Ms. Burgess is a 2010 magna cum laude graduate of Albion College and a 2013 honors graduate of the Valparaiso University School of Law. While at Albion she was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and Varsity Diving Team. Ms. Burgess is also a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary societies. Ms. Burgess received honors for Dean’s List, Albion College Fellow, Outstanding Junior Leadership and Service Award, Jack Padgett Award (Outstanding Senior Philosophy Major), and MIAA Honor Roll Athlete.
While earning her law degree she was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, the Women’s Law Student Association, and served as a legal writing teaching assistant. During her last year at Valparaiso Law, Ms. Burgess worked as a legal intern in the Valparaiso University School of Law Juvenile Clinic where, under the supervision of a supervising attorney she represented indigent clients in child support matters and served as a guardian ad litem for children.
After admittance to practice in Ohio in 2013, Ms. Burgess volunteered at both the Children’s Law Center, Inc. where she assisted on cases affecting children’s constitutional rights and at the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office, where Ms. Burgess provided legal writing and research to juvenile division attorneys. Ms. Burgess also served as Court Appointed Counsel for the Butler County Juvenile Court. In April of 2014 Ms. Burgess joined the Hamilton County Public Defender’s Office as Juvenile Trial Counsel where she pursues her goal of representing the interests of children within the legal system.
Ms. Burgess earned a certificate in the juvenile training immersion program summer academy in June of 2015 from the National Juvenile Defender Center.
Ms. Burgess is also a 2017 recipient of the Albion College Distinguished Young Alumni Award for excellence in career achievement within ten years of graduation. The award recognizes her work with the juvenile division to fight the shackling of youth in court and her current work with children involved with human trafficking and the court’s protocol for treatment of human trafficking victims.
