Aashna Rao

Aashna Rao is a Staff Attorney in the Criminal Defense Practice at Brooklyn Defenders, having started this role in September 2022. Prior experience includes serving as a Student Attorney in the Juvenile Justice Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School from September 2021 to May 2022 and as a Legal Intern in the Criminal Defense Practice at Brooklyn Defenders during the summer of 2021. Aashna also interned at Project South and participated as a Student Attorney in the Criminal Appellate Practice Clinic, gaining experience in various legal settings. Earlier roles include legal internships at The Legal Aid Society and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where Aashna supported the Public Corruption Unit as a paralegal. Aashna holds a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Politics and Economic Development, along with a minor in Spanish Language and Culture from New York University.