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.
Mobile Attorney – apply today to join our team.
Hailey Cassell, Development Director Hailey joined BLC in 2021.
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.
