the Prisoners’ Rights Clinic at Northeastern.
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
David DeBartolo
David DeBartolo
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Government, Harvard University (2003)
M.A., Arab Studies, Georgetown University (2009)
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center (2009)
David served as an Attorney-Adviser in the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser for nearly 10 years, including details as the Embassy Legal Adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and as the Chief of the Sanctions and Counter-Terrorism Team at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. He also taught International Organizations at George Washington University Law School from 2015-2018 and worked on election integrity for two years at Facebook before joining Community Legal Aid.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Christa Douaihy
Christa Douaihy
Coordinating Attorney, Fair Housing Project
B.A., Political Science, University of Pittsburgh (1999)
J.D., City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law (2008)
Christa Douaihy is a Coordinating Attorney in the Fair Housing Unit. Christa is a seasoned litigator with diverse experience in the federal and state civil justice systems of Massachusetts and New York. Prior to joining CLA, she was an attorney with Heisler, Feldman & McCormick, P.C., where she handled complex civil litigation on behalf of workers and tenants throughout Western Massachusetts. Prior to this, Christa proudly served as a Team Leader and Civil Action Practice Supervisor at The Bronx Defenders. Before The Bronx Defenders, Christa was an attorney at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, N.Y., where she handled civil rights litigation and advocacy for people with disabilities. Christa has handled appellate cases and presented many legal trainings and community education workshops. She is Chair of the Western Mass Committee of the Women’s Bar Association, and a member of the Hampden County Bar Association. Christa is currently Adjunct Faculty at the Western New England University School of Law, where she teaches the “Access to Justice” course.
Coordinating Attorney, Fair Housing Project
Aedan Dunn
Aedan Dunn
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
B.B.A, Finance, Isenberg School of Management, University Massachusetts Amherst (2018)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2021)
Aedan graduated from law school in 2021. During law school, they served as a research assistant, law review editor, and moot court participant and preceptor. They also completed internships with both the Massachusetts Appeals Court and a local non-profit organization that provides civil legal services to survivors of sexual violence, and they volunteered on a legal information helpline that provides legal information and resources to LGBTQ and HIV+ callers. After graduation, they maintained a civil litigation practice at a large law firm in Boston for two years, where they worked on a range of pro bono matters. Most recently before joining CLA in 2024, Aedan spent a year with a national trans rights advocacy organization, where they led a program focused on expanding access to legal name changes and accurate identity documents for trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people.
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
Krista Ellis
Krista Ellis
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., Political Science & Human Services, Carson Newman University (2016)
J.D., American University Washington College of Law (2019)
Before joining Community Legal Aid’s Family Law Unit in August 2019, Krista was in law school, where she was the Managing Editor of the Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law. She interned at the American Bar Association on Children and the Law, where she worked on many national projects to assist legal representation for parents and families. She presented on the topic of Bias in Child Welfare at the 2019 National Parent Representation Conference. Krista is also a member of Hampden County Bar Association.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Taylor Feliciotti-Largmann
Taylor Feliciotti-Largmann
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
B.A., Political Science, Northeastern University (2016)
J.D., University of New Hampshire School of Law (2023)
Before law school, Taylor was a litigation paralegal working on cases to bring generic versions of medicines to the market. At the University of New Hampshire School of Law, he was president of Lambda and an intern at both the Jefferson County Public Defender’s Office in Birmingham, Alabama and Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee in Boston. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, traveling, and swimming.
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
Gabriel Fonseca
Gabriel Fonseca
Coordinating Attorney, Fair Housing Project
B.A., Political Science, Middlebury College (2004)
J.D., American University’s Washington College of Law (2013)
Gabriel began representing tenants in eviction defense in early 2016 as a staff attorney and later senior attorney at BOOM!Health Legal Services during the launch of NYC’s right to counsel pilot program. In 2018, BOOM!Health – a Bronx organization dedicated to providing critical social services such as harm reduction and clinical therapy – merged with Mobilization for Justice in New York. Gabriel joined MFJ as a supervising attorney leading a team of civil public defenders in the Bronx as part of NYC’s Universal Access to Counsel for tenants. In late 2020 Gabriel joined CLA’s Housing Unit, and now he works in the Fair Housing Unit.
Coordinating Attorney, Fair Housing Project
Franci Gazzaniga
Franci Gazzaniga
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
B.A., Psychology, Vanderbilt University (2005)
J.D., Western New England University School of Law (2011)
Franci is a Staff Attorney in the CLAVC Unit at Community Legal Aid, working out of the Pittsfield office. She spent two years as an AmeriCorps with that program’s Legal Advocates of Massachusetts in Northeast Legal Aid’s Housing Unit, as well as at the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center. Franci also worked with the City of Springfield’s Law Department and as a temporary assistant clerk in the Connecticut Superior Court’s criminal division.

She has volunteered at Legal Services of Connecticut and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. She has been admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.

Franci is originally from New Orleans, LA where most of her family still resides.
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
Annemarie Guare
Annemarie Guare
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Political Science, University of New Hampshire (2016)
J.D., Northeastern University School of Law (2022)
Annie joined Community Legal Aid’s Housing Law Unit in 2022 after graduating from Northeastern University School of Law. During law school, she interned in the chambers of The Honorable Allison D. Burroughs at the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Immigration Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services, and the office of Massachusetts State Senator Becca Rausch. She also worked closely with the National Lawyers Guild and served as an editor on Law Review.

Annie is a member of the National Lawyers Guild’s National Immigration Project and Housing Committee.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Joshua Gutierrez
Joshua Gutierrez
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Philosophy & Sociology (magna cum laude), Colby College (2004)
J.D., Boston College Law School (2008)
Joshua joined Community Legal Aid as a Staff Attorney in 2012 as part of the HomeCorps foreclosure defense team funded by the Office of the Attorney General. Before joining CLA, Joshua volunteered with CLA’s Worcester office, where he handled immigration and foreclosure matters. Joshua began his career in private practice, where he worked as a corporate and securities lawyer in the Boston office of a large national law firm. Joshua is licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Melissa Hamilton
Melissa Hamilton
Legal Advocate, Elder Law
B.S., Public Health, Worcester State University (2020)
J.D., M.B.A., University of Massachusetts School of Law (2024)
Melissa graduated from the University of Massachusetts School of Law (JD/MBA) in 2024. During law school, she interned at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, clerked at the University of Massachusetts Foundation, and interned with the Worcester District Attorney’s Office. Throughout law school, she also worked part-time as a case manager in the autism services department of OpenSky Community Services. Before law school, Melissa interned with the Worcester Department of Public Health, while pursuing a Public Health degree from Worcester State University.
Legal Advocate, Elder Law
Roy Harris Jr.
Roy Harris Jr.
Staff Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
B.A., Communications, Michigan State University
J.D., SMU Dedman School of Law
Roy Harris earned his B.A. in Communications from Michigan State University and law degree from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University. Prior to joining Community Legal Aid, Roy honed his skills in private practice, specializing in employment law and family law. Additionally, Roy was previously employed as a staff attorney with Lakeshore Legal Aid in Metro Detroit, where he represented hundreds of older adults and low-income clients in matters involving estate planning, family law, landlord-tenant disputes, and public benefits.
Staff Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
Thomas Hulley
Thomas Hulley
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
B.A., Social Policy & Legal Studies, Northwestern University (2015)
J.D., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (2021)
Thomas’s first experience in public interest work was as an intern for the Legal Services Corporation’s Legal Aid Chicago. After college, he served for a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Thomas then moved to Nashville and worked for two years as an advocate at Disability Rights Tennessee. In law school, he spent his first summer interning with a federal judge and his second summer interning with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. Thomas joined Community Legal Aid in 2021.
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
Courtney Hyman
Courtney Hyman
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., Criminal Justice and Politics and Government, University of Hartford (2020)
J.D., Western New England University School of Law (2023)
Courtney graduated from Western New England University School of Law in May 2023 with a concentration Public Interest Law. Before joining CLA, she interned with the Springfield Court Service Center, Massachusetts Department of Children & Families, and the Children and Family Law Division of CPCS where she was able to advocate for children and families in the juvenile court.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Christina Jamba
Christina Jamba
Staff Attorney, CORI/RE-ENTRY PROJECT
B.A., History and German Studies, North Carolina State University (2019)
J.D., University of Akron, School of Law (2023)
Prior to joining CLA, while in law school Christina with Inmate Assistance Program at the University of Akron, School of Law. She was also a summer associate in the Economic Justice Practice Group at the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Ohio. Christina was an extern with Legal Aid Society of Columbus, helping the Public Benefits Team. She was a Legal Intern with Summit Legal Defenders in Akron, Ohio.
Staff Attorney, CORI/RE-ENTRY PROJECT
Margery Kennard
Margery Kennard
Coordinating Attorney, Family Law
B.A., (magna cum laude), University of Massachusetts at Boston (1989)
J.D., Pace University School of Law (2007)
Margery worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services (WMLS) for over four years before the program joined with Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. Marge’s first two years at WMLS were as the Medicare Advocacy Project Paralegal. Margery entered law school in 2004 and returned to WMLS in 2008 as a family law attorney. Marge specializes in assisting domestic violence survivors with family law cases. In law school, she was a student attorney in the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic and worked at Kuntz, Spagnuolo, & Murphy, an education law firm.
Coordinating Attorney, Family Law
Christine Khamis
Christine Khamis
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
B.A., Political Science, Stony Brook University
J.D., Syracuse University College of Law (2017)
During law school, Christine interned at a legal services organization, participated in her school’s Elder Law clinic, and began working as a law clerk at a law firm specializing in elder and estate law. She continued to work as a law clerk at the same law firm after graduation, and later worked there as an associate attorney upon passing the New York bar exam. Christine handled probate and other estate matters, guardianship matters, and Medicaid appeal matters, and drafted wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents. Christine later moved to Massachusetts and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in early 2020.
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
Delilah Kline
Delilah Kline
Staff Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
B.A., Psychology and Sociology of Law and Society, University of California, San Diego (2020)
J.D., Boston College Law School (2023)
Prior to joining CLA and while attending Boston College Law, Delilah participated in the Parole and Compassionate Release Clinic and the year-long Innocence Program. After her first year, she was an intern with the Suffolk County DA’s Office in the Appeals Unit. The summer after Delilah’s second year, she was a 3:03 intern at the South Boston District Court.
Staff Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
Lauren Ladino-Saunders
Lauren Ladino-Saunders
Legal Advocate, Education Law
B.S., Elementary and Special Education, Salve Regina University (2018)
J.D., Boston College Law School (2024)
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy, Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development (2024)
Lauren earned her B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Salve Regina University in 2018. Driven by her passion for helping students and their families, she pursued a dual degree program at Boston College Law School, where she earned both her J.D. and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy. During law school, Lauren served as co-president of the Children’s Rights Group, worked on the board of the Public Interest Law Foundation, participated in the Family Justice Litigation Clinic, and interned at The EdLaw Project.
Legal Advocate, Education Law
Matthew Lawrence
Matthew Lawrence
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., History, Brandeis University (2010)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2017)
Before joining Community Legal Aid’s Family Law Unit 2018, Matthew clerked for the Probate & Family Court. In law school, he interned for Massachusetts Advocates for Children, an education law advocacy organization, and for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. He also worked for two years in Boston University School of Law’s Civil Clinic, helping clients with housing and employment issues.

Matt is originally from Vermont, but has lived in Massachusetts for 12 years.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Devynn Ledgard
Devynn Ledgard
Legal Advocate, Elder Law
B.A., Political Science (summa cum laude), Simmons College (2021)
J.D., Suffolk University Law School (2024)
Prior to law school Devynn worked as a Fellow for No Kid Hungry at the Waltham Boys and Girls Club and helped distribute summer meals to kids through Project Bread. While in law school, Devynn served as an intern at the Massachusetts Senate Counsel’s Office, U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs and as a judicial extern for U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Administrative Judge Neile Eisner.
Legal Advocate, Elder Law
Rory MacAneney
Rory MacAneney
Staff Attorney, Employment Law
B.A., Health & Human Biology, Brown University (2014)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2020)
Rory began working at Community Legal Aid after graduating from law school in 2020. During law school, she worked at the Boston University Civil Litigation Clinic at Greater Boston Legal Services and the Wrongful Convictions Clinic.
Staff Attorney, Employment Law
Kathryn Madison
Kathryn Madison
Staff Attorney, Disability Benefits Project
B.A., Spanish, Emory University (2012)
J.D., Yale Law School (2015)
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Kathryn was a supervising attorney at Central American Legal Assistance in Brooklyn, NY, where she represented asylum seekers in removal proceedings and specialized in agency appeals. From 2015 to 2018, Kathryn was an Immigrant Justice Corps fellow representing immigrant children at Kids in Need of Defense and asylum-seeking families in New York City. She is fluent in Spanish.
Staff Attorney, Disability Benefits Project
Tanya Mamootil
Tanya Mamootil
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
B.A., Political Science and Sociology, University of Toronto (2018)
J.D., Michigan State University College of Law (2021)
During law school, Tanya focused on public interest law and was a student clinician in the Housing Law Clinic. In the Clinic, Tanya helped low-income residents avoid eviction and resolve landlord-tenant disputes. This experience is what led her to a career in legal aid and to the Bart Gordon Fellowship.

Tanya was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, listening to true-crime podcasts, and watching scary movies.
Staff Attorney, Fair Housing Project
Raquel M. Manzanares
Raquel M. Manzanares
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., American Studies, Smith College (2008)
J.D., New York University School of Law (2013)
Raquel began her legal career as a Paralegal at Heisler, Feldman & McCormick, P.C. in Springfield, MA, before entering law school. During her time at New York University School of Law, she was a summer associate at both Heisler, Feldman & McCormick, P.C. and Vedder Price, P.C. After earning her J.D., she returned to Heisler, Feldman & McCormick, P.C. as an Associate. In 2015, Raquel joined the Student Legal Services Office at UMass Amherst as a Staff Attorney, and later, Senior Staff Attorney, practicing in the areas of housing, consumer protection, and employment. In March 2022, Raquel joined Community Legal Aid’s Housing Unit as a Staff Attorney.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Jaime Margolis
Jaime Margolis
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
B.J., Journalism (Highest Honors), The University of Texas at Austin (2003)
J.D., Honors in Litigation and Concentration in Dispute Resolution, Boston University School of Law (2016)
Jaime Margolis joined Community Legal Aid in December 2019 as an elder services attorney. Jaime has focused her legal career on helping families and individuals thrive under challenging circumstances. She was previously a domestic relations associate at Bacon Wilson, P.C.; an advocate for strengthening struggling families at the Children and Family Law Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services; and a judicial clerk in the Western Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts. She is an accomplished writer and editor, including a prior career in the newspaper industry and contributions to several legal texts.
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
Emily Masse
Emily Masse
Legal Advocate, Family Law
B.A., (summa cum laude) Anthropology and Psychology, Boston University (2020)
M.S.W., Social Work, Boston College (2023)
J.D. (cum laude), Boston College Law School (2024)
Emily graduated summa cum laude from Boston University, where she majored in cultural anthropology and psychology and minored in political science and French. While at Boston University, Emily interned with the Refugee and Immigrant Employment Services unit at Jewish Vocational Service (Boston) and worked as a tutor in an ABA kindergarten classroom in a Boston Public School. Following her undergraduate studies, she enrolled in the dual J.D./M.S.W. program at Boston College School of Social Work (BC SSW) and Boston College Law School. During her time at BC SSW, Emily concentrated in Macro Social Work in the field of children, youth, and families – studying topics such as child and adolescent trauma, refugee and immigration issues, and social welfare policy. She interned with the Boston College Research Program for Children and Adversity and the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program at Ascentria Care Alliance. She also has experience providing in-home behavior therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder. During law school, Emily interned with the citywide Director of Immigration Services at Legal Services NYC and the Immigration Unit at MetroWest Legal Services. She represented families in special education matters through the BC Law Child Health and Education Clinic and served as a Student Attorney with the BC Law Immigration Clinic. In addition to her internships and clinical work, Emily served as Co-President of the BC Law Public Interest Law Foundation. Emily graduated cum laude from Boston College Law School in 2024 with Public Interest Distinction and Pro Bono Excellence. She also received the Drinan Award for public service.
Legal Advocate, Family Law
Eliana (Ellie) Matos
Eliana (Ellie) Matos
Legal Advocate, Family Preservation Project
B.A., Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2019)
J.D., Suffolk University (2024)
Eliana graduated from Suffolk University Law School in May, 2024. During law school, Eliana interned with the Family Law Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services and the Immigration Law Unit at De Novo Center for Justice and Healing in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Eliana also was an SJC Rule 3:03 Student Attorney in Suffolk University Law School’s Family Advocacy Clinic during her final year of law school. Prior to law school, Eliana served as an Americorps Legal Advocate with the Immigration Law Unit at MetroWest Legal Services for two years.
Legal Advocate, Family Preservation Project
Annie Maurer
Annie Maurer
Staff Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
B.A., International Relations, Tufts University (2002)
J.D., New York University School of Law (2009)
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Annie worked for over a decade as a public defender. She worked at the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Pittsfield, MA, The Legal Aid Society in New York City, and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, where she managed a regional office of 25 lawyers. She has extensive trial experience and always focuses on bringing a client-centered lens to her work.
Staff Attorney, CORI/Re-Entry Project
Emma McEvoy
Emma McEvoy
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership
B.A., Political Science, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (2014)
J.D., University of Miami School of Law (2022)
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Emma was a certified legal intern at the Legal Services of Greater Miami, the Miami-Dade Public Defender Office, and the Alaska Public Defender Agency. She was also a research assistant at the University of Miami School of Law.
Staff Attorney, Medical-Legal Partnership
Sarah McGuinnesSTAFF ATTORNEY, CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME INITIATIVE
Noah Meister
Noah Meister
Staff Attorney, Veterans Law Unit
B.A., Writing, Literature & Publishing, Emerson College (2014)
J.D., Western New England University School of Law (2021)
After graduating from Emerson College in 2014, Noah participated in City Year in Sacramento, CA and then Teach for America in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas. After teaching English and social studies, Noah enrolled at Western New England University School of Law in Springfield, MA. While attending law school, Noah participated in public interest volunteer work and a clinic in the Central West Justice Center’s Springfield office.

Noah is also a member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyer Guild.
Staff Attorney, Veterans Law Unit
Ray Mestre
Ray Mestre
Coordinating Attorney, Elder Law
B.A., International Relations, Tufts University (1986)
J.D., George Washington University (1990)
Ray worked at Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts for over 20 years before the program joined with Western Massachusetts Legal Services to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. He has worked in all of the program’s practice units, and is now a Senior Attorney in the Housing Unit and part of the HomeCorps foreclosure defense team funded by the Office of the Attorney General. Ray’s areas of specialization include civil litigation, consumer rights, housing matters, guardianship defense, public benefits, and protection against elder abuse. Ray also conducts trainings for other advocates and service providers on the financial exploitation of elders. Ray’s extensive community and volunteer experience includes serving as a past member of the Boards of Directors of the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance and Centro Las Americas, and as a member of the Worcester County Bar Association’s Committee on Services to the Poor & Homeless. Ray is also a former coach of the Westborough Softball League. Ray is licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
Coordinating Attorney, Elder Law
Kate Mieher
Kate Mieher
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Political Science and History, Tufts University (2017)
J.D., Northeastern University School of Law (2023)
Kate began her career working for a political technology company in Washington, D.C. While attending Northeastern University School of Law, Kate participated in Northeastern’s Housing Law Clinic and interned with the Housing Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services, where she assisted low-income tenants facing eviction and other housing-related legal issues. During law school, she also interned with Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and with family law and real estate firm Wilson, Marino, and Bonnevie, P.C. Kate joined Community Legal Aid in 2023 and is licensed to practice in Massachusetts
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
James Mooney
James Mooney
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., History and Political Science, University of Vermont (2018)
J.D., Suffolk University Law School (2023)
During law school, James worked for an environmental non-profit aimed at preserving endangered habitats in southeastern Massachusetts, and served as a student attorney at the Harvard Legal Aid bureau, where he defended tenants in eviction suits, and in Suffolk’s Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples clinic, where he worked with tribes to develop a diversionary drug court and represented a separate client in a complaint proceeding through the United Nations. James has worked with community organizations around tenants rights and environmental justice.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Angelina Morisi
Angelina Morisi
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Math, Fairfield University (2015)
J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law (2022)
Prior to joining CLA, Angelina worked as a financial analyst for four years before going to law school. In law school, she interned at the Colorado Public Defender’s Office and Colorado Court of Appeals.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Meredith Morrison
Meredith Morrison
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B,A., Sociology, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College (1993)
J.D, Georgetown University Law Center (2000)
Meredith began her legal career in 2000 at Northeast Ohio Legal Services in Wooster, which was a small, rural office with three attorneys all handling a variety of cases. In 2004, she joined the Pittsfield office of Western MA Legal Services as a family law attorney. She later transferred to the Springfield office, where she continued in family law for a few years and then practiced housing law. When the economy crashed in 2008, Meredith volunteered for a layoff from WMLS to focus on starting a family. She later became the Legal Program Director at Safe Passage, a non-profit organization in Northampton serving survivors of intimate partner violence, where she worked for 14 years providing free legal advice and support to survivors dealing with custody, divorce, and restraining order cases.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Brittany Noto
Brittany Noto
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., Creative Movement and Wellness & Aging, University of Connecticut (2011)
J.D., Western New England University School of Law (2021)
Brittany joins Community Legal Aid’s Family Law Unit after an extensive career in childcare and youth entertainment programming. Before attending law school, she traveled the world as a crew member onboard passenger cruise ships. During law school, she served as a research assistant for the International Human Rights Clinic at Western New England University School of Law. Brittany comes to CLA with a passion for social justice and human rights advocacy.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Madison O'Brien
Madison O'Brien
STAFF ATTORNEY, EMPLOYMENT LAW
B.A., Criminal Justice, Husson University (2017)
J.D., Western New England University Law School (2020)
Madison graduated from Western New England School of Law in May 2020 and began practicing law in 2021 with Brodeur-McGan. P.C. after passing the Massachusetts Bar Exam. Madison’s practice areas focused on labor and employment for both employees and employers, civil rights, and consumer protection laws such as 93A and 176D. She also worked on cases involving motor vehicle accidents, toxic torts, and slip and falls. Madison will continue to fight for justice for employees through her role as a Staff Attorney in the Employment Unit of Community Legal Aid.
STAFF ATTORNEY, EMPLOYMENT LAW
Jane Osick
Jane Osick
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
B.A., Comparative Literature and French, University of California Irvine (1991)
M.A., English, University of California Irvine (1993)
J.D., New England Law Boston (2023)
Prior to law school, Jane taught English and French at the high school and college level in California and New York for 20 years. While in law school, she worked as a legal assistant to a solo practitioner who specialized in conservatorships and guardianships. Jane also volunteered for the school’s CORI Initiative, interned with the U.S. Attorney Civil Division, and served as an editor and published contributor to New England Law Boston’s Law Review.
Staff Attorney, Elder Law
Julia Popkin
Julia Popkin
Staff Attorney, Education & Disability Benefits Project
B.A., Sociology, Wesleyan University (2010)
J.D., (magna cum laude), New York University School of Law (2017)
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Julia worked as a public defender representing clients in child protective proceedings at the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Northampton, MA and at Brooklyn Defender Services in Brooklyn, NY. During law school, Julia was an Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellow and was awarded the Ann Petluck Poses Memorial Prize for Outstanding Clinical Work for her practice as a clinical student representing parents in child protective proceedings. Julia is also a member of the Franklin County Bar Association and serves on the Community Fund of the Franklin County Bar Association.
Staff Attorney, Education & Disability Benefits Project
Samuel (Sam) Puliafito
Samuel (Sam) Puliafito
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Religious Studies, University of Chicago (2016)
J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School (2023)
During law school, Samuel interned at the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office, Disability Rights Tennessee, and the Colorado State Public Defender. Before law school an d prior to joining CLA, Samuel owned and operated an independent used bookstore in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Edward (Eddie) Samuels
Edward (Eddie) Samuels
Legal Advocate, Housing Law
B.A., English, Tufts University (2018)
J.D., Boston College Law School (2024)
Eddie grew up in Atlanta before first moving to Massachusetts to pursue his undergraduate education. Prior to law school he worked as a journalist, writing for a variety of Boston-area publications, as well as weekly papers in his hometown of Atlanta.
Legal Advocate, Housing Law
Paul Schack
Paul Schack
Coordinating Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., (magna cum laude), Case Western Reserve University (1978)
J.D., (cum laude), Boston University School of Law (1984)
Paul worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services (WMLS) for over 17 years before the program joined with Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. He has also been in private practice, representing clients in criminal defense, family law, landlord/tenant matters, and consumer law. His legal career began in 1984 at North Shore Community Action Programs administering one of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s local consumer protection programs. His areas of expertise include eviction defense and public and subsidized housing admissions cases. Paul also has experience in public benefits and unemployment cases and extensive litigation experience, including appeals in the Massachusetts Appeals Court and Supreme Judicial Court. He has conducted legal clinics and provided training for volunteers and community education for agencies and client groups. Paul served on the Housing Court Committee of the Supreme Judicial Court’s Access to Justice Commission. Paul is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and the U.S. District of Massachusetts.
Coordinating Attorney, Housing Law
Rebecca Sennott
Rebecca Sennott
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., Political Science and Justice Studies, University of New Hampshire (2018)
J.D., Suffolk University (2023)
Prior to joining CLA, Rebecca was part of the Peace Corps. She also was part of the Committee for Public Services and the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. Rebecca received her undergraduate degree at the University of New Hampshire and attended Suffolk University for law school.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Eileen Simons
Eileen Simons
STAFF ATTORNEY, CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME INITIATIVE
B.A., Brandeis University
J.D., Suffolk University Law School
Eileen is an experienced attorney with a demonstrated history in the financial services industry, and an expertise in SEC and FINRA regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Community Legal Aid, Eileen served as counsel at Ameriprise Financial. Prior to that, she served as counsel and compliance manager at Athena Capital Advisors, which followed a ten-year career as a compliance professional at Fidelity Investments. Eileen earned her JD at Suffolk University, and her BA at Brandeis University. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and has volunteered at Jewish Family Services in Framingham.
STAFF ATTORNEY, CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME INITIATIVE
Samantha Smart
Samantha Smart
Legal Advocate, Fair Housing Project
B.A., English (cum laude), Wake Forest University (2020)
J.D., Suffolk University Law School (2024)
Samantha developed a passion for housing and eviction defense, particularly regarding the advocacy of lower-income tenants, after her summer internship with Pine Tree Legal Services in Lewiston, Maine, following her first year of law school. This led Samantha to take a position as a Fair Housing Fellow with the Suffolk University Law School Housing Discrimination Testing Program in the spring of her second year of law school.

In this role, she helped to design and conduct housing discrimination tests, recruit testers of color, and to research and suggest different housing units throughout the Greater Boston area to be used for testing. She also spearheaded a ‘Know-Your-Rights’ project within East Boston with the purpose of helping to educate Spanish, Portuguese, and Creole speaking residents about their housing rights and legal protections.

Following her second year of law school, Samantha worked as a summer intern with MetroWest Legal Services in Framingham, MA, within their Housing Unit. During her third year of law school, Samantha had the pleasure of serving as a SJC 3:03 Certified Student Attorney within the Family Advocacy Clinic, where she represented victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Legal Advocate, Fair Housing Project
Uri Strauss
Uri Strauss
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., Linguistics (honors), York University (1997)
M.A., Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2006)
J.D., (magna cum laude), Case Western Reserve University School of Law (2009)
Uri joined Community Legal Aid in 2012. He is a staff attorney in the Housing Unit, where he represents tenants in eviction cases and homeowners in foreclosure matters. Prior to joining CLA, Uri worked for the Western Massachusetts office of the American Friends Service Committee, where he focused on foreclosure and civil rights matters; the Service Employees International Union, where he was involved with campaigns to win recognition for hospital workers; and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, where he handled discrimination, immigration and tax matters. Uri also interned in Greater Boston Legal Services’ Employment Unit, where he handled unemployment insurance, FMLA, tax, and wage and hour cases. Uri is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and the U.S. District of Massachusetts.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
J Swanger
J Swanger
Legal Advocate, CORI/Re-Entry Project
H.B.A, English, University of Utah (2018)
B.A., International Studies, University of Utah (2018)
M.Ed., Boston College Lynch School of Education & Human Development (2024)
J.D., Boston College Law School (2024)
After graduating from the University of Utah with degrees in English and International Studies, J worked at “the U” as a coordinator of social justice education and community engagement programming. Following this experience and seeking to add the law to their metaphorical social justice toolbelt, J enrolled at Boston College Law School, where he received his J.D. as well as his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy. During law school, J served as the Co-President of the Public Interest Law Foundation, was a staff writer and senior editor on the law review, participated in the Civil Rights Clinic, and interned with public defenders in Boston and at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. J graduated with honors from BC Law as a Public Interest Fellow and received the Aviam Soifer Award for Public Service Achievement & Leadership, the Drinan Award for Commitment to Public Service, and an SJC Certificate of Pro Bono Excellence.
Legal Advocate, CORI/Re-Entry Project
Irit Tau-Webber
Irit Tau-Webber
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., Government (magna cum laude), Harvard University (1997)
J.D., Columbia Law School (2002)
Before joining the Community Legal Aid team in July of 2018, Irit was a family lawyer in private practice in New York City, and a professional volunteer at the Hotline for Refugees and Migrants in Israel. She worked on pro bono cases for Metrowest Legal Services in Framingham, MA and for Sanctuary for Families in New York City, and was a stay at home mom. Irit is also a member of the Worcester County Bar Association.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Molly Jane Thoms
Molly Jane Thoms
Staff Attorney, Education Law
B.A., World Literature (summa cum laude), Trinity College (2017)
M.A., English (with honors), Trinity College (2019)
J.D., (cum laude), Boston College Law School (2022)
Molly Jane grew up in Montpelier, Vermont and attended Boston College Law School. She graduated cum laude and received the Desmarais Award for public service achievement and leadership. In law school, Molly Jane participated in the Juvenile Rights Advocacy Program clinic, interned at the ACLU of Vermont, MetroWest Legal Services, and the Youth Advocacy Division, and served as president of the Public Interest Law Foundation.
Staff Attorney, Education Law
Esther D. Tutu
Esther D. Tutu
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
B.A., English and African American Studies, Temple University (2012)
J.D., Certificate in Human Rights, University of Connecticut School of Law (2017)
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Esther worked as an Admissions Recruiter for the University of Connecticut School of Law. During law school, Esther focused on public interest law and earned a Human Rights Certificate with her Juris Doctor. She was a student teacher of Street Law at New Britain High School and vice president of UCONN School of Law’s Black Law Students Association. Esther interned with the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. She also interned with the Honorable Judge Shreeves-Johns in Philadelphia, PA while attending Temple University.

Esther is currently a board member of ImmaCare Inc., an agency dedicated to eliminating homelessness.
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
Veronica Vivero-Condon
Veronica Vivero-Condon
Legal Advocate, Employment Law
B.A., English, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2010)
J.D., University of Pittsburgh Law School (2023)
Veronica earned her B.A. in English from UMass Amherst in 2010. Following a career in corporate communications, Veronica attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and earned her J.D. in 2023. While in law school, Veronica held positions with various organizations including Pittsburgh Law’s Student Advisory Council and Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice, and was the president of the Latin American Law School Association (LALSA). Veronica was also a research and teaching assistant. Additional experience includes her time as a certified legal intern with the Pittsburgh Law Elder Law Clinic and Law Clerk for the Office of the Standing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee, and is a court certified mediator in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Legal Advocate, Employment Law
Abigail (Abi) Walters
Abigail (Abi) Walters
Legal Advocate, Elder Law
B.A., Anthropology, Wake Forest University (2017)
J.D., American University Washington College of Law (2024)
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Abi earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law. During her time in law school, she gained valuable experience working at the Disability Rights Clinic, where she represented clients and their families in various matters related to disability law and the rights of Maryland and Washington D.C. residents with both mental and physical disabilities.
Legal Advocate, Elder Law
Jon Weinstein
Jon Weinstein
STAFF ATTORNEY, EDUCATION & DISABILITY BENEFITS PROJECT
B.A., Philosophy, Skidmore College (2017)
J.D., Duke University School of Law (2020)
Jon was born and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts. Prior to law school, Jon spent several years engaged in volunteer work and internships focused on disability rights. While in law school, he focused on public service law. That included participating in legal clinics working on children’s law and health law. Immediately before joining CLA, Jon spent roughly two years as a staff attorney in Northeast Legal Aid’s Medical-Legal Partnership. In this role, Jon practiced as a generalist conducting legal consultations and providing referrals and legal services in areas including public benefits law, family law, health law and eviction prevention.
STAFF ATTORNEY, EDUCATION & DISABILITY BENEFITS PROJECT
Dorothy Wilkinson
Dorothy Wilkinson
Staff Attorney, Family Law
B.A., English Literature & International Business, Roger Williams University (2018)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2021)
Before joining Community Legal Aid’s Family Unit, Dorothy attended law school and worked with the Access to Justice Clinic to represent low-income clients in cases ranging from unemployment to family law. Dorothy also interned at Pine Tree Legal Assistance’s Family Law and Victim’s Rights Units in Portland, ME, where she counseled clients and presented research to the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault on the updates to Title IX passed in 2020. She also interned at Women’s Bar Foundation in Boston, MA working with the Family Law Project to represent survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Staff Attorney, Family Law
Jaz Williams
Jaz Williams
Legal Advocate, Education Law
B.A., History, Howard University (2013)
M.A., Elementary Education & Special Education, Lesley University (2015)
J.D., Howard University School of Law (2021)
Before attending law school, Jaz taught Special Education to students in Grades 1-8 for five years. During law school, she was very involved in campus and interned for several top companies. In her final year of law school, Jaz was a fellow with The Initiative: The Black and Blue Partnership, which focused on community policing and progressive police reform to end systemic police brutality.
Legal Advocate, Education Law
Matthew Wishnoff
Matthew Wishnoff
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
B.A., History, The State University of New York College at Geneseo (2017)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2021)
As a law student, Matthew committed himself to housing work, particularly eviction prevention. In 2021, Matthew joined Community Legal Aid as a housing law attorney.
Staff Attorney, Housing Law
Ashley Zink
Ashley Zink
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative
B.A., Sociology, Worcester State University (2015)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (2020)
During law school, Ashley interned at Prisoners’ Legal Services in Boston, MA, Metrowest Legal Services in Framingham, MA, and took four separate clinics and practicums during her second and third years. During Ashley’s second year, she took part in the Wrongful Convictions Clinic, Compassionate Release Practicum, and Legislative Policy and Drafting Clinic. In her third year, Ashley took part in the Access to Justice Clinic, which is part of the Civil Litigation and Justice Program.
Staff Attorney, Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Initiative

Paralegals

Camila Arsenault
Camila Arsenault
Paralegal, Family Law
B.A., Paralegal Studies, Boston University
Prior to coming to CLA, Camila worked as a Paralegal doing Criminal Defense Litigation. She serves as a Commissioner and Member of the Fitchburg Disability Commission. Camila is also the Interim Chair for the Special Education Parents Advisory Council for Fitchburg Public Schools. In her spare time, Camila loves to read and is currently working towards hiking all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 Footers.
Paralegal, Family Law
Magaly Correa Ruiz
Magaly Correa Ruiz
Intake Paralegal, Fair Housing Law
B.A., Dentistry, Universidad de Carabobo (2015)
Paralegal Certificate, University of Hartford (2023)
Prior to joining CLA, Magaly was a dental technician. She also interned as a Paralegal at the injury law firm, Morgan and Morgan.
Intake Paralegal, Fair Housing Law
Ines Diaz Rodriguez
Ines Diaz Rodriguez
Intake Paralegal, Family Law
A.A., Springfield Technical Community College
Ines started her career in the legal field in 1975 in a clerical staff position in the Hampden County Housing Court Clerk’s Office. She then began legal aid work in 1977 at Western Massachusetts Legal Services in the Springfield office as a Secretary. In 1997, she joined the Massachusetts Justice Project in Holyoke, MA as an Intake Paralegal. At Community Legal Aid, Ines works in the Springfield office as the program’s Intake Paralegal in the Family Law Unit.
Intake Paralegal, Family Law
Shelika Gonzalez
Shelika Gonzalez
Intake Paralegal, Housing Law
Prior to work at CLA, Shelika worked in the property management/customer service industry for over 15 years as the Office Manager and Director of Finance and Customer Service for a Property Management Company.

Intake Paralegal, Housing Law
Jannette Hernandez
Jannette Hernandez
Intake Paralegal, Benefits Law
International Career Institute (1984)
Before joining Community Legal Aid as a Paralegal in September 2008, Jannette spent two years working as a Secretary for Community Legal Aid’s predecessor organization, Western Massachusetts Legal Services. Before that, she had 16 years of experience working as a legal assistant for an immigration firm in New York, NY. Jannette is a Notary Public.
Intake Paralegal, Benefits Law
Michael Morelli
Michael Morelli
Paralegal, Elder Law
B.A., History (cum laude), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Michael served as an AmeriCorps Paralegal through the Massachusetts Legal Assistance for Self-Sufficiency Program (MLASSP) for three years before joining Community Legal Aid as a Paralegal in July 2013. Michael is currently a Paralegal in the Benefits Unit and assists clients with public benefits issues, including SNAP/food stamps, cash assistance benefits, unemployment, veterans services, MassHealth and Medicare. Michael has provided benefits trainings for several social service agencies throughout Berkshire County and currently serves on the DTA advisory board, which address issues impacting low-income clients.
Paralegal, Elder Law
Carolyne Nunez
Carolyne Nunez
Intake Paralegal, Housing Unit
Certificate, Quinsigamond Community College (2008)
Carolyne has a wide range of experience working with the Worcester community. For 13 years, she served families through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), educating and enlightening the Latino community.
Intake Paralegal, Housing Unit
Susan O'Connor
Susan O'Connor
Coordinating Paralegal, Disability Benefits
B.A., Psychology, Rutgers University
Certificate of Advanced Paralegal Studies, College of Our Lady of the Elms
Susan worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services for over six years before the program joined with Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. Susan represents clients in disability appeals before the Social Security Administration. She also assists disability recipients with issues affecting their payments. Susan serves as a resource to staff in CLA’s Western offices and outside attorneys regarding disability benefits and the effects of income, assets, and proposed legal agreements on clients’ eligibility and payments.
Coordinating Paralegal, Disability Benefits
Amanda Quintino dos Santos
Amanda Quintino dos Santos
Intake Paralegal, Medical Legal Partnership
B.A., Sociology, College of the Holy Cross (2024)
Prior to joining CLA, Amanda worked as a legal intern for a private employment law firm based in New York City while completing her studies at the College of the Holy Cross.
Intake Paralegal, Medical Legal Partnership
Priscilla Pettengill
Priscilla Pettengill
Intake Paralegal, Elder Law
B.A., Spanish (summa cum laude), Dickinson College
Priscilla worked for the Massachusetts Justice Project (MJP) for more than 14 years before the program joined Community Legal Aid in 2014. Priscilla started her career in legal services in 1999 as the assistant to the coordinator of MJP’s Volunteer Lawyers Service. She became a Paralegal in that program in 2002 and was MJP’s Equal Justice Award recipient in 2004. Priscilla started to specialize in elder law when she became MJP’s Paralegal for the Massachusetts Senior Legal Helpline. At CLA, she is an Intake Paralegal for the Elder Law Unit. Priscilla speaks Spanish and some Portuguese.
Intake Paralegal, Elder Law
Matias Tolone
Matias Tolone
Intake Paralegal, Housing Law
B.A., History and Political Science, UMass Amherst (2022)
Prior to joining CLA in Worcester, Matias worked as a paralegal/research assistant for a corporate law firm based in New York City who worked with international clients in the mining sector. Before then, Matias completed a brief internship with CLA during his time at UMass, where he focused on housing.
Intake Paralegal, Housing Law
Blanca MillerSenior Paralegal, Housing Law
Omar Laza
Omar Laza
Disability Benefits Advocate
B.A., Criminal Justice, Worcester State University
Before joining Community Legal Aid, Omar graduated from Worcester State University, Magnum Cum Laude. He then worked as a Disability Specialist for almost a decade representing Social Security claimants at every step of the application process, including representing claimants at the administrative hearing level. Omar has been a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) since 2018 and the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR) since 2021, after acquiring a certification as an EDPNA (Eligible for Direct Payment Non-Attorney). Omar is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) and the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR).
Disability Benefits Advocate

Case Managers & Parent Advocates

Ben Abbott
Ben Abbott
Case Manager, Family Preservation Project
B.A., Anthropology, Earlham College (2010)
Master of Social Work, Westfield State University (2016)
Prior to joining CLA, Ben received his Masters in Social Work in 2016 and has worked with older adults, families and children. He most recently worked in elder protective services in Franklin County.
Case Manager, Family Preservation Project
Noemi Arguinzoni-Jimenez
Noemi Arguinzoni-Jimenez
Case Manager, Elder/Housing Law
B.A., Baypath University
Prior to joining CLA, Noemi worked for the past 29 years with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), working directly with teens and homeless families. She also worked as a SNAP/Cash supervisor at DTA.
Case Manager, Elder/Housing Law
Kayla Baillargeon
Kayla Baillargeon
Parent Advocate, Family Preservation Project
B.A., Social Work, Simmons University (2025)
In 2011 Kayla began studying Computer Information Systems at QCC before temporarily pausing her studies in 2015 to focus on motherhood. In 2020, she resumed her education at Independence University with a focus on obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, specializing in Software and Mobile Application Development. However, her interests shifted towards Human Services, leading her to Southern New Hampshire University in 2021 and eventually to Simmons University in 2022, where she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work. Kayla’s personal experiences, including the challenging separation and subsequent reunification of her children by the Department of Children and Families, have inspired her to support others navigating the child welfare system. She is passionate about advocating for parental rights and policy reforms to improve the system’s effectiveness.
Parent Advocate, Family Preservation Project
Jeanette Colon
Jeanette Colon
Case Manager, Housing and Elder Units
Certificate in Office Management, Burdett College (1999)
Jeanette has built a life-long career in the nonprofit industry. Before joining Community Legal Aid in November 2017, Jeanette had worked as a Case Manager for the Tenancy Preservation Program through Community Healthlink, assisting low-income, disabled individuals and families connect to Worcester Housing Court services and preserve their tenancies. Jeanette has a Certificate in Office Management.
Case Manager, Housing and Elder Units
Marla Jakubiak
Marla Jakubiak
Legal Aid Case Manager
B.A., Paralegal/Legal Studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (1996)
Marla joined Community Legal Aid in the spring of 2015. She worked as a Paralegal for the Housing and Elder Units until 2023. Marla works as a Legal Aid Case Manager position. Marla has experience in immigration law, personal injury law, and social security law. Previously, she worked at The Legal Aid Society in the Bronx, NY as a housing Paralegal and at the Essex County Legal Services in New Jersey as a Paralegal for the SSDI and SSI project.
Legal Aid Case Manager
Ashley StoneCase Manager, Housing Law Unit
Maria Santiago
Maria Santiago
Case Manager, Family Preservation Project
B.A., University of Phoenix (2011)
Maria has 20 years of experience with diabetes education, case management, and social determination.
Case Manager, Family Preservation Project

Program Coordinators

Carmen Gonzalez
Carmen Gonzalez
Pro Bono Coordinator
Carmen worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services (WMLS) and the Massachusetts Justice Project (MJP) for over 25 years before joining Community Legal Aid in January 2014. Carmen joined the staff at WMLS in 1988 as the part-time Secretary for the Volunteer Lawyers Service (VLS) and as the part-time Accounting Assistant. In 1990, she became the VLS Paralegal and continued in that capacity at MJP. At CLA, she assists clients with referrals to the private bar for assistance with their legal issues. She also coordinates the Uncontested Divorce Clinic in Hampden County and helps coordinates the Senior Partners for Justice Limited Assistance Representation Project at the Hampden County Probate Court.

Pro Bono Coordinator
Sofia Lucas
Sofia Lucas
Fair Housing Testing Coordinator
B.A., Psychology, Worcester State University (2022)
Prior to joining CLA, Sofia worked as a paralegal in a private law firm assisting the attorneys in Family Law. She received my paralegal certificate from Boston University in Spring 2021 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Worcester State University in 2022 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Pre-Law Studies.
Fair Housing Testing Coordinator
Choyce McIntosh
Choyce McIntosh
Pro Bono Coordinator
B.A., Legal Studies, College of our Lady of the Elms (2016)
M.S., Law, Western New England University of Law (2020)
Prior to being a Pro Bono Coordinator with CLA for 2 1/2 years, Choyce was a Paralegal for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company doing insurance defense work until she started with CLA. She then took a brief hiatus from CLA to take a role as a Legislative Aide in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to learn more about the policy and budget process. Choyce is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Law and Policy Program at Liberty University.
Pro Bono Coordinator
Halima Osman
Halima Osman
Pro Bono Coordinator
B.A., Criminal Justice, Westfield State University (2020)
Prior to joining CLA, Halima worked as a case manager at the YWCA domestic violence shelter. She also interned at the Springfield District Court Domestic Violence Unit.
Pro Bono Coordinator
Nicole Patano
Nicole Patano
Pro Bono Coordinator
B.A., Criminology, Providence College
Prior to joining CLA, Nicole worked as a Paralegal and Driver’s License Restoration Program Coordinator at Rhode Island Center for Justice in Providence, RI.
Pro Bono Coordinator
Theo Peierls
Theo Peierls
Fair Housing Testing Coordinator
B.A., Sexuality Women & Gender Studies and Music, Amherst College (2020)
Master of Social Work, Columbia University (2023)
Prior to joining CLA, Theo worked with the Northampton Division of Community Care (DCC) to provide crisis support to people experiencing difficult conditions. Theo has done similar support work through community organizing efforts since 2021, as well as work training new volunteers in local organizations. Before working with the DCC, Theo completed their Master’s in Social Work, during which time they focused on research and analysis surrounding BIPOC and LGBTQ populations, as well as additional crisis response work.
Fair Housing Testing Coordinator

Support Staff

Carmen Agostini
Yanira Brito
Evelyn Cortez
Evelyn Cortez
Before joining Community Legal Aid in the fall of 2014, Evelyn worked as a Secretary at the Committee for Public Counsel Services. Evelyn provides clerical support and coverage for the front desk and is fluent in Spanish.
Judith Herberg
Judith Herberg
Judith worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services and its predecessor agency, Berkshire Legal Services, for over 42 years before the program joined with Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. Judith does intakes and provides support for the program’s Pittsfield office.
Jackeline Martinez
Judith McLellan
Judith McLellan
Judith worked for Western Massachusetts Legal Services and the Massachusetts Justice Project for more than 28 years before joining Community Legal Aid in January 2014. Judy does intakes and provides support to CLA’s Springfield and Northampton offices. Judy also provides support to CLA’s five-county Volunteers Lawyers Service, and assists with interpretation and translations for Spanish-speaking clients.
Carol Ortiz
Carol Ortiz
Carol has a wide range of experience in health care. Her passion for caring for others and showing humanity helps her serve the Worcester community.
Jessica Ortiz
Jessica Ortiz
Prior to joining CLA, Jessica worked at All Star Incentive Marketing for almost 10 years. She started thee a s Bilingual Participant Specialist and was promoted to Senior Billing Specialist after 5 years.
Mildred Otero
Mildred Otero
Millie worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services for over 36 years before the program joined with Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. Along with providing general support for the Springfield office, Millie handles front desk inquiries in English and Spanish. She also interprets and translates for Spanish-speaking clients and assists with solving computer problems for advocates.
Frances Reyes
Frances Reyes
Frances worked at Western Massachusetts Legal Services for over eight years before the program joined with Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts to form Community Legal Aid in 2011. She provides support for the Northampton office, handles front desk inquiries, and does interpretations and translations for Spanish-speaking clients. Frances also conducts intakes for new clients. She previously worked in private law firms as a legal assistant for over ten years.
Jenisse Sanchez
Regina Santos
Regina Santos
B.A., International Relations, American Military School (2012)
Regina has been a caseworker with various nonprofits in Middlesex County since 2011. She also has experience as an Immigration Paralegal and Fingerprint Specialist, and is a Notary Public. Regina speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish. In her spare time, Regina is a writer and has self-published a book of historical fiction.
Katherine Vasquez
Cristina Zamorano
Cristina Zamorano
Support Staff
Business Administrator, Libre University in Colombia (2016)
Cristina has over 15 years of experience in customer service, she worked at different insurance agencies in Colombia, providing commercial advice to the clients to ensure customer loyalty.
Support Staff

AmeriCorps

Ramona Ansong
Ramona Ansong
AmeriCorps Paralegal, Education Law
B.A., Legal Studies and Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2024)
Ramona attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst for her undergraduate where she studied Legal Studies and Public Health. She has previously done volunteer work at the Marie Anne Center, which is a nonprofit organization that provides ESL classes, afterschool programs, and a summer camp for youth in the Lincoln area. She has also interned at the Worcester District Attorney’s office, in the gun violence unit. Subsequently, Ramona has worked as a direct support staff for the past two years with Arbor Associates.
AmeriCorps Paralegal, Education Law
Kayleigh Callanan
Kayleigh Callanan
AmeriCorps Paralegal, CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME INITIATIVE
B.A., English and Political Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2024)
Prior to working with CLA, Kayleigh held an internship with the Municipal Police Training Committee where she helped to integrate more diversity, equity, and inclusion information into curriculum for police academies across the state. She also held an internship working with the Western and Central Massachusetts Senate office of Elizabeth Warren where she helped to connect constituents with federal agencies.
AmeriCorps Paralegal, CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME INITIATIVE
Grace Cannady
Grace Cannady
AmeriCorps Paralegal, CORI/Re-Entry Project
B.A., Sociology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Prior to joining CLA, Grace graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2024, with an interdisciplinary study of Sociology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Professionally, they have worked in higher education administration and program development, assisting historically underserved students in the Student Affairs Office at Holyoke Community College. Additionally, Grace provides culturally responsive dance instruction to students across Western MA, where community solidarity is at the forefront of their work.
AmeriCorps Paralegal, CORI/Re-Entry Project
David McCallum
David McCallum
AMERICORPS LEGAL ADVOCATE, Family Law
B.A., Political Science and Legal Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2023)
Prior to joining CLA, David graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2023, where he studied Political Science and Legal Studies.
AMERICORPS LEGAL ADVOCATE, Family Law