Elisabeth joins HLA as our MHAP for Kids Staff Attorney based in Lowell. Prior to joining HLA, Elisabeth worked at the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office where she served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Mental Health Court in Lowell as well as in the Lowell Juvenile Court. While in law school, Elisabeth was a part of the Juvenile Rights Advocacy Project as well as a LEND (Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Delay) Fellow in 2018. Elisabeth received her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2019 and her B.A. from Colby College in 2016.

Nell joined HLA in September of 2021 as a Paralegal for our MHAP for Kids. Prior to joining HLA, Nell participated in the School for International Training's International Honors Program, where she studied the public health care systems in Vietnam, South Africa, and Argentina. She previously was a family law litigation assistant and a research affiliate for Military Support Programs and Networks. Nell earned her B.A. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience with a minor in Law, Justice, and Social Change from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Abigail (or Abby) joined HLA in January 2022 as an Administrative Assistant, supporting the work of our General Legal Practice Team, MHAP for Kids, and our Administrative and Development teams. Prior to working at HLA, she held various administrative roles while teaching English as a Second Language at a language school and translation agency based in Montréal, Québec. Abby earned her B.A. in Art History and Anthropology from McGill University.

Aashna joined HLA as a Paralegal with our General Legal Practice Team in August 2021. Prior to joining HLA, Aashna worked at a multi-focus law firm as a Legal Assistant, aiding in criminal, real estate, and intellectual property cases. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with bachelors degrees in Public Health (policy and management) and Legal Studies in 2020.

Stacey joins our MHAP for Kids team as our Staff Attorney based in Brockton and serving Plymouth County. Before joining HLA, Stacey was a self-employed Family Law Attorney specializing in divorce, child support, mediation, and other family law issues for over ten years. Stacey also has experience in Guardian ad Litem and Court Investigations and worked for the Committee for Public Counsel Services/Children and Family Law Program, where she represented parents and children in cases involving Care & Protection Petitions in Plymouth and Norfolk counties. Before launching her legal career, Stacey oversaw a variety of programs in the Department of Children and Families across her ten-year tenure there. Stacey earned her J.D. from the New England School of Law.

Kathy joins HLA as our MHAP for Kids Staff Attorney based in Lawrence. Prior to joining HLA, Kathy engaged in private practice representing parents and children in Care and Protection Petitions and Children Requiring Assistance cases for the Committee for Public Counsel Services/Children and Family Law Division. In addition, she has experience as a Guardian Ad Litem and Court Investigator in the juvenile courts in Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk Counties. Kathleen also worked as an Education Advocate for the Home for Little Wanderers Parent Support Program as well as for families working with the Department of Mental Health. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Zachary joined the General Legal Practice Team as a Paralegal in September of 2021. Prior to joining HLA, he interned at the African American Community Service Agency in its Policy and Advocacy department, conducting research on local policy issues affecting the Black/African-American/African Ancestry communities and developing a civic education program on local, state, and federal policymaking processes. He also interned at the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, was a student member at the Bay Area JusticeCorps, worked as a part-time barista at Starbucks, and enjoyed leadership positions in student advocacy through student government organizations. Zachary recently earned B.A. in Philosophy with a minor in Political Science from Santa Clara University.

Ellen joins the MHAP for Kids team as our Staff Attorney based in Worcester. Prior to joining HLA, Ellen worked as a staff Attorney at Northeast Legal Aid and Metro West Legal Services. At Northeast Legal Aid, Ellen was in charge of the Medical-Legal Partnership program and also represented grandparents and third-party caregivers of children in legal matters. At MetroWest Legal Services, Ellen represented families and children in special education matters which often were complicated by life stressors such as substantial poverty. Ellen comes with a variety of experience in special education law, child welfare law, issues pertaining to domestic violence. Ellen provides child-centered, trauma centered representation for families facing legal issues and is a compassionately zealous attorney. She is a 2007 graduate of New England Law.

Kendal joins HLA as our MHAP for Kids Staff Attorney serving Bristol County and the Cape & Islands. Kendal comes to HLA from the Bristol County District Attorney's office. She spent five years supporting prosecutors in the Fall River District Court and in the Special Victims Unit, while attending law school at night and on the weekends. Kendal then transitioned to the role of Assistant District Attorney, spending four years as a prosecutor based in the Attleboro District Court. She became the lead prosecutor for the Attleboro high risk domestic violence team, overseeing complex prosecutions of repeat offenders and working with community partners to provide support to domestic violence victims. Kendal has tried dozens of cases and brings extensive litigation experience and trauma informed advocacy skills to this role. Kendal earned her B.A. from Saint Michael's College where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her J.D. from the University of Massachusetts School of Law.

Emmanuelle joins HLA as our MHAP for Kids Staff Attorney based in Fitchburg. Prior to joining HLA, Emmanuelle worked as a Staff Attorney and Fellow with the Project on Predatory Student Lending at the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where she investigated and litigated against predatory for-profit colleges that target and harm students of color. Emmanuelle holds a BA in crime and justice studies, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and received her law degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. During law school, she was a legal intern at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in the Consumer Protection Division; Bowmans in Johannesburg, South Africa; and the Utah County Attorney’s Office. Prior to law school, Emmanuelle interned with the Boston Branch of the NAACP advocating for students, parents, and teachers in Boston Public Schools.