Staff

Practice Area: Family Law Unit

Kevin is a senior staff attorney in the Family Law Unit. Kevin works both within the office, as well as at several pro-bono clinics across Orange County to provide advice and representation to clients with a variety of Family Law Issues. His diverse career spans a number of fields including family law, personal injury, and criminal defense. During law school, Kevin worked with the Spokane County Public Defender to represent at-risk children in juvenile court. Kevin earned his degree in psychology at Colorado State University, and his J.D. at Gonzaga University School of Law.

Monica served as the Directing Attorney of PLC’s Immigration Unit from 2018 to 2022, where she worked to strengthen PLC’s partnerships with community-based and advocacy organizations serving Orange County’s immigrant and refugee communities. Previously, after graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University, Monica served as a Fulbright Fellow in the Philippines and an Americorps Member and Service Team Leader with City Year Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit organization focused on youth education and development. Monica then graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and clerked for the Honorable Anita B. Brody of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Monica began her career in Immigration Law as an Attorney Advisor at the Immigration Court in Chicago, Illinois. A decade-long tenure practicing immigration law in private practice followed, first in Chicago, then in Seal Beach, California. Prior to joining PLC, Monica served as a Counseling Attorney and Adjunct Lecturer in UC Irvine School of Law’s Immigration Rights Clinic. As the child of immigrants from Cambodia and the Philippines, Monica is a long-time advocate for those who must fight to be heard, working tirelessly to promote greater access to justice and community empowerment.

Practice Area: Consumer Law Unit

Suzanne Iazzetta is the Supervising Attorney for the Consumer Law Unit. Suzanne comes to Public Law Center from the east coast, where she has been practicing since 2005. Suzanne is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and California, and previously clerked for Judge Katharine S. Hayden of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Suzanne practiced civil litigation and bankruptcy at Lowenstein Sandler PC in New Jersey for many years. While at Lowenstein Sandler, Suzanne was granted a fellowship to work at Legal Services of New Jersey at the Newark, NJ office. While at LSNJ, Suzanne worked in the housing unit, assisting low-income clients obtain section 8 vouchers and defending voucher holders against HUD’s attempts to terminate the vouchers. Suzanne continued that pro bono work when she returned to Lowenstein, and was given a pro-bono attorney award every year that she remained at Lowenstein Sandler. She continually volunteered her services to assist people who needed legal help but could not afford traditional legal help.

Some of the areas of law that Suzanne has worked on in her career are consumer law, bankruptcy (business and personal), housing/eviction matters, foreclosure defense, and FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and UDAAP claims, and debt collection defense. Suzanne also spent time as a staff attorney for a chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in New Jersey, and has had her own solo practice for the last ten years.

Working as a supervising attorney at Public Law Center represents a life-long dream for Suzanne, as it was always her intention to provide legal services for people in need and to lead a staff of like-minded people who are dedicated to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

Angela is the Pro Bono Coordinator at the Public Law Center. Through volunteer recruitment and management, she inspires volunteers to help our clients find access to justice.

Angela received her B.A. in Psychology from Chapman University, and her J.D. from Whittier Law School, which is where her public service interest began. While in law school, she helped to found the Children’s Rights Clinic at Whittier Law School, worked as a law clerk here at the Public Law Center, and volunteered at the Share Our Selves legal clinic to provide legal assistance to indigent residents of Orange County. After law school, Angela worked as a criminal defense attorney and appellate attorney, where the appellate cases taken were from California Appellate Project who assisted in finding attorneys for those that could not afford one. She later headed the bankruptcy department at a Bankruptcy and Consumer Rights law firm, before starting her own Bankruptcy practice. Aside from working as an attorney, Angela has also taught various law courses as both a paralegal instructor and law school professor. Angela has always made it a point to volunteer throughout her legal career, including assisting the Public Law Center’s Bankruptcy and Guardianship clinics as a volunteer attorney, and accepting pro bono Bankruptcy cases from both the Public Law Center and the Veteran’s Legal Institute.

Practice Area: Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit

Trang is a Staff Attorney in the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit and works on the Mobilehome Advocacy Team to handle a diverse caseload on behalf of mobilehome owners, including unlawful detainer, harassment, fair housing, and disability rights. She received a bachelor’s degree from UCLA in English Literature and a law degree from Trinity Law School. During law school, Trang worked at the Trinity Law School Bankruptcy Clinic to assist Village of Hope (Tustin, CA) residents with their Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings while serving as Treasurer for Trinity Law School’s International Law Society. While in law school, she also interned for an NGO in Cambodia, researching food safety regulations – including the availability and affordability of safe food, agricultural products, and drinking water for the local people – and presenting her findings and suggested solutions to the NGO’s director and staff.

Practice Area: Family Law Unit

Ayami works in the PLC’s Family Law Unit. A large part of her work is devoted to four legal clinics: Domestic Violence Assistance Program (DVAP), Guardianship, La Habra’s Family Resource Center, and the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living. During law school, Ayami worked in Whittier Law School’s Children’s Rights Clinic, gaining experience on guardianships, limited conservatorships, and immigration cases. After law school, Ayami was a volunteer and fellow with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County. A Santa Ana native, Ayami received her JD degree in from Whittier Law School and a BA from the UC San Diego.

Practice Area: Immigration Unit

Precious is a Co-Supervising Attorney in the Immigration Unit where she works with human trafficking victims in providing them immigration relief. During law school, Precious interned with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast) and the Human Trafficking Unit at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. In addition, she volunteered in the Street Law Clinic where she provided “Know Your Rights” classes to troubled youth in the Los Angeles Community. Precious earned her B.A. from UC Riverside and J.D. from Southwestern Law School.

Practice Area:  Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit

Iraida is a Staff Attorney for the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit at Public Law Center where she represents tenants in housing-related matters and administrative hearings.

Before joining Public Law Center, Iraida practiced family law for 15 years in the County of Orange and surrounding counties. Iraida attended the University of California, Irvine and earned a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Spanish Literature. She graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law. While in law school, she interned at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, the Federal Defenders of San Diego and was part of the first class to participate in the Keta Taylor Colby Death Penalty Project in Jackson, Mississippi.

During her professional career, she has represented members of the low-income and Spanish speaking community. She is a current member of the OC Hispanic Bar Association and is bilingual.

Practice Area: Consumer Law Unit

Morgan is a staff attorney in the Consumer Law Unit, where she works closely with older adults who have faced hardships such as financial abuse and home equity scams. Additionally, she focuses on consumer cases including identify theft, student loans, bankruptcy and debt collection defense. She also supports the Consumer Law Unit’s Federal Pro Se Clinic and the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Clinic. Morgan earned her J.D. from Western State College of Law and her B.A. in English Literature from Cal State Long Beach.

Practice Area: Tax Law

Evan Phoenix is a Staff Attorney and Director of the Federal Tax Clinic at Public Law Center (PLC). Prior to joining PLC, Evan directed his project as the ABA Section of Taxation’s 2019-2021 Brunswick Public Service Tax Fellow at Bet Tzedek Legal Services in Los Angeles. Evan’s project entailed providing tax law education; advocacy regarding systemic tax issues; and direct representation of low and moderate-income taxpayers in administrative cases before the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board, as well as federal litigation before the United States Tax Court. The project focused on expanding the Tax Clinic to include military taxpayers and reduce barriers for Limited English Proficiency taxpayers. Also, Evan served as the Manager of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program with Koreatown Youth & Community Center (KYCC), training and supervising 250 IRS-certified volunteers. He returned to KYCC after completing his fellowship at Bet Tzedek to serve as the Interim Managing Attorney of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic. Evan earned his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Saint Thomas University College of Law, and his LL.M. in Taxation degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Practice Area: Immigration Unit

Josie is a Co-Supervising Attorney of the Immigration Unit, where she assists low-income immigrants in filing for various forms of immigration relief, with a focus on assisting victims of domestic violence, serious crimes and human trafficking, unaccompanied minors, and immigrants who wish to apply for citizenship. Prior to joining PLC as a Staff Attorney, Josie practiced Elder Abuse litigation. During law school, Josie interned at PLC, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Law Firm of Higbee & Associates. Josie was also a clinical student at the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic for two years. Josie earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and her B.A. from Cal State Fullerton.

Practice Area: Immigration Unit

Allyssa Scheyer works as a staff attorney in the Immigration Unit and is committed to serving the needs, and protecting the rights, of immigrant populations, who are often underrepresented politically. In law school, Allyssa worked at Loyola Law School’s Immigrant Justice Clinic and ran University of California Irvine, School of Law’s Clean Slate Expungement Clinic at Community Legal Aid of SoCal in Santa Ana, CA. In her last year of law school, Allyssa participated in UCI’s Appellate Litigation Clinic, where she successfully argued an immigration appeals case in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, CA. Prior to working at PLC, Allyssa worked at Immigrant Defenders Law Center, where she represented immigrant youth under the age of 21 in removal proceedings.

Practice Area: Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project

Violeta Schultz is a Staff Attorney for the Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project. She received her law degree from the University of Guadalajara, and International Business and Economics Law master’s degree (LLM) from the University of Southern California (USC). At USC she was the LLM representative for the Women’s Law Association, member of the Business Society and to the Latinx Chicanx Center for Advocacy and Student Affairs (La CASA). She also founded the USC International Professionals and LLMs Association.

Before joining Public Law Center, Violeta worked at the Orange County Superior Court’s Self-Help Center for over eight years. During her time in the Court, Violeta’s professional Spanish quickly earned her a critical role with the monolingual Spanish speaking community. After her time in the Court, Violeta was a trial attorney for two years in the private sector. She believes that everyone deserves equal access to knowledge and justice regardless of their language, race, and economic means.

The second oldest sibling of six, her favorite pastime is traveling to Guadalajara and spending time with her family. She also enjoys doing yoga and hiking.

Practice Area: Health Law Unit

Manohar is the Supervising Attorney for the Health Unit at PLC. Before PLC, he worked more than four years as a Staff Attorney at the Health Consumer Action Center of Legal Aid Society of Orange County. There, Manohar worked on a Blue Shield Foundation grant project to make policy recommendations to the Orange County Health Care Agency regarding the Low Income Health Project (Medical Services Initiative). He also conducted outreach to educate community stakeholders about the Affordable Care Act. At PLC, Manohar continues to do consumer advocacy on health care benefits eligibility and service-related issues for indigent clients, and also works extensively with AIDS patients and with medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) through various hospitals. He holds an undergraduate degree from UCLA, a Master of Public Health in Community Health Education from Cal State Long Beach, and a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Practice Area: Family Law Unit

Diamond Tran works in PLC’s Family Law unit.  She staffs the De Facto Parent Pro Bono Program at the Lamoreaux Justice Center. Diamond returned to PLC in 2020 to start up this new program serving foster parents, relatives, caregivers and prospective adoptive parents who seek legal assistance with a dependency case in the OC Juvenile Court.  She also works with litigants at several other PLC clinics, primarily helping victims of domestic violence obtain restraining orders and assisting caregivers in guardianship proceedings.

Prior to rejoining PLC, Diamond’s practice also focused on matters directly affecting children, such as guardianships and limited conservatorships. She previously served as PLC’s Interim Pro Bono Director and COLAP Lead Attorney, and held staff attorney positions at Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County; Legal Advocates for Children & Youth (LACY); and the San Jose City Attorney’s Office.  Diamond was an Adjunct Professor at the UC Irvine School of Law and an Instructor for Cal State Fullerton’s Nonprofit Management program.  She also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children and as Vice President of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California.  Diamond earned her degrees from UC Berkeley (1996) and UC Hastings College of the Law (1999).

Practice Area: Consumer Law Unit

Lydia is a Staff Attorney in the Consumer Law Unit where she focuses on debt collection defense, bankruptcy, and other consumer law related matters. She also staffs the Federal Pro Se and Bankruptcy self-help clinics where those without an attorney can seek legal assistance. Prior to joining the Public Law Center, Lydia was a dedicated volunteer at the Bankruptcy clinic and was awarded the William J. Lasarow Award. Before her career change to the legal field, Lydia was a software engineer. Lydia earned her B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her J.D. from Chapman University School of Law.

Practice Area: Operation Veterans Re-Entry

Ryan is a supervising attorney assisting veterans with civil legal issues in the Veterans Unit. During law school, Ryan volunteered with PLC in the Bankruptcy Clinic. Prior to joining PLC, Ryan worked as a Civil Rights Fellow in the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Ryan has undergraduate degrees from the UC Irvine and Cal State LA, and is a graduate of the UC Irvine School of Law.

Practice Area: Operation Veterans Re-Entry

Gina is a Staff Attorney for Operation Veterans Re-Entry at Public Law Center where she assists veterans with civil legal issues. During law school, Gina interned at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence (now Giffords Law Center) and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee with the office of Senator Feinstein. Prior to joining Public Law Center, Gina practiced employment law representing teachers. Gina received a B.A. from UC Berkeley and her J.D. from UC Davis School of Law.

Practice Area: Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit

Richard works in the Public Law Center’s Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit and works with PLC’s Consumer Unit on mobilehome issues. Richard represents low-income tenants in eviction defense cases, provides legal assistance to mobilehome owners, advocates on behalf of homeless and low-income individuals for improved housing policies and assistance in local municipalities, and provides legal assistance in a variety of other housing issues. Richard also works with local pro bono attorneys on impact cases addressing a wide range of issues including land use, affordable housing, habitability, discrimination, and other housing-related matters. Before law school, Richard was a junior high math teacher. Richard graduated from J. Reuben Clark Law School and has a B.A. from Utah State University.

Practice Area: Family Law Unit

As the Supervising Attorney for the Family Law unit, Joanna Wong provides direct legal services to low-income clients; runs the Unit’s four legal clinics; and oversees all work performed by the Unit on divorce, paternity, custody, restraining order, support, and guardianship matters. After completing her undergraduate degree at UCLA, Joanna studied law at Chapman University, where she received a number of awards for her work at the Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Violence Clinic. Later, she received certification as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate through WTLC. Prior to joining Public Law Center, Joanna worked in private practice and at Legal Aid Society of Orange County, where she trained, supervised, and created policies and instruction manuals for the volunteers who staffed the office’s intake department each semester.

Practice Area: Immigration Unit

Beatriz is a Paralegal with the Immigration Unit. She was born and raised in Los Angeles County and graduated from UC Riverside with a Bachelor’s in Political Science, International Relations.  Before joining Public Law Center, she worked for an immigration non-profit in the San Francisco Bay area and volunteered at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. Beatriz is fluent in Spanish and has experience interpreting  for individuals at USCIS interviews, removal defense, drafting declarations, preparing adjustment of status applications, naturalizations applications, and more.

Practice Area: Health Law Unit

Jazmina works in the Health Law Unit at PLC focusing on its Medical-Legal Partnerships and AIDS Legal Assistance Project. She is in charge of the Unit’s project administration, information collection, data management and coordination of legal services related to health. In addition to providing direct support to clients addressing those social determinants of health, Jazmina interface with community-based non-profit organizations, government agencies and other providers of services to those living with HIV/AIDS in order to keep abreast of community needs; contributing to the success of our AIDS Legal Assistance Project, and making the Medical-Legal Partnership model possible.

Prior to joining PLC, Jazmina worked as a Research Assistant at the “University of California Los Angeles”, in the UCLA Survey Research Center, where she specialized in interviewing clients for multicultural HIV/AIDS Projects. Her experience also includes serving as Bookkeeper at “Women Organizing Resources Knowledge and Services” (W.O.R.K.S.), an affordable housing and community development nonprofit organization in Los Angeles, and as a Childcare Coordinator and Social Advocate at “House of Ruth”, a Shelter for Homeless Women and Children in Los Angeles. Jazmina earned her Degree in Psychology at the National University of Colombia, School of Human Sciences. She also holds certifications in Business Administration and Law.

Practice Area: Family Law

Selena is the Administrative Assistant and Intake Specialist for the Family Law Unit. Prior to joining Public Law Center, Selena held an internship as an AmeriCorps member in the JusticeCorps program in the Hayward Hall of Justice Self-Help Center. She also completed an internship with the Hayward Social Security Administration Office. Selena’s introduction to Family Law was her internship with JusticeCorps where she assisted self-represented litigants by providing legal information and preparing forms. Selena is passionate about helping low-income communities and ensuring that poverty is not a barrier for justice. She recently received certification as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate through WTLC.

She graduated from California State University East-Bay with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration with a Justice and Enforcement Option in 2018.

Practice Area: Operation Veterans ReEntry and Federal Tax Clinic

Jocelyn is PLC’s Paralegal for the Federal Tax Clinic and the Operation Veterans ReEntry Unit. She works with low-income individuals who are having federal tax issues and veterans who need assistance with housing, discharge, and other related matters. Prior to this, Jocelyn was PLC’s Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Project Coordinator and worked with survivors of crime by helping to ensure they receive holistic legal services at PLC. Jocelyn graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor’s in Linguistics. As an undergrad she was part of JusticeCorps where she interned at the Long Beach Courthouse Self-Help Center. She assisted with dissolution, paternity, and unlawful detainer proceedings. Prior to joining PLC, she was an AmeriCorps member through Public Allies Los Angeles. This program gave her the opportunity to work within legal services at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) in Los Angeles, CA. Throughout her time at CARECEN, she gained knowledge about immigration law, particularly while working on U-Visa and VAWA cases.

Kevin Eav is a Volunteer and Donor Data Specialist. He is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine with a major in Japanese Language and Literature. His previous experience includes several years as a clerk at a boutique immigration law firm in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Colorado and has lived in Southern California for several years. Through his interests in popular culture he has worked with a number of cultural outreach volunteer-based nonprofits and brings that experience with him to his donor and volunteer data specialist role at the Public Law Center.

Practice Area: Family Law Unit

A resident of Orange County, Evelyn was born in the City of Orange, but was raised primarily in Mexico and Los Angeles County. She graduated from Saddleback High School. Currently, she attends Santa Ana College. In December 2004, Evelyn began volunteering at PLC through the Service Learning Center at Santa Ana College. Evelyn was awarded the Presidential Award in May 2005 and also received a grant for contributing over a hundred hours of community service.

Jessica Haynes is the Director of Grants and Communications. In this role, Jessica leads on project management and reporting for grants, including implementing grants management systems and working closely with unit heads to onboard new funding opportunities. She also leads on communications including social media, enewsletters, media opportunities, and other organizational communications to support PLC’s work. Prior to joining PLC, Jessica worked in the nonprofit sector for 10 years, primarily in youth programming at international development organizations. Jessica recently received her Master in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University, and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Media, Information, and Technoculture from Western University.

Practice Area: Consumer Law Unit

Stephanie works in the Consumer Unit, which is responsible for providing legal assistance to Orange County’s low income community with a wide variety of issues such as bankruptcy, debt collection defense, wage garnishment, and creditor harassment. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Politics. Stephanie has over 6 years of experience in providing low cost tutoring services to low income individuals.

Grace has been with PLC since May 2013, and serves as the executive assistant to the Executive Director and the Director of Legal Services. A seasoned professional with over 20  years increasingly complex administrative experience in several different industries including legal, medical and homebuilding, she is able to tailor her skills to best meet the ever changing needs of her position at PLC. A long time Orange County resident, Grace is grateful to have the opportunity to work with a team so committed to serving  the most vulnerable of Orange County residents. Grace and her husband live in South Orange County, enjoying most of her free time with family and friends, traveling, and  spending time with her two rescue dogs: Lucy and Dezi.

Practice Area: Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit

Erika is the Case Assistant for the Mobilehome Project in the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit. She was born and raised in Orange County. Erika graduated from Saddleback High School and received a Seal of Biliteracy on her high school diploma. She also received a certificate for Medical Billing and Coding from Taller San Jose. Erika hopes to continue her education and helping low income individuals.

Practice Area: Immigration Unit

Yirat is a Legal Assistant in the Immigration Unit and assists in providing legal assistance to Orange County’s low income residents. She attended Tufts University in Massachusetts and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Community Health and a minor in Latino Studies. Before joining PLC’s staff, Yirat volunteered with PLC as a Spanish language interpreter primarily assisting at PLC’s Courthouse Guardianship Clinic, at several Immigration Unit Clinics, and with Pro Bono Attorney/Client meetings.

Practice Area: Immigration Unit

Liliana is a Senior Paralegal for the Immigration Unit. Even before she completed her Paralegal certificate, Liliana volunteered with the Immigration Unit at PLC. Liliana is fluent in Spanish and she has experience interviewing and working with minors, especially those who have experienced trauma. Liliana has experience assisting in drafting petitions for special immigrant juvenile status, adjustments of status applications, asylum applications, requests for employment authorizations, requests for fee waivers, naturalization applications and more.

Practice Area: Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit

Dominique is a paralegal in the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit, which provide legal services to low-income tenants in Orange County. She is an advocate for homelessness and volunteers and donates to homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters. Prior to working with PLC she worked in insurance and has experience with clients that are in emotional distress. She also worked at Wright, Finlay & Zak, LLP dealing with real estate, business, bankruptcy, and financial services. Dominique is fluent in Spanish and hopes to continue her education in Law School.

April brings more than 10 years of extensive experience in special event and volunteer management, fundraising, and donor relations to the Public Law Center. She has planned hundreds of events for a wide variety of organizations including the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, Disneyland, the U.S. Army, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. April received a Bachelor’s Degree from Pepperdine University. She primarily focuses her time on the annual Volunteers for Justice Dinner, working closely with the Silent Auction committee.

Practice Area: Housing & Homelessness Prevention Unit

Mellanie is a Paralegal in the Housing and Homelessness Prevention Unit, which provides legal services to low-income tenants in Orange County. Prior to joining PLC, Mellanie worked with the JusticeCorps program to assist self-represented litigants in the Superior Court in Los Angeles County. Mellanie graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. In 2023, Mellanie also completed the Paralegal Certificate and Associates Degree program at Santa Ana College.

Katrina is a development assistant. She is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a major in Communications. Prior to joining PLC, she helped fundraise and plan events for nonprofit organizations that serve underprivileged youth, young adults with developmental disabilities, and individuals who are in need of mental health services. She is grateful to be part of a team that is dedicated in serving low-income residents in Orange County.