MEHAR THAKUR
Overview
1
1
year of professional experience
Work History
NorCal Fellow
California Center for Civic Participation
03.2026 - Current
- Developed civic engagement programs to promote community participation and awareness.
- Facilitated discussions among diverse groups to gather insights on civic issues.
- Participated in professional conferences to enhance knowledge relevant to Fellow role.
- Reviewed research summaries with project team to track project progress.
Vice President
Democrats At San Jose State University
10.2025 - Current
- Led voter engagement initiatives for campus population of 40,000+ students, coordinating outreach and promoting events to enhance civic participation.
- Organized student delegations to California Democratic Party Convention, scheduling meetings with elected officials and arranging for 3 speakers to engage attendees.
- Developed weekly digital communications and promotional materials for candidate forums and issue-based town halls to inform and mobilize student voters.
- Partnered with local campaigns and student organizations to enhance political participation initiatives on campus.
Lobby Corps Committee Member
Associated Students at San Jose State University
09.2025 - Current
- Represent a campus population of 40,000+ students in structured advocacy meetings with California state legislators.
- Researched and analyzed higher education and budget-related legislation, assessing statutory language and funding implications for informed advocacy.
- Prepared advocacy briefs and talking points to enhance coordinated policy engagement and effectively represent student interests.
- Communicated legislative updates and policy impacts to student stakeholders, ensuring awareness and fostering informed dialogue.
Legal Assistant and Client Specialist
Law Offices of Cheri E. Michaelis
08.2025 - Current
- Drafted and prepared 20-30 estate planning instruments and probate filings weekly, ensuring compliance with California statutory and procedural requirements to facilitate successful client outcomes.
- Prepare and submit court documents under strict procedural rules, verifying execution accuracy prior to filing.
- Coordinate 5-10 client matters weekly, tracking multi-stage case timelines and maintaining zero missed filing deadlines.
- Coordinated client communications, explaining complex legal processes and documentation requirements to enhance client understanding and ensure informed execution.
- Maintained confidential client records and case management systems, upholding professional and ethical standards to protect client information.
National Youth Organizing Fellow
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
07.2025 - Current
- Selected as 1 of 1 national cohort of 10 students for a competitive constitutional advocacy fellowship.
- Tracked federal legislation and litigation to inform advocacy strategies on First Amendment and reproductive rights.
- Coordinated outreach and advocacy initiatives with 3 national and campus partners to enhance civic engagement.
- Organized 5 civic engagement events on campuses, including multi faith panels and issue-based town halls.
- Drafted policy summaries and educational materials that simplified complex constitutional developments for diverse audiences.
Legislative Intern & IDEAS Lab Fellow
County of San Mateo
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Conducted legislative and regulatory analysis on measures affecting housing, transportation, and county governance affecting 700,000+ county residents.
- Drafted briefing materials and weekly policy memoranda on fiscal impact, enhancing senior staff's understanding of key legislative issues.
- Monitored 8 Board agendas, committee hearings, and executive agency updates to ensure effective policy implementation and compliance.
- Synthesized research findings into structured reports, providing crucial insights for strategic decision-making processes.
Research Assistant
San Jose State University
05.2025 - 07.2025
- Analyzed and cleaned quantitative datasets using structured coding methods, identifying key trends to inform research outcomes.
- Synthesized 15+ academic sources to support faculty-led research conclusions, enhancing the credibility of findings.
- Drafted 5+ written research summaries translating findings into structured reports, facilitating clearer communication of research insights.
- Designed and administered 3+ survey instruments, collecting responses from 100+ participants.
Education
Bachelor's of Arts - Political Science
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA08-2024
Skills
- Policy Analysis
- Legal Document Preparation
- Client Intake and Communication
- Legislative Tracking
- Survey Design
- Team leadership
- Media relations
- Proposal writing
- Legislative research experience
- Scheduling skills
- File and records maintenance
- Time management
Languages
- Hindi
- Punjabi
Timeline
NorCal Fellow
California Center for Civic Participation
03.2026 - Current
Vice President
Democrats At San Jose State University
10.2025 - Current
Lobby Corps Committee Member
Associated Students at San Jose State University
09.2025 - Current
Legal Assistant and Client Specialist
Law Offices of Cheri E. Michaelis
08.2025 - Current
National Youth Organizing Fellow
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
07.2025 - Current
Legislative Intern & IDEAS Lab Fellow
County of San Mateo
05.2025 - 08.2025
Research Assistant
San Jose State University
05.2025 - 07.2025
Bachelor's of Arts - Political Science
San Jose State University