MDefenders Alum
What is your name?
Selena Alonzo, ’18.
Where are you from originally?
Austin, Texas.
Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree?
Amherst College.
Where are you working now and what is your position there?
I am a supervising attorney for the misdemeanor division of The Defender Association at King County Department of Public Defense in Seattle.
How did MDefenders play a role in your law school experience?
MDefenders was pivotal in shaping my law school experience. I came to law school knowing I wanted to enter public defense due to my family’s involvement with the criminal legal system. Being the first in my family to graduate college and attend law school, I did not know how to navigate the process of looking for the right public defense office, interviewing, or networking. MDefenders was critical in helping me through that process and providing mentorship and guidance through not only Professor Primus, but upperclassman and alumni as well.
I also met many of my closest friends through MDefenders. Law school is difficult, and it can be even more difficult when you are pursuing a public interest job. MDefenders provided a space to discuss our experiences working in the criminal legal system, our wins, and our tough days. MDefenders made law school some of the best three years of my life.
How has MDefenders made a difference in your career development?
MDefenders trained us to handle not only the legal aspects of being a public defender but also the less talked about emotional aspects—moral injury, difficult conversations with clients, and self-care. Having these conversations early, before I even became an attorney, has allowed me to remain in this career for seven years. I felt like I came into this work knowing the reality of how difficult it would be and that is because of MDefenders.
Even after law school, MDefenders alumni continue to support each other with a very active listserv and dozens of alumni who have a wealth of knowledge on novel case law, experts, etc.
What other defender offices have you worked at in the past?
Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Montgomery County.