Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), New England’s leading LGBT legal rights organization, continues to expand its legal staff with the recent hiring of Nima Eshghi as GLAD’s newest staff attorney.

“Nima brings to GLAD a broad range of professional and volunteer experience, and a deep commitment to LGBT rights and the rights of people living with HIV,” says Lee Swislow, GLAD’s Executive Director. “She will be an invaluable asset to the GLAD team.” Eshghi will begin her work at GLAD September 18, 2006.

“I consider it an enormous privilege to represent New England’s LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities and look forward to working hard as a member of the GLAD team,” said Eshghi.  “GLAD’s mission is very close to my heart, and I’ve experienced firsthand how GLAD’s thoughtful advocacy creates a more just world for all of us.”

Eshghi most recently was director of professional development at Edwards, Angell, Palmer & Dodge, LLP, where she worked with entering attorneys to insure successful integration into the firm’s practice. Prior to that, she was a staff attorney and clinical instructor at Harvard Law School’s Legal Services Center, where she represented low-income families living with HIV/AIDS in a wide range of civil legal matters, specializing in guardianship, child custody, and estate planning. She also has worked as a litigation associate at Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP, and clerked for Chief Justice Herbert P. Wilkins of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Since 2003, Eshghi has been an adjunct instructor at Northeastern University School of Law, where she earned her JD in 1996. She also has a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Washington and a BA in Government from Smith College.

Eshghi is no stranger to GLAD, having served on its Board of Directors and as an event co-Chair since 2004. She also has volunteered with the Boston Women’s Fund and Health Law Advocates. Eshghi lives in Somerville with her spouse of two years and partner of 20 years, Kate Bolland, and their two children.

GLAD’s legal team also includes Legal Director Gary Buseck, Civil Rights Project Director Mary Bonauto, AIDS Law Project Director Bennett Klein, senior staff attorney Jennifer Levi, and staff attorneys Karen Loewy, Michele Granda, and Janson Wu.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and HIV status. GLAD is active in all six New England states.

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