Dorothy Summers, Esq.

Staff Attorney

Dorothy earned her law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law in 2018. At St. Thomas, she served as the Senior Editor of the Journal of Law and Public Policy and as a Certified Student Attorney for the Community Justice Project Clinic. Throughout law school, Dorothy held different positions including: Law Clerk for Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Student Advocate and Skills Coach at Venture Academy Middle School, Research Assistant for Dr. Artika Tyner, and Judicial Extern to the Honorable Tanya M. Bransford.

Before moving to Minnesota to begin her legal career, Dorothy served as a Teach for America Corps member in her hometown of New York City. There, she taught early childhood education in the South Bronx and Special Education Kindergarten in West Harlem, all while earning a dual Master of Science Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education.

Prior to joining Youth Represent, Dorothy worked as a restorative practices facilitator and youth advocate at the Legal Rights Center. In that role, Dorothy facilitated restorative Family Group Conferences and helped youth and families identify strengths to develop support and accountability plans to enable youth success. Additionally, Dorothy served as a Judicial Law Clerk at Hennepin County District Court (the Fourth District Court of Minnesota). With the Court, Dorothy performed legal research, wrote legal memoranda, recommended decisions, and drafted all orders.

email: dsummers@youthrepresent.org