Luwam Gabreselassie, Paralegal
Luwam joined BLC in November 2019 as a Paralegal. She attended the University of Washington for undergraduate, where she earned a double degree; a BA in Law, Society & Justice and a BS in Environmental Science & Terrestrial Resource Management. Luwam is at home being part of a team that is fighting for under-served communities that otherwise would not have anyone advocating for them. She enjoys hearing peoples stories, learning from the team at BLC, and strives to help the community in whatever way is needed.
Marcos Zuniga, DHAP Directing Attorney
Marcos began working for BLC in June of 2018, and is super excited to rejoin the Seattle-King County legal services community. Marcos is a graduate of University of Michigan’s School of Public Health with a Master degree and worked in substance abuse prevention in Detroit’s Latino community before heading off to law school in Buffalo, New York. He has practiced law in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years. For Marcos the most exciting thing about working for BLC is using his legal training to fight the good fight. He believes this has never seemed more important than during these times when BLC’s client population seems to be more marginalized with each passing day.
Daniel Parker, Mobile Attorney
Daniel joined BLC in September of 2017 as the Mobile Attorney. He attended the University of Redlands for undergraduate and Seattle University School of Law to obtain his law degree. After graduating from Seattle University, Daniel worked at an organization in Seattle that helps people experiencing homelessness find jobs and stable housing. Now, he is working in South King County to provide legal assistance for those who need help obtaining or maintaining their Social Security benefits. He uses his background in social services to help clients navigate complicated systems and overcome administrative barriers.
Shannon Wong, Development Director
Shannon graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology before joining BLC in June of 2018. While attending the University of Washington, Shannon developed a passion for learning more about economic inequality, the intersection of poverty and incarceration and avenues to pursue criminal justice reform. Before working at BLC, Shannon developed a desire to help people living in vulnerable populations while spending over five years volunteering for the Seattle Red Cross of King & Kitsap County. Outside of work, Shannon dedicates her time to helping children with life threatening illnesses while volunteering at the Make a Wish Foundation, and uses her Sociology degree to advocate for individuals who are homeless in the Seattle community where she was born and raised.
Alex KF Doolittle, Executive Director
Alex became BLC’s executive director in July 2009 after representing hundreds of people in Social Security matters as directing attorney at BLC. Alex graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a B.A. in Women’s Studies and Anthropology, and from the University of North Dakota School of Law. As a law student, Alex was the Student Director of the UND Law Clinical Education Program. Alex utilizes her law degree as a tool to give a voice to individuals and entities that traditionally have not had a voice in the law. She has worked to help clients stand-up for their rights in state and federal court as well as in administrative venues to enforce the First Amendment, the ADA, WA Growth Management Act, WA Shoreline Management Act, and the Social Security Act.
Becca Maloney, Staff Attorney
Becca joined BLC in January 2019. She graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a B.A. in Philosophy and Women’s Studies, and went on to earn her J.D. from the University of California, Irvine School of Law. During law school, Becca was the Student Director of the Orange County Human Rights Association and the Student Supervisor of a public benefits advocacy volunteer program. Since coming to Seattle, Becca has volunteered at various public interest organizations providing legal advocacy and protection to the most vulnerable populations. She is passionate about using her law degree to provide BLC’s clients equitable access to vital benefits.
Peter Grieser, SSAP Directing Attorney
Peter joined BLC in January 2019 as a staff attorney. In January of 2020 he became the directing attorney of our Social Security Advocacy Project. He graduated from Seattle University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and received his law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in 2018. His mission is to use his legal education and skills to empower and passionately advocate for those in the Washington State community who face legal and economic barriers.
Alex Strout, Paralegal
Alex began working at Benefits Law Center in June of 2020 as a paralegal. He has a Political Science degree from the University of Oklahoma before moving to Seattle to pursue Masters of Social Work at the University of Washington. Alex has experience working for various social service organizations all focused on supporting the basic needs of people living in poverty. The best part of working for BLC is connecting with clients and the community to support their abilities to overcome barriers to economic justice.
Kate Means, Staff Attorney
Kate joined BLC in September 2019 as a temporary paralegal. After passing the bar exam. Kate re-joined the team for the remainder of 2020 as an attorney focused on serving those clients at BLC that have cases born out of the COVID-19 Pandemic to ensure client economic stability and preventing eviction due to a lapse or lack of benefits. In January of 2021, Kate joined our staff on a permanent basis as a staff attorney serving people with all kinds of Social Security problems.
