melissa russo

Worked Telephone Access to Justice Hotline providing low-income households access to legal aid support services while awaiting Texas Bar Exam results.

* Researched Texas Property Code and Texas Manufactured Housing Standards Act to update and redact manual on Representing Manufactured Home Owners and Renter in Texas under Raul Noriega. * Researched Texas manufactured housing case law concerning deceptive trade practices in preparation of representation of clients in South Texas.

* Researched criminal law issues and case law under Professor Dorie Klein. * Prepared criminal law material for first-year law students.

* Administered the release of agency liens for over 2,500 program participants in the Office of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Manufactured Housing Division Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Program's Homeowner Assistance Program (CDBG-DR HAP). * Drafted Certificates of Compliance Certifications to Hurricane victims in the State. * Researched, located and documented UCC liens through the Office of the Secretary of State for release. * Drafting release of lien documents for recordation and file close out and revising program training documents and procedures for the successor agency to the CDBG-DR HAP. * Accountable for the upkeep and recordings in several General Land Office databases. * Attends staff meetings to discuss legal projects in each department. * Researched a potential lawsuit that has recently been sent to a Travis County court for a declaratory judgment.

Activities and Societies: Center for Legal & Social Justice Pro Bono Program; Criminal Law Legal Research Assistant under Professor Dorie Klein; San Antonio Young Lawyers Association; Texas Women Lawyers, St. Mary’s Student Bar Association; Animal Legal Defense Fund; Moot Court Competition; Mock Trial Competition

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa Society, Alpha of Texas; The University of Texas Student Government Legislative Branch, Fine Arts Representative; The University of Texas Orange Jackets; College of Fine Arts College Scholar; The University of Texas Fine Arts Council, Officer; The University of Texas Mortar Board Honor Society; The University of Texas Panhellenic Council, Greek Scholar; Cactus Yearbook Staff Writer.