Amelia Andersen

Amelia Andersen has a diverse work experience, starting in 2011 as a Marketing and Field Manager at Lutheran Social Services Refugee Farm. Amelia conducted social media marketing, developed the farm webpage, and assisted with seasonal farm projects. In 2012, they worked as a Preschool Teacher at Bloom Children's Center, caring for students and organizing daily activities. Amelia then served as a Research Assistant at Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, conducting research.

From 2013 to 2014, Amelia held multiple roles. At Centro Legal de la Raza, they worked as a Law Clerk, conducting legal research and representing clients in administrative hearings. Amelia also served as a Certified Student Representative at USF Child Advocacy Clinic, representing abused, neglected, or abandoned children in child welfare proceedings.

In 2014, they worked as a Law Clerk at Legal Services for Children, where they assisted children in immigration, dependency, and education proceedings. Their responsibilities included conducting intake interviews, preparing applications, drafting declarations and pleadings, and attending court.

Amelia then worked as a Research Assistant for Professor Bill Ong Hing at USF Law School from 2014 to 2015.

In 2016, they joined the Office of Public Defense Services as a Deputy Public Defender, a role they held until 2018. During their time there, they served as a defense attorney for individuals involved in criminal cases.

Amelia also worked as a Volunteer Attorney at Refugee & Immigrant Services and Empowerment (RISE) for a brief period in 2018, providing legal assistance to refugees and immigrants.

Their most recent work experience is at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, where they held multiple roles. Amelia started as a Disability Attorney in 2019, and then became the Co-Managing Attorney, and eventually the Managing Attorney, of Disability Legal Services.

Amelia Andersen earned their Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree specializing in Immigration and Child Advocacy Law from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Amelia completed their legal education from 2012 to 2015. Prior to that, Amelia obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Hampshire College between 2006 and 2010. Their undergraduate studies focused on Pre-law, with minors in Latin American Studies and Critical Race Theory.

In September 2015, Amelia obtained certification from the Oregon Supreme Court's Oregon State Bar.