Page 16 - 2020 Annual Awards Celebration

2020 OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
Katherine Boland
University of St. Thomas School of Law
Law Student Award Winner
Katherine is a 3L at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She is determined to pursue a career as a public defender upon graduation. Before entering law school, she graduated magna cum laude from Seton Hall University with a degree in anthropology.
During the summer after her 1L year she participated in attorney Shawn Webb’s Misdemeanor Defense Externship and was placed at the Winona County Public Defender’s Office. Each day as a certified student attorney she looked forward to receiving the booking report, heading over to the jail, speaking with clients, and preparing bail arguments. Taking over the first appearances for the public defenders in Winona County helped her develop strong oral advocacy skills and made her comfortable in the courtroom.
She continued to pursue her interest in public defense by working as a certified student attorney during the fall semester of her 2L year at the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office Juvenile Division. She worked extensively under the supervision of Lisa McNaughton and Tracy Reid. Observing juvenile court, child protection, and termination of parental rights hearings significantly broadened her view of public defense.
Since spending the summer at the Winona County Public Defender’s Office she has been taking every opportunity possible to prepare herself for a career in public defense. She is taking focused courses related
to criminal law such as attorney Sean Cahill’s Trial Advocacy class and attorney Katherine Richtman’s Juvenile Law & Policy class.
She is currently participating in the Criminal & Juvenile Defense Clinic at St. Thomas under the supervision of Rachel Moran and working as a law clerk at the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office. This experience has helped her appreciate the value of her education and continues to foster her desire to serve society’s most vulnerable members.