Alyssa began her legal career as a litigation associate at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius before joining the Education Law Center in Philadelphia where she worked as a staff attorney on class action litigation to protect the rights of students with disabilities. Upon moving to Baltimore, she was appointed managing attorney and then director of legal advocacy at Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) (formerly Maryland Disability Law Center). Over the course of nearly twenty years at DRM, Alyssa provided direct representation to clients and led policy and legislative advocacy initiatives involving special education, school discipline, limited English proficiency, juvenile justice, and voting. A 2014 recipient of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award, Alyssa has also devoted herself throughout her career to the supervision and mentorship of young attorneys and law students, providing guidance particularly in the areas of fellowships and career development. Alyssa received her undergraduate degree in Romance Languages and Literature from Harvard University and her J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.
Katheryn Anderson, Associate Director
Kate received her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2013. She began her legal career as an Open Society Institute-Baltimore Community Fellow with Disability Rights Maryland (DRM), where she worked to address systemic issues in state-funded public transportation that affected accessibility for thousands of low-income people with disabilities, which ultimately lead to the filing of a class action lawsuit. Following her fellowship, Kate joined DRM as a Staff Attorney with a focus on community inclusion for people with disabilities. Prior to attending law school, Kate earned her B.A. in Communication from the University of Delaware and worked in events and communications at the British Council, a non-profit serving as the cultural department of the British Embassy in Washington D.C. Kate was recently named a 2019-20 Fellow of the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland's Professional Skills Academy.
Alyson Todd, Associate Director
Alyson is a former commercial litigation associate with a large firm and a boutique trial firm and practiced in the areas of product liability, antitrust, employment and insurance coverage law. Alyson then worked as a legal search consultant for law firms and corporations in the Washington, D.C., metro region. In this role she acquired a broad understanding of the variety of legal specialties, as well as expert knowledge about the hiring practices of employers in the region, including large and boutique law firms, corporate law departments and federal agencies, and assisted hundreds of attorneys with their job search. In her current role, Alyson develops resources, programming, publications and counseling tools that prepare students for success beyond law school.
Denise Williams, Associate Director
Denise is a Baltimore native who began her legal career as a judicial law clerk at the District Court of Maryland for Harford County for all four sitting judges - the Honorable Susan Hazlett, the Honorable Mimi Cooper, the Honorable David Carey and the Honorable Victor Butanis. Prior to and while attending law school, she was the Executive Assistant at the Maryland State Bar Association where she worked closely with MSBA Board of Governors, Executive Committees, judges and attorneys for nearly 8 years. Once she obtained her bar license, Denise practiced criminal law as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore City and Cecil County. As a prosecutor, she worked primarily on victim-centric felonies and major crimes. Denise joined the LCDO team in July 2021 to assist students in their professional development, focusing on opportunities for judicial clerkships and internships as well as programs related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Drexel University and her J.D. from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.
Lauren Benjamin, Assistant Director
Lauren is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, and she received her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2008 with a concentration in Litigation & Advocacy. After graduating from law school, Lauren served as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judith C. Ensor in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. Lauren has substantial civil litigation experience having practiced at boutique private firms in Towson, Maryland for nearly a decade. Lauren joined the LCDO in January 2020 and, in addition to providing general career advice to current students, she focuses on working with recent graduates and alumni who are job seeking.