Laura Bermudez

Staff Attorney with the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids servicing Suffolk County in partnership with the Boston Family Resource Center, advocating for children across the court, mental health, and school systems to ensure that their mental health needs are met and their legal rights are protected.

• Build and foster strong client relationships.
  Conduct legal research and writing memos and administrative complaints and hearing requests.
• Litigate before the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.
• Negotiate settlements with school districts.
  Advocate at IEP meetings, school disciplinary hearings - including Manifestation Determination Reviews - reentry meetings, and system of care meetings
• Assist parents of children with disabilities in accessing health care services
• Analyze education, medical, and court records
  Develop and maintain strong working relationships with state agencies, including DCF, DMH, DYS, as well as other stakeholders in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
• Manage case files.
• Participate in public policy advocacy.

• Manage 180 cases of indigent defendants charged with misdemeanors and felonies in third busiest district court in Massachusetts and Superior Court.
• Conduct legal research and draft motions, memorandums, and briefs.
• Develop strategies and arguments to resolve cases in client's best interest.
• Explain available courses of action and possible repercussions of cases to clients.
• Litigate hearings at every stage of criminal trial process.
• Train newly licensed attorneys in effective litigation strategies that remain committed to advocating for populations served.

• Conducted legal research and prepared legal drafts of motions and appellate memorandums.
• Met with clients on legal team's behalf to gather case information and discuss upcoming litigation.
• Pursuant to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03, successfully litigated a legally and clinically complex petition for parole for an individual convicted as a juvenile after forty-seven years incarcerated.

• Pursuant to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:03, litigated a petition for parole for an individual convicted as a juvenile serving a life sentence.
• Prepared client for cross examination and built an effective parole plan to realistically satisfy the parole board while serving client's interests.
• Drafted and submitted a successful administrative appellate brief to client's denied parole petition.
• Interviewed witnesses, medical experts, and treatment providers, and gathered public record to present a profound petition and appeal.
• Supervised new clinic students in their preparation and presentation at parole hearings.

• Pursuant to Colo. R. Civ. P. 205.7, managed 60 cases of indigent defendants charged with criminal offenses.
• Under supervision, litigated multiple hearings and trials to verdict.
• Conducted legal research and drafted motions and memorandums.
• Communicated with clients and collected information to prepare for trial and negotiate resolutions.
• Analyzed probable outcomes of cases by gaining knowledge of legal precedents.