Work History
USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
Adjunct Professor, 2021
Teach "Disability Law" Seminar. Court themes and topics include: employment discrimination, government services, special education, inclusion and equity for people with disabilities.
Mentor 16 seminar students on their substantial research and writing paper requirement.
Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, WA
Adjunct Professor, 2020 - Present
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Teach “Health law” survey course (Fall 2020, Fall 2021). Course themes and topics include: health system's regulation and structure, doctor-patient relationship, reproductive justice, class- and income-based disparities.
Teach "Disability Law" (Summer 2021). Court themes and topics include: employment discrimination, government services, special education, inclusion and equity for people with disabilities.
Utilize LexisClassroom LMS.
Legal Consultant, Los Angeles, CA
2015-present
Consult U.S. and international clients and provide expert opinions on precedential constitutional and human rights cases in areas such as age of consent/ statutory rape laws, family law, wrongful termination, refugee law and equitable social benefits to non-traditional recipients.
Guide law school applicants through the application process; strategize, review and edit materials and essays.
Draft, translate and edit documents, including books, scholarly articles, legal documents, and marketing materials in the fields of law, economics and social sciences.
Initiate, design and manage clients' social media presence; draft and edit blog posts.
Eviction Defense Network, Los Angeles, CA
Law Clerk, 2018-2019
Consulted with clients on all aspects and stages of their case, including: intake, evidence collection, negotiation for settlements.
Responded to discovery requests in unlawful detainer cases.
Prepared cases for trials, including interviewing client and drafting of jury documents.
Wrote motions, such as motions to set aside judgments, motions to amend answers and motions for attorney's fees.
Constitutional Court of South Africa, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Law Clerk to Justice Johann van der Westhuizen, 2014
Reviewed and proposed disposition of applications for leave to appeal (equivalent to petitions for certiorari).
Researched and drafted memoranda in various areas of South African, foreign, and international law, including affirmative action, wrongful life, and detaining defendants with mental disabilities.
Assisted judge with drafting majority opinions, concurrences and dissents.
Served on different Court committees, including the clerks’ committee on sexual harassment which was tasked with building the South African Judiciary's capacity to combat sexual harassment and the media committee for which drafted and reviewed press releases on hearings and judgments.
Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA
Visiting Assistant Professor, Health Law Program, 2012-2014
Developed and taught seminars: “Mental Health law” and “Law, Reproduction and Sexual Health”.
Produced and presented legal scholarship.
Advised students on their notes and significant research papers, and supervised research assistants.
Utilized Blackboard LMS.
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA
Lecturer, Spring 2010
Taught “Law and Sexuality” seminar, for which designed syllabus and selected reading materials.
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA
Research Assistant to Professor Anne Coughlin, 2008-2009
Researched and collected material for Professor Coughlin’s scholarship, “Criminal Law” casebook, and “Family Law” class.
Provided feedback on Professor Coughlin’s scholarship.
University of Virginia Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, Charlottesville, VA
Mental Health Law Fellow, Spring Semester 2008
Wrote scholarship on legal interventions in parenting by persons with mental disabilities.
Advised the Virginia Commission on Mental Health Law Reform's discussions regarding privacy concerns arising from the Virginia Tech Tragedy.
Audited University of Virginia School of Law courses: “Children and the Law” and “Feminist Legal Theory”.
Learning Rights Law Center, Los Angeles, CA
Law Fellow, Fall 2007
Developed the “Rainbow Learning Rights Project,” focusing on access and equity in the public education system for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) youth.
Drafted a model comprehensive policy to guide educators and students about the legal issues and protections of students regarding actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Initiated networking and outreach to other LGBT and youth advocacy organizations, both locally and nationally.
UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
Teaching and Research Assistant to Professor Holning Lau, 2006-2007
Compiled legal and interdisciplinary materials for Professor Lau’s scholarship and reading assignments for his “International and Comparative Perspectives on Law and Sexuality” class. Advised Professor Lau’s students on their writing assignments.
Provided research assistance and offered substantive feedback on Professor Lau’s scholarship and class presentations.
Jerusalem Magistrate Court, Jerusalem, Israel
Law Clerk to Judge Eilata Ziskind, 2005-2006
Drafted opinions for judicial decisions on various cases including legal malpractice, breaches of contract, construction torts, and criminal insanity.
Briefed parties’ arguments and evidence before hearings and recommended resolutions.
Observed numerous hearings including cases of domestic violence, sex offenses, and stalking.
Service
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Los Angeles, CA
Volunteer, 2020
Research and writing on materials such as comments for legislation and court briefs, primarily dealing with LGBTQ equal protection in the context of religious freedoms.
Scholarly Publications
No Queer Child Left Behind, 51 USF. L. Rev. 203 (2017).
Family Assimilation Demands And Sexual Minority Youth, 98 Minn. L. Rev. 1374 (2014).
Achieving Due Process through Comprehensive Care for Mentally Disabled Parents: A Less Restrictive Alternative to Family Separation, 12 U. Pa. J. Const. L. 785 (2010).
Bringing Down the Bedroom Walls: Emphasizing Substance Over Form in Personalized Abuse, 14 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L.495 (2008). Cited by the Supreme Court of Illinois, Federal Code.
Select Speaking Engagements
Guest Lecturer at Gonzaga School of Law “Law and Sexuality” course with Dean Kim Pearson (September 21, 2020). Presentation topic: LGBTQ youth.
Presentation at Williams Institute Fellows’ Workshop (April 7, 2016). Presentation topic: “Cross-Generational Relationships”.
Presentation for Clerks’ Lecture Series, Constitutional Court of South Africa, Johannesburg (October 22, 2014). Presentation topic: “Comparative Perspectives on Marriage Equality (on Israel)”, with Nate Freeman.
Panel presentation for BU’s Health Law Association (March 27, 2014). Presentation topic: “Death and Reproduction: Thoughts on Marlise Munoz.”
Presentation at faculty workshop, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzlia, Israel (December 12, 2013). Paper title: “Family Assimilation Demands and Sexual Minority Youth.”
Presentation at faculty workshop, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel (December 11, 2013). Paper title: “Family Assimilation Demands and Sexual Minority Youth.”
Panelist at Law and Society Conference (May 31, 2013). Panel title: “Marriage and Parenting: Queer Legal Perspectives.”
Presentation for BU Law’s Women’s Law Association (January 22, 2013). Presentation topic: “Roe v. Wade’s 40 Anniversary: Impacts on Children’s Rights.” With Shoshanna Ehrlich.
Presentation for BU Law’s LGBTQ Student Organization, OUTLaw (November 13, 2012). Presentation topic: “LGBT Rights Outside of the United States: What Are They Like And Why Should We Care? (On Israeli Law)” With John Balzano.
Panelist at Lavender Law Conference (September 10, 2011). Panel title: “Sex Stereotyping Discrimination in Public Schools.”
Presentation for UCLA School of Law’s LGBTQ Student Organization, OUTLaw (March 28, 2011). Presentation topic: “Sexuality and the Discourse of Alliance.” With Michael Boucai.
Awards and Fellowships
Recipient of Alien of Extraordinary Ability Lawful Permanent Resident status (green card) for achievements as human rights advocate, 2017.
Inaugural Recipient: Orrick International Law Fellowship for clerkship at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, 2014.
Recipient: UCLA School of Law Dean’s Merit Grant, 2006-2007.
Memberships and Professional Associations
Israel Bar Association, June 2006.
LGBT Family Law Institute, July 2010.
Law and Society Association, March 2013.
American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics, March 2013.
Education
The University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA
S.J.D., May 2012
S.J.D. Dissertation: “Masters of Their Own Destiny: Children’s Identities, Parents’ Assimilation Demands and State Intervention.”
My dissertation examines family conflicts stemming from parents’ conformity pressures on children’s identities, with a focus on children’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Essentially, it shows how parents who force their children to change, conceal or downplay their identities and conform to heteronormative standards violate children’s rights to develop and explore their identities. Proposed intervention for high-quality legal and social support for building family's capacity to thrive.
The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
Visiting Law Fellow, August 2010 – May 2011
Researched and wrote several chapters for S.J.D. dissertation.
Gave presentations for the Williams Institute Works-In-Progress series, the Fellows Roundtable, and other events.
University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, CA
LL.M. (with Honors), May 2007
Independent study: “Bringing Down the Bedroom Walls: Emphasizing Substance Over Form in Personalized Abuse”.
University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
LL.B. (Law) and B.A. (Psychology), October 2004
Languages
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English: Native.
Hebrew: Native.