Staff

We have a staff of four full-time lawyers, an office manager, and many volunteer attorneys, law students, paralegal students, and undergraduates who help us in our work.  Our volunteers donate generous amounts of time and their professional skills in helping workers receive their unemployment benefits.  In addition, we have an active board of directors who effectively provide direction to the organization.

Staff Members

You may email the following staff by sending an email addressed to her or his user name @ulproject.org

John Tirpak
Executive Director/Attorney
User name: jtirpak

Juliana Repp
Spokane Managing Attorney
User name: jrepp

Anne Paxton
Staff Attorney
User name: anne

Hyun-Ji Lee
Staff Attorney
User name: hlee

Katelyn Morgaine
Staff Attorney
User name: kmorgaine

Meg Bridewell
Staff Attorney
User name: megb

George Leach
Staff Attorney
User name: gleach

Lavena Staten
Staff Attorney
User name: lavena

Ahmed Abdi
Outreach Coordinator

Jason Arends
Office Manager/Paralegal
User name: jason

Erin O’Brien
Legal Assistant
User name: erin

Stephan Elmer
Legal Assistant
User name: stephan

Rachel Platin
Lead Legal Intern, Spokane Office
User name: rplatin

Board of Directors

Our governing body consists of twelve members who have all accepted a leadership role in terms of directing the ULP. They meet six times a year and chart the direction of the organization.

President

Joseph Shaeffer — (Partner) MacDonald Hoague & Bayless

Vice President

Jennifer Murray — Terrell Marshall Daudt & Willie PLLC

Treasurer

Jeneé Jahn — Office of Labor Standards

Secretary

Eric Gonzalez — American Civil Liberties Union

Members

Amanda Ballantyne — National Director of Main Street Alliance

Lillian Kaide — Jefferson County Public Defense

Andres Munoz — Yakima County Public Defense

Erin Pettigrew — Attorney

Jennifer Yogi — Northwest Justice Project