Public Interest Leadership Program Class of 2025-2026

Each year, the Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program welcomes a select group of talented and highly-motivated lawyers to participate in a year-long program designed to provide intensive leadership and professional development training. Participants learn from and connect with leaders in Boston’s public and private sectors to gain the critical skills and tools needed to grow as an effective leader and voice in the community. 

Alexandra August, Committee for Public Counsel Services
Alexandra is a Trial Attorney in the Mental Health Litigation Division in Brockton, MA, serving clients that have been detained pending the court’s determinations on competency and commitment. She serves as the chair of the intern program and in the fall, will teach mental health litigation as an adjunct professor. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her BA in Psychology and Sociology from Boston University.

Adam Aliano, WilmerHale
Adam focuses his practice on complex litigation and investigations. He has represented major financial, manufacturing, and technology companies as well as DoD contractors in civil litigation, government investigations, and internal investigations. Prior to joining WilmerHale, Adam served in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps in litigation, counsel and leadership roles across the globe. During his service, Mr. Aliano prosecuted or supervised the prosecution of over 75 criminal matters through adjudication and served as agency counsel for numerous civil matters in conjunction with the Department of Justice. He also has extensive experience in criminal and administrative investigations at the federal, state and local levels. He received his JD from Harvard Law School and his BS in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy.

Kristen Bor-Zale, Greater Boston Legal Services
Kristen is a Staff Attorney at GBLS, where she assists clients with direct representation in consumer rights issues, particularly surrounding unlawful debt collection practices. She initially joined GBLS as an Equal Justice Works Fellow after law school, where she focused on coerced debt and financial abuse through consumer credit. Kristen is also involved in consumer protection policy advocacy at both the state and national level. Kristen received her JD from Northeastern University Law School.

Smriti Choudhury, Mintz, Levin
Smriti counsels commercial clients in real estate transactions including acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing deals. With experience representing both sellers and buyers in acquisitions relating to office, life science, and industry space and a history of working with both landlords and tenants, she brings 360-degree insight to each negotiation. She helps manage any transaction-related challenges that arise — including corporate structuring, due diligence, and financing issues — offering legal, strategic, and operational solutions that help clients move forward, leverage opportunities, and advance their business goals. The Boston Real Estate Times has recognized Smriti as one of the industry’s Outstanding Women of 2022. Prior to joining Mintz, Smriti was a real estate and corporate associate in the Boston office of a large, global law firm. She received her JD from Northeastern University and her BA from Tufts University.

Ami Clifford, Clifford Law Boston
Ami owns and operates Clifford Law Boston, a small firm specializing in landlord and tenant law. She began her legal career with Justice Bridge Legal Center, a legal incubator, where she provided representation for low to moderate income clients. Ami has been recognized as a “Most Valuable Player” by the Volunteer Lawyers Project for her pro bono representation of low income clients. She received her JD from UMass Law and her BA in Communication from Purdue University.

Matthew Costello, Nixon Peabody
Matthew is an associate in Nixon Peabody’s Complex Commercial Disputes practice group. He is an experienced litigator and represents clients in complex litigation matters at both the state and federal level. He represents clients in all stages of complex litigation and counsels clients in anticipation of litigation. Before joining Nixon Peabody, Matthew was a litigation associate at a boutique law firm and a top 50 Am Law firm, where he was a summer associate. Matthew previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. William E. Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island and the Hon. Gilbert V. Indeglia of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. He received his JD from Suffolk Law School and his BS from Fitchburg State University.

Tess Edwards, Pierce Atwood
Tess advises clients on a broad range of land use matters. Tess specializes in zoning and permitting matters — from supporting commercial and residential developers in obtaining local and wetlands permits, to litigating those permits on appeal. She also advises clients on real estate transactions, including acquisitions, leasing, and development of residential subdivisions, multifamily residential, medical, industrial, marina, and hotel properties. Tess has a passion for renewable energy development and supports utility-scale solar and battery energy storage developers in permitting, financing, and contracting. She has also represented landowners and municipalities in leasing land to energy developers by reviewing leases, PPAs, and PILOT agreements. Drawing on her prior experience at the Land Court, she also assists individual property owners with complex title matters, affordable housing law, municipal law, and property disputes, including withdrawing land from Article 97, Chapter 61, 61A, 61B, and permitting coastal structures under Chapter 91 and the Wetlands Protection Act. Prior to joining Pierce Atwood, Tess spent two years as law clerk to the Honorable Robert B. Foster of the Land Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Tess received both her JD and BA in Philosophy from Boston College.

Evert Fowle, Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission
Evert is Counsel at the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a state agency charged with overseeing enforcement agencies and officers throughout the state. In his role as Counsel, Evert manages and oversees public records requests and data management. Prior to his role at POST, Evert was Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Outside of work, he serves as the Director of the Acton Memorial Library Foundation and organizes fundraising for the Foundation. He received his JD from Boston University School of Law and his BA in Political Science and Government from Connecticut College.

Niccolo Gandini, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Niccolo is Assistant District Attorney in the Gang Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. In his role at Suffolk, he is part of the Homicide Response team and he participates in a variety of community meetings to understand and counter the root causes of juvenile and gang crime. He previously worked in the Juvenile Unit at Suffolk, as well as the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office. Prior to Plymouth County, he worked as a Housing Attorney at Northeast Legal Aid, representing clients from trial to mediation. He received his JD from Boston College Law School and his BA and MA in Politics from New York University.

Mary Gardner, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Mary is Assistant Attorney General in the Energy and Ratepayer Advocacy Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Her caseload involves dockets designed to test renewable energy technology, such as networked geothermal and targeted electrification pilot programs to transition customers off the gas system. Beyond her caseload, she is a leader in the PRIDE Employee Resource Group at the Attorney General’s Office. Previously, she worked as an associate at a Boston-based law firm representing labor unions. She received her JD from Columbia University and her BA in International Affairs and Spanish from George Washington University.

Niamh Gibbons, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein
An associate at Zalkind, Niamh’s practice involves assisting clients in criminal defense, employment, and higher education. She joined Zalkind as an associate in 2023 after a clerkship at the Massachusetts Appeals Court. During law school, she interned for the Honorable Juan R. Torruella at the First Circuit Court of Appeals and at an employment law firm in Boston. Prior to law school, she worked for international non-profit organizations supporting people affected by humanitarian emergencies and human rights violations. She received her JD from Suffolk University Law School and her BA from University College, Dublin.

Julianna Hanlon, Mass General Brigham
Julianna currently works as in-house legal counsel for Mass General Brigham. Prior to that, she was a litigation associate at Mintz Levin where her practice focused on healthcare enforcement defense, government investigations, land use and real estate litigation and general business litigation. She has successfully drafted and argued motions for injunctive relief, motions to dismiss, evidentiary motions and motions for summary judgment. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her BA in Political Science and Government from Simmons College.

Mia Harris, Sidley Austin
Mia is the Managing Associate in Sidley Austin’s Boston office. At Sidley, she advises clients on a range of matters related to the Food and Drug Administration. Prior to joining Sidley, Mia worked as a summer fellow at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, and as a law clerk at another Boston firm. Mia was recognized by the Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services on its 2022 Pro Bono Honor Roll, which recognizes attorneys who provide more than 50 hours of pro bono legal services in a calendar year. She received her JD from Boston University School of Law and her BA from the College of William & Mary.

Janeal Hoyte, Office of the Inspector General
Janeal is Associate General Counsel at the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, where she safeguards the Commonwealth’s resources through prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse. In addition to handling public records requests, she also supervises the legal intern program for the OIG. Outside of the office, she serves as Secretary and Co-Chair for Programs and Professional Develpment with the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association. She received her JD from Massachusetts School of Law and her BA from UMass Boston.

Kiman Kaur, Goulston & Storrs
Kiman is a litigator in the firm’s Boston office. Kiman resolves a wide range of business disputes across all stages of litigation. Her practice includes state and federal cases at the trial and appellate levels involving employment law, real estate, professional liability, and complex commercial disputes. She also maintains an active pro bono practice concentrating on issues involving racial and reproductive justice. Prior to joining the firm, Kiman served as a judicial law clerk within the U.S. District Court in the District of Utah for the Honorable Ted Stewart where she drafted court orders and assisted the Judge in courtroom proceedings. Her legal experience also includes a judicial internship with the Honorable Victoria Roberts in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan during law school. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her HBS from the University of Utah.

Rachel Kerner, Foley Hoag
Rachel Kerner is a senior associate in the litigation department. Rachel represents individuals and corporate clients in state and federal government investigations, enforcement actions, and in complex civil litigation matters in both state and federal court, with emphasis on healthcare, securities, and other fraud-based actions, the False Claims Act, and unfair and deceptive business practices. Rachel has significant experience with high-stakes litigation and is particularly attuned to the complexity of her client’s businesses and industries. She has experience litigating at both the state and federal level. Rachel also maintains a robust pro bono practice, working with clients on domestic violence matters, and with legal services organizations in connection with a variety of civil rights issues, including litigating excessive force cases and working on behalf of criminal defendants. She received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law and her BA from the University of Michigan.

Kuong Ly, Anderson Kreiger
Kuong’s practice focuses on real estate, environmental, airport, and public law matters. He assists clients in navigating regulations, land use policies, procurement procedures, and represents clients in litigation related to his practice areas. Prior to joining the firm, Kuong was a Law Clerk to Judge Rosemary S. Pooler of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Chief Judge Miranda M. Du of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, and Associate Justice Michael D. Vhay of the Massachusetts Land Court. His extensive clerkship experience in both state and federal courts provides him with valuable insight into the judicial process and the interpretation of laws that are relevant to helping his clients achieve their objectives. Kuong earned his JD from UCLA. He also holds graduate degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Essex, where he attended both institutions as a Marshall Scholar.

William Lonn, De Novo
William is a Supervising Attorney at De Novo, where he provides legal services to tenants who qualify in eviction cases and administrative matters involving housing benefits. He also supports a variety of community partnerships, including the coordination of Lawyer for the Day programs in Greater Boston and MLRI’s Eviction Practice Group. Outside of work, he serves as an attorney coach for the Lexington High Mock Trial team. William received his JD from Harvard Law School.

Charles Marshall, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Charles is Assistant District Attorney for Appeals at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. In this role, he has litigated several post-conviction motions and has developed a workflow policy to address inter-office discovery procedures in accordance with changes to Rule 14 of the Mass. Rules of Criminal Procedure. Previously, he served as Assistant District Attorney in the Dorchester BMC, where he handled 40 criminal trials on a wide array of charges including domestic assaults, narcotics distribution, illegal firearm possession, and sexual assaults. He received his JD from Suffolk University Law School and his BA in Communication and Media Studies from College of Charleston.

Julie Martin, Conn Kavanaugh
Julie specializes in business law and employment litigation at Conn Kavanaugh. She helps clients navigate challenges arising in the workplace, whether conducting multifaceted internal investigations, responding to subpoenas, or realigning policies and procedures to ensure compliance within an ever-shifting landscape of legal requirements. She has represented clients–both companies and individuals–in Massachusetts state and federal courts, and before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Julie has been selected as a Massachusetts Rising Star by Thomson Reuters’ SuperLawyers each year since 2021, and was named as one of the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Labor and Employment Law in 2023. She received her JD from Suffolk University Law School and her BA in Political Science from Wheaton College. Julie is a proud City Year Boston 2002-2003 Corps Member who spent the first chapter of her professional life working in Boston’s nonprofit sector, before beginning her legal career. At home, Julie enjoys being chased by her two sons, tending to her garden, and enjoying long nature walks.

Abigail McCourt, Volunteer Lawyers Project
Abigail is Senior Staff Attorney of the Family Law & Guardianship Unit at Volunteer Lawyers Project. In this role, she implemented a community partnership program with Boston Public Schools, Boston Medical Center, and others to educate the community about guardianship, including developing trainings for parents of disabled individuals. She received her JD from New England Law | Boston and her MSW from Boston College.

Nick O’Neill, Office of the Inspector General
Nick is Lead Counsel for the Internal Special Audit Unit at the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, where he advises a team investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in transportation spending across the Commonwealth. He is passionate about public service and believes in the law as a vital tool for promoting effective, ethical, and responsive government. Previously, he served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston, providing legal guidance to city departments on matters ranging from procurement and constitutional law to litigation in state and federal court. Before law school, Nick was Chief of Staff to a New York State Assemblymember, where he led legislative and communications efforts on issues including public integrity reform and marriage equality. He holds a BA in History from Yale University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Erika Richmond Walton, Lawyers for Civil Rights
Erika joined Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) as a Litigation Fellow in 2023. Erika is currently leading cutting-edge work enforcing the Massachusetts CROWN Act and fighting discrimination based on natural hairstyles. Erika recently favorably resolved a high-profile case brought on behalf of a 9-year-old Black student who was handcuffed in his third grade classroom by police. The case resulted in major policy changes in the local school district and police department. Prior to joining LCR, Erika worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Law’s Center for Civil Rights, leading high-impact research projects in voting rights, educational equity, and civic engagement. Erika was also a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid of North Carolina, where she provided legal assistance to survivors of natural disasters. Erika earned a B.S. in Business Management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and her J.D., cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law (NCCU).

Brendan Sweeney, Morgan Brown & Joy
Brendan represents private and public sector employers in labor and employment matters. Brendan’s practice includes advising employers on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including resolving personnel and disciplinary issues, providing reasonable accommodations and managing leaves of absence, crafting employee handbooks, policies, and employment contracts, and negotiating severance agreements. Brendan offers practical advice on navigating the complex and ever-shifting labor and employment law landscape. Brendan also represents employers in labor and employment litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Department of Labor Relations, and Civil Service Commission. He defends management from claims of discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, wrongful termination, and in grievance arbitration. Brendan also has experience with breach of contract, non-competition, non-solicitation, and other commercial issues facing employers. Before joining Morgan, Brown & Joy, Brendan gained experience at a boutique firm in Boston where his practice focused exclusively on employment law. He received both his JD and BA from Boston University.

Philip Tizzano, McLane Middleton
Philip is a Trust and Estate attorney who focuses his practice on all aspects of Estate Planning and Estate and Trust administration. He counsels clients on estate tax minimization strategies, probate avoidance, special needs planning, charitable giving, and protection of assets. Philip is also an experienced estate administrator, where he guides clients through the complexities of administering a loved one’s estate and the settlement of trusts. Prior to joining McLane Middleton, Philip worked at a regional firm where he also handled matters concerning estate planning and estate and trust administration. Philip is a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard where he served as a paratrooper. Philip is an active member of the veteran community where he works with local organizations to support disabled and economically disadvantaged military veterans in New England. He received his JD from Suffolk University Law School.

Jordan Walker, The Second Step
Jordan is a Staff Attorney at The Second Step, a nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence. In her role as Staff Attorney, Jordan provides free, trauma-informed legal services to survivors of intimate partner violence, including representation in Probate and Family Court, as well as guidance on housing matters and the criminal justice process. Prior to joining The Second Step, Jordan worked as Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, ultimately becoming the domestic violence designee in Woburn District Court. Jordan received her JD from Boston College Law School and her BA in Psychology from Boston University.

Jennifer White, Mass Advocates for Children
Jennifer is an Education Staff Attorney at MAC. In this role, Jennifer convenes the Chapter 222 Student Discipline Coalition, a vital hub for advocacy to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. She also provides legal representation and participates in systemic advocacy in education matters related to special education, immigrant student rights, student discipline, and homelessness. Jennifer participates in statewide and regional coalitions with other legal services and community organizations to advance education equity. Before joining MAC Jennifer was a Trial Attorney in Fall River’s Children and Family Law Division of CPCS. In addition to a JD, Jennifer has an MSW from Boston University. Before going to law school Jennifer worked with adolescent parents as the Program Director of the Framingham/Milford Healthy Families program. She was a member of the National Healthy Families America Accreditation panel. Jennifer also spent time in Southeastern Georgia helping communities develop child abuse prevention programs aimed at keeping families out of the family regulation system.

Justin Woolf, Disability Law Center
Justin Woolf is a Staff Attorney at Disability Law Center with experience as a Trial Attorney at Committee for Public Counsel Services. Justin also served as a Law Clerk at New Hampshire Superior Court and has a J.D. from Boston College Law School, along with a B.S. in Health: Science, Society, and Policy from Brandeis University.

Sarah Yan, Legal Key Partnership for Health & Justice
Sarah Yan is a Law & Policy Consultant at Legal Key. Before joining us, she was a Staff Attorney at DOVE (Domestic Violence Ended) Inc. representing survivors of domestic violence in their family law, restraining order, and immigration matters. She is passionate about working from a client-centered and trauma-informed perspective to help individuals make informed and safety conscious decisions. Sarah received her JD from Boston University School of Law and her BA from University of California, San Diego.