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
Memphis, TN
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
Memphis, TN
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
Queens, NY
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
New York, NY
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
Memphis, TN
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
Queens, NY
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
New York, NY
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
Chattanooga, TN
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