Service Specialist

James P. McEleney

** ****** **** / ************, ** 12601 / *********@**********.*** / 845-***-****

EDUCATION:

Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT

Juris Doctor cum laude awarded May, 2012

• Dean’s List (Fall, 2010 - Spring, 2012)

• Dean’s Fellow: Selected to teach 1L Legal Writing class

• Student Ambassador: Served as institutional liaison for incoming students

• Class Graduation Speaker: selected by the Class of 2012

Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

B.A. (Honors), History (Maj.), Biology (Min.), May 2009

• Recipient, S.T.A.N.D. Community Service Award

• Creator and Host of Community Political Radio Show

• Member, Debating Club

EMPLOYMENT:

Grafton County Drug Sentencing Program, North Haverhill, N.H.

Clerk for Bob Gasser, Program Coordinator (Winter, 2012)

• Team member on the Grafton County Drug Court with Judge Vaughan: Participated in team meetings, represented client’s interests, approved potential candidates for drug court, wrote grant applications for expansion, and drafted rules for more balanced termination proceedings

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Newburgh, N.Y.

Disability and Civil Right’s Advocate (Summer, 2011)

• Drafted Article 78 brief regarding a client’s loss of health benefits

• Prepared motions, met with clients, and completed aspects of discovery for federal cases involving indigent clients with mental or physical disabilities

• Participated in administrative hearings regarding loss of housing benefits and defended clients’ rights to Medicaid benefits

• Represented indigent clients in family court proceedings under Student Practice Order

Bankruptcy Specialist (Summer, 2011)

• Filed Chapter 7 and 13 petitions, participated in loss mitigation and Meetings of Creditors

Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Legal Intern, Summer 2010

• Worked pursuant to a New York State Practice Order- appeared in City and Town courts on behalf of clients charged with anything up to a misdemeanor (DWI, Assault 3rd, Petit Larceny)

• Researched and wrote an appellate brief on behalf of incarcerated client, prepared various motions (suppression, resentencing, etc.), and conducted extensive research on alternatives to incarceration and presented the research to the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Society

O’Neil and Burke, LLP, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Legal Intern, Summer 2008

• Received insight into the operation of a small, private law firm with a criminal defense practice

• Attended court, conducted research and interviewed prospective clients in correctional facilities

SKILLS AND INTERESTS:

• Dual Citizen- U.S. and Ireland: recently selected to deliver a speech on U.S. Constitutional Law at The University of Ulster - Magee Campus in Derry, Northern Ireland (October, 2012)

• Rugby player and team organizer; Multiple marathon runner and avid baseball fan

• Traveled extensively through Europe and Africa; lived in England (2000-2001)

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