Legal Research & Translation Services

LICENSE
Awaiting July 2009 Washington State Bar Exam results

EDUCATION
Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon
LL.M. – Environmental and Natural Resources Law, December 2008
Activities: Animal Law Clinic – Student Director; Coalition to Protect Ocean Diversity (C-POD) – Founding Member; Student Animal Legal Defense Fund – Member
Honors: Animal Law Clinic – Most Outstanding Legal Writing Award, Spring and Summer 2008

South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas
Juris Doctor, December 2007
Advocacy: Won an award for a brief in the 2006 Spurgeon E. Bell Memorial Intramural Moot Court Tournament
Activities: Environmental Law Society (ELS) – President, Treasurer; Animal Law Society (ALS) – Treasurer; Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity – Member; raised $600 for charity hosting a benefit concert; created a website for ELS; created graphic art for ALS and ELS
Honors: Dean’s List, Fall 2006 and Spring 2007; graduated in top 1/3 of class; hand-picked by two professors to be their research assistant

The University of Texas Austin, Texas
Master of Arts – Germanic Studies, May 1998
Bachelor of Arts with Honors – Germanic Studies, December 1994
Honors: Delta Phi Alpha (German Honor Society) – President; Golden Key National Honor Society – Member; Dean’s List 1993 and 1994

Carolo-Wilhelmina Technische Universität in Braunschweig, Germany
Certificate of Proof of German Language Ability, March 1995; audited classes in linguistics and foreign languages; tutored English; translated German <> English

EXPERIENCE
National Center for Animal Law: Animal Law Clinic in Portland, Oregon
Law Clerk, Student Director, January – August 2008
Researched animal law issues and drafted memos dealing with international law, torts, criminal law, and constitutional law; helped with research on a PhD dissertation and a book; conducted depositions and client interviews; helped prepare for litigation; went to court; founding member of C-POD; performed extensive research and writing for international conservation organization

Animal Legal & Historical Web Center
Editor, Summer 2008
Received research grant from Professor David Favre at Michigan State University College of Law to write article entitled “That's the Breaks: Trainer Responsibility for Racehorse Breakdowns in New York,” published at http://animallaw.info/topics/spusracehorsetrainer.htm

Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Environmental Crimes Division in Houston, Texas
Law Clerk, January – August 2007
Prepared probable cause statements, conducted research, took plea agreements for animal cruelty prosecutor, Belinda Smith, and for environmental crimes prosecutor, Eric Biley. Interviewed for article entitled “Law Interns Use Ingenuity in Dog Case” by Salathea Bryant, the Houston Chronicle, July 27, 2007. Wrote article for Ms. Smith entitled “The Link: Cruelty to Animals and Violence Towards People,” published on the Michigan State University College of Law website at http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arus2008hodges_link.htm and on the Oregon State Bar Animal Law Section website at http://www.oregonanimallaw.com/?p=54

South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas
Legal Research Assistant, January – December 2007
Professor Francesca Ortiz requested that I assist her in researching animal law issues such as possible causes of action in consumer or tort law with respect to the tainted pet food from China, and researched issues related to breed specific legislation

Law Institute for Medical Studies in Houston, Texas
Legal Research Assistant, March 2005 – November 2006
Professor Charles Weigel requested that I assist him in his research by preparing summaries of cases involving health law, torts, and products liability

Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Matthews & Friend in Houston, Texas
Legal Assistant, August – December 2004
Prepared discovery documents, researched and fact-checked legal documents, helped update
and maintain database, and communicated with clients in a class-action lawsuit involving the diet medication, Fen-Phen

Stafford High School in Stafford, Texas
German Teacher, September 2003 – May 2004
Taught German II class in high school, prepared syllabus and course materials, created website

PUBLICATIONS
“That’s the Breaks: Trainer Responsibility for Racehorse Breakdowns in New York,” published on the Michigan State University College of Law: Animal Legal & Historical Web Center at http://animallaw.info/topics/spusracehorsetrainer.htm

“The Canadian Commercial Seal Hunt: In Search of International Legal Protection for Harp Seals,” published on the Michigan State University College of Law: Animal Legal & Historical Web Center at http://animallaw.info/articles/aruschodges2009seals.htm

“The Link: Cruelty to Animals and Violence Towards People,” published on the Oregon State Bar Animal Law Section website at http://www.oregonanimallaw.com/?p=54, and on the Michigan State University College of Law website at http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arus2008hodges_link.htm

“Shifting Legal Views on Animals: Animals are More than Property,” published on the Oregon State Bar Animal Law Section website at http://www.oregonanimallaw.com/?p=55

“Eastern Religious Philosophy and the Advancement of Animals’ Legal Interests,” published on the Oregon State Bar Animal Law Section website at http://www.oregonanimallaw.com/?p=53

Heinrich Schusdziarra, Anatomy of Dressage, Half-Halt Press, 2004 (German > English)

Louis Seeger, Monsieur Baucher and His Art: a Serious Word with Germany’s Riders, 2001
(German > English; self-published)

CERTIFICATIONS
Houston Community College in Houston, Texas
Certificate in Electronic Publication – Web Production Specialization, May 2003
Honors: Phi Theta Kappa – Omega Sigma Honor Society – Member; Dean’s List 2001, 2002 and 2003

LANGUAGES
Near native German language ability