Brandi McNeil (she/her) is Deputy Director at PDA. She directs the LEAD/CoLEAD Legal Services Program, provides legal representation to LEAD clients, advocates for criminal legal system reform, and coordinates the operations of PDA’s legal services.
Brandi is committed to a world where the legal system actually makes the community safer. To that end, Brandi serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC), a nonprofit that protects the interests and safety of youth in Washington through direct legal representation, strong community partnerships, and systemic advocacy.
Before joining PDA, Brandi fought for criminal legal system change as Senior Legal Counsel with The Justice Collaborative. Before engaging in advocacy work, she was a public defender, serving as a Staff Attorney at Orleans Public Defenders for nearly four years. While with the Orleans Public Defenders, Brandi primarily represented children accused of crimes in adult and juvenile court but also represented adults charged with serious felonies.
Before joining the Orleans Public Defenders, Brandi participated in the E. Barrett Prettyman Fellowship Program as the Juvenile Fellow. As a Fellow, she represented juveniles and adults charged with misdemeanors and felonies and supervised third-year law students in the Juvenile Justice Clinic.
Brandi received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois, a Masters in Social Work and J.D. from New York University, and an LL.M in Advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center.
Brandi is a long-suffering Chicago Bears fan. She enjoys playing soccer and softball in her rec league and going to farmer’s markets with her wife and wild pandemic baby.