CLA welcomes Lisa M. Russell (Whiteleather) as Staff Attorney! We knew Lisa was meant to be at CLA when her passion for our mission of expanding access to justice was obvious the moment we met her. We are grateful to have Lisa on our team. We took a few moments to learn more about Lisa and why she chose to pursue a career in public interest law at CLA.
Lisa shares “I chose to work at CLA because I believe that legal assistance and legal representation should be available to everyone. CLA provides an invaluable service to an often overlooked group in communities. CLA's sliding scale format helps people who may not qualify for larger legal assistance programs but cannot always afford legal representation on their own. With my history in education and family law, I pursued CLA because having legal representation in a domestic family issue can help not just during the initial change in family structure but for years to come. Instead of allowing the court system to decide how your family dynamic changes, legal representation can help someone take control and have a voice in how the new family structure forms - giving the power back to the families.
Why is CLA’s mission important to you?
CLA's mission is important to me because I really believe CLA fills a blind spot in the legal field. Affordable legal representation is not guaranteed in every area or community and it can be a huge barrier to justice and equity for a lot of communities. Not a lot of people think about legal representation when things are going exactly as they should but rather when something has gone wrong. Income shouldn't prevent a person from getting representation when your family is going through a domestic issue, someone has passed, or there's a housing concern.
What do you want your clients to know?
That I am very passionate about what I do and will work with them to find the best solution to whatever issue has brought them our way. As a former teacher, I would have qualified for CLAs services for most of my adult life, I know the value of every penny they provide to us for our services. I will always be honest with them, help them make the hard decisions, and not waste their time or funds.
A fun fact we learned about is that she can name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under 30 seconds. Watch out, Lisa, clients and supporters alike will be asking you to show us your backward alphabet skills.
Join us in welcoming, Lisa!
Lisa Russell Biography
Lisa is an attorney from Baltimore, Maryland passionate about providing affordable and quality legal services to her community.
Prior to attending law school, Lisa was an educator for Baltimore County Public Schools. There, she discovered her passion for working with and advocating for children and families outside of the classroom. While attending law school, she focused her experiences and training in public interest law. Lisa was a recipient of the 2019 University of Baltimore Student for Public Interest Grant to work with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. She also received the Clinical Legal Education Association's Outstanding Clinic Student award for her work in the Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic at UB Law. After graduating, Lisa completed a judicial clerkship in Baltimore City Circuit Court's family division. Prior to CLA, Lisa represented clients in personal injury negotiations and claims. This experience further cemented her passion for working in the nonprofit and public interest sector.
Lisa graduated with honors from Salisbury University in 2013. She graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2020. In her free time, you can find her at the beach with her husband, hiking, or lounging at home with her kitten.
About Charleston Legal Access
Charleston Legal Access is SC's first and only sliding-scale, nonprofit law firm. We provide affordable legal services at a price that those of moderate means can afford. Hourly rates are determined on an individual basis by a client's income and family size. Our initial screening and phone consultations with an attorney are completely free. In-person, 1-2 hour case consultations and limited assistance sessions are available for a flat fee of $50-$100. For more information please visit www.charlestonlegalaccess.org.
With client fees only making up 15% of our operational budget and a rise in demand for services, we are seeking like-minded partners to support our cause. Help us expand access to justice and legal representation by making a tax-deductible donation below.