A cohort of accomplished early-career attorneys joined Legal Aid DC and will take up roles across Legal Aid’s practice areas. The six attorneys, who started on Sept. 14, make up the second group to be brought on through Legal Aid’s cohort hiring model, which was introduced in September 2025. The new attorneys will help Legal Aid respond to the increasing need of our client community. The organization has accepted more than 35% more cases for full representation in 2026 than during the same period in 2025.  

Legal Aid is excited to welcome:  

• Erika Anclade, Systemic Advocacy and Law Reform Fellow, Georgetown University Law Center ‘26
• Diana Baltierra-Alanis, Georgetown Fellow with the Public Benefits Unit, Georgetown University Law Center ‘26
• Maggie Deas, Staff Attorney with the Housing Law Unit, The George Washington University Law School ‘26
• Joshua Hale, Staff Attorney with the Consumer Law Unit, University of Maryland School of Law ‘26
• Philip Keisler, Staff Attorney with the Public Benefits Unit, New York University School of Law ‘26
• Tinesha Zandamela, Sidley Austin LLP Appellate Advocacy Fellow in honor of Mark E. Herzog, Georgetown University Law Center ‘24

“We’re thrilled to welcome this cohort to Legal Aid and to build out our staff with talented young attorneys who are passionate about public service,” said Legal Aid DC Executive Director Vikram Swaruup. “We are grateful to our supporters for making this possible and look forward to watching these attorneys take on the important work of helping our neighbors.”

Legal Aid launched a pilot cohort hiring model in 2025. Members of the cohort participate in a four-week, intensive training program to launch their public-interest legal careers.