Deborah Moss-West was appointed Executive Director at the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center in 2016. The Law Center has a two-fold mission: to train law students to be social justice advocates and to serve the legal needs of the low-income community. Law students work under the supervision of experienced clinical faculty to provide free legal services in the areas of consumer protection, workers’ rights, immigration, and human trafficking. Ms. Moss-West is also a lecturer for the Law School and Undergraduate University teaching public interest and social justice law courses.
Ms. Moss-West previously served as Director of the Center for Social Justice and Public Service at Santa Clara Law. During her tenure at the Center, she expanded the Law School’s pro bono programs, launched the Marshall-Brennan initiative (and other pipeline programs), pioneered an undergraduate law and social justice class and pathway (with Stephanie Wildman), and has been integral to building the Center and its reputation in the lawyering community. Prior to joining Santa Clara Law, she was Deputy Director at the East Bay Community Law Center, a clinical program of Berkeley Law. During her career, Ms. Moss-West held various positions at Allstate Insurance Company and AT&T in the areas of Human Resources, Civil Litigation, and Contracting.
Ms. Moss-West’s passion for bringing resources to underserved communities can be traced back to her work at Santa Clara Law and with other non-profit groups and boards. She’s spent significant time working with small businesses, and organizing legal education forums and other events. In December 2018, Ms. Moss-West became a Professional Certified Coach through the Leadership that Works (LTF) Coaching for Transformation program. LTF is the only coach certification program that emphasizes cultural awareness and social change. Ms. Moss-West’s one-on-one and group coaching provides the space and tools for people to identify their value, explore opportunities, and connect to their power - for transformation of self and community.
In 2014, the Legal Aid Association of California appointed Ms. Moss-West to the State Bar of California’s Commission on Access to Justice where she served, including on the Executive Board, until 2019. She presently sits on the Board of Directors of the Charles Houston Bar Association as Legal Services Chair.
J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law
B.A., Social Science, San Jose State University
Articles
A Social Justice Lens Turned on Legal Education: Next Steps in Representing the Vulnerable and Inspiring Law Students, with Wildman, 37 The Journal of the Legal Profession 179-198 (2013) | Link to Digital Commons
Other Articles
Living Values Through the Center for Social Justice and Public Service, with Wildman, 16 Explore: A Quarterly Examination of Catholic Identity and Ignatian Character in Jesuit Higher Education Explore (Santa Clara, Calif.) 18-21 (Spring 2013)