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Lisa Fitzgerald

Staff Attorney, Metropolitan Public Defender and New Avenues for Youth Legal Clinic

Lisa Fitzgerald is an attorney with a diverse background in public interest law and corporate legal work. Here are some key details about her career and background:

Legal Career

Lisa Fitzgerald worked as a Staff Attorney at Metropolitan Public Defender (MPD) and New Avenues Legal Clinic from May 2017 to February 2020, a period of 2 years and 10 months.2 In this role, she primarily worked with homeless youth in Portland, Oregon.1

Prior to her work at MPD, Lisa's background was in public defense and legal aid. She spent about three and a half years working as a public defender in Portland, focusing on cases involving homeless youth.1

Current Work

After her time at MPD, Lisa transitioned to working in restorative justice and mediation. She continues to do pro bono work, including:

  • Expungements
  • Criminal cases
  • Legal aid work (e.g., eviction defense and domestic violence cases)1

In October 2021, Lisa joined Ontra's Legal Network, where she works part-time reviewing corporate contracts. This allows her to supplement her income while continuing her public interest work.1

Education and Early Career

Lisa holds a JD from Harvard Law School. During her time there, she:

  • Represented low-income clients through the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau
  • Served as President of the Harvard Mediation Program1

After moving to Portland in 2017, she piloted the New Avenues Legal Clinic, which served homeless youth.1

Personal Interests

Outside of her legal work, Lisa is a singer-songwriter who performs folk-style music. She also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and camping.1

Lisa is passionate about using legal services to support people in crisis and taking a relational approach to addressing conflict and harm.1

Related Questions

What inspired Lisa Fitzgerald to transition from public defense to restorative justice?
How does Lisa balance her full-time job at MPD with her part-time work at Ontra's Legal Network?
What specific cases has Lisa worked on at the New Avenues Legal Clinic?
How has Lisa's experience at Harvard Law School influenced her career path?
What motivates Lisa to continue working in legal aid and mediation?
Lisa Fitzgerald
Lisa Fitzgerald, photo 1
Lisa Fitzgerald, photo 2
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Location

Portland, Oregon