The International Legal Foundation
Nicole Taylor is an accomplished legal professional with extensive experience in operational leadership and advocacy for marginalized communities. Currently serving as a member of the Fellows Advisory Council at The International Legal Foundation since March 2020 and as Chief Operating Officer at Color Of Change until February 2025, Taylor's prior roles include Associate Vice President at The Posse Foundation, where efforts focused on providing opportunities for high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds. Taylor's extensive background in the legal field includes managing international teams as Managing Director and Program Director at The International Legal Foundation, where the implementation of legal strategies aimed at advancing human rights was a key focus. Previous experience also encompasses roles as an attorney at El-Shabazz + Harris, LLC and staff attorney at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, demonstrating a commitment to advocating for individuals accused of crimes. Taylor holds a JD from Howard University School of Law and a BA in Psychology from Spelman College.
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The International Legal Foundation
Founded in 2001, the International Legal Foundation is the leading global advocate for the right to counsel for the poor. We are pioneering the establishment of public defender offices as countries rebuild and remake their criminal justice systems. Our team works in some of the world's most challenging places, where poor, vulnerable, and marginalized groups face discrimination and abuse. We achieve systemic change through litigation, advocacy, and policy reform. The ILF currently has programs in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Tunisia, and the West Bank. Over the years, we have represented more than 60,000 people and trained and mentored hundreds of lawyers. We are building a culture of defense and creating a new generation of skilled defense lawyers through multi-year, intensive mentoring. We also conduct high-level advocacy, pushing countries, international institutions, and donors to prioritize legal aid as a fundamental human right. We were a drafter of the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012. We also organized the first-ever international conference on public defense, held in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2014. Today, we are in the vanguard of global efforts to standardize public defense so quality legal services are measurable and accountable.