MDefenders Alum
Name
Carrie Darden, ’20.
Where are you from originally?
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree?
University of Iowa.
Where are you working now and what is your position there?
I am an assistant appellate defender in the Office of the State Appellate Defender in Chicago, Illinois.
What other defender offices have you worked at?
I was a 2L intern at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office in Chicago.
How did MDefenders play a role in your law school experience?
I knew going into law school that I wanted to be a public interest attorney and that I was especially interested in criminal defense. Being a public interest student, and especially an aspiring public defender, can be a lonely experience at many law schools where most of your peers are pursuing careers in the private sector.
It was truly so valuable to be in a space like MDefenders, where I could surround myself with other students who were also interested in public defense. As a black student, I found it especially meaningful to be in community with people who were speaking honestly about the realities of the American criminal legal system.
How has MDefenders made a difference in your career development?
One of the best parts of MDefenders is that its influence outlives your law school experience.
The alumni network is incredible. Public defenders at every level—trial, appeals, post-conviction/habeas, capital defense—regularly reach out to the group with questions and everyone is eager to help out however they can. The monthly alumni newsletters highlight winning cases nationwide, provide sample motions, and even discuss emerging science.
Practicing in Illinois, I’m familiar with a lot of developing cases in my state, but the MDefenders alumni network helps me stay aware of case law developments throughout the country that could improve my advocacy and benefit my clients.