ALICE GILMORE
Memphis
Summary
Passionate and experienced public defender with over a decade advancing social justice through litigation, advocacy, and community organizing. Currently represent clients facing felony and misdemeanor charges in Memphis, Tennessee, providing holistic, client-centered defense from arraignment through resolution. Skilled in courtroom advocacy, negotiation, and trauma-informed representation, with a deep commitment to systemic reform. Background includes grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and post-conviction work involving innocence claims and unconstitutional sentencing. Dedicated to making justice both accessible and transformative.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Public Defender
Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender
11.2023 - Current
- Represent more than 100 clients across approximately 140 misdemeanor and felony cases, providing full-scope legal advocacy from arraignment through resolution.
- Persuade judges and prosecutors to grant case dismissals, bond reductions, probation reinstatements, and other favorable outcomes through daily courtroom advocacy and negotiation.
- Argued nearly 100 bail hearings, 10 preliminary hearings, 5 probation reinstatement hearings, and 4 sentencing hearings, consistently advocating for client liberty in fast-paced, high-stakes courtrooms.
- Advocate for rehabilitative sentencing that prioritizes healing and restorative justice over punitive measures.
- Prepared comprehensive trial materials for contested trials, including motions, opening and closing statements, and witness examinations.
- Use trauma-informed, culturally sensitive communication and collaborate with mental health and social service professionals to support clients’ needs.
Law Clerk, General Sessions
Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender
06.2023 - 11.2023
- Built and maintained a vital referral network between a community re-entry organization and the Public Defender’s office.
- Developed and implemented streamlined filing systems, significantly improving document retrieval efficiency.
- Assisted attorneys in trial preparation by organizing case files and drafting legal documents.
- Conducted in-depth legal research to support case strategy and preparation.
Student Attorney
City University of New York School of Law, Defenders Clinic
08.2022 - 05.2023
- Drafted a post-conviction motion advocating for sentence reconsideration for a client sentenced to life at 16, leveraging new legal precedents and evolving juvenile justice standards.
- Assisted in preparing clemency applications for 12 individuals, supporting efforts to secure relief by highlighting mitigating factors.
- Conducted thorough case reviews and legal research to identify opportunities for post-conviction relief and sentencing reform.
Student Attorney
The Legal Aid Society, Wrongful Conviction Unit
02.2022 - 05.2023
- Spearheaded investigative efforts in a wrongful conviction case, including submitting and tracking FOIA requests, locating and cultivating trust with witnesses to obtain affidavits, and coordinating their statements.
- Conducted extensive evidence review, including organizing and analyzing phone records from three cell phones, piecing together critical information to support the case.
- Helped achieve a pivotal witness recantation, prompting a case review by the Queens Case Integrity Unit.
Public Defender Intern, Criminal Court Trial Division and Youth Offender Unit
Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Assisted attorneys in criminal court, general sessions, and juvenile court proceedings.
- Authored two successful negotiation memos: one secured the release of a 12-year-old boy to return home after summer incarceration, and the other obtained pretrial release and protection from the sex offender registry for a client.
- Wrote a compelling article for the Humanity Project, inspired by meaningful, non-legal conversations with an incarcerated individual.
Research Assistant
City University of New York School of Law, Professor Charisa Smith
06.2022 - 12.2022
- Conducted in-depth legal research and interdisciplinary analysis on youth activism and restorative justice, reviewing case law, films, digital media, academic articles, and social media to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
Law Reform Legal Intern, The Juvenile Rights Special Litigation and Law Reform Unit
The Legal Aid Society
09.2021 - 12.2021
- Developed a plaintiff narrative for a class action lawsuit advancing systemic child welfare reform.
- Authored legislative testimony presented at City Council hearings to support foster care reform initiatives.
Founder and Director
Make Noise 423
03.2018 - 08.2020
- Coordinated local and statewide storytelling events, empowering domestic violence survivors to share their narratives.
- Led caravans to Nashville and Montgomery, AL, advocating for reproductive rights on Senate floors and engaging in high-level policy discussions.
- Organized a city-wide march that united 1,500+ community members, spotlighting racial injustice and unity.
- Persuaded the City Council to implement impactful measures in response to a prominent police brutality case.
Education
Juris Doctorate -
City University of New York School of Law
Queens, NY05.2023
Bachelor of Arts - Culture and Media
Eugene Lang College: The New School For Liberal Arts
New York, NY12.2016
Skills
- Public speaking
- Client-centered advocacy and relationship-building
- Creating supportive, trauma-informed environments
- Maintaining composure under pressure
- Resilience in high-stakes, adversarial settings
- Developing innovative legal arguments
- Confident and persuasive courtroom presence
Certification
2025 Tennessee Criminal Defense College
Timeline
Assistant Public Defender
Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender
11.2023 - Current
Law Clerk, General Sessions
Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender
06.2023 - 11.2023
Student Attorney
City University of New York School of Law, Defenders Clinic
08.2022 - 05.2023
Public Defender Intern, Criminal Court Trial Division and Youth Offender Unit
Law Office of the Shelby County Public Defender
06.2022 - 12.2022
Research Assistant
City University of New York School of Law, Professor Charisa Smith
06.2022 - 12.2022
Student Attorney
The Legal Aid Society, Wrongful Conviction Unit
02.2022 - 05.2023
Law Reform Legal Intern, The Juvenile Rights Special Litigation and Law Reform Unit
The Legal Aid Society
09.2021 - 12.2021
Founder and Director
Make Noise 423
03.2018 - 08.2020
Juris Doctorate -
City University of New York School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - Culture and Media
Eugene Lang College: The New School For Liberal Arts
BAR ADMISSIONS
Tennessee
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