Brooke D. Leonard
Professional Biography
Brooke D. Leonard is a first-generation attorney and lifelong Ohioan who joined LASCO’s immigration team in August 2022. As an immigration attorney, she manages the Refugee Legal Referral Project and assists clients with a wide range of humanitarian immigration issues, including asylum claims, removal defense, and securing U Visas, T Visas, TPS, and VAWA protections.
Brooke moved to Columbus in 2015 to attend The Ohio State University, where she majored in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations and minored in Spanish. She graduated cum laude in 2018. After completing her undergraduate degree, Brooke worked at Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS), where she taught English and Language Arts to Ethiopian and Eritrean elementary school students, before pursuing her law degree at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
During law school, Brooke was a student practitioner in both the Immigration Legal Clinic and the Justice for Children Legal Clinic. She also received the Greif Fellowship in Juvenile Human Trafficking, studying the intersection of human trafficking and international supply chains under the mentorship of Professor Kimberly Jordan. Brooke’s leadership roles included serving as President of the Immigration Law Society from 2020 to 2022, Chief Note Editor for the *Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution*, and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. She graduated in May 2022 as a Public Service Fellow, recognizing her commitment to volunteer legal work.
Brooke D. Leonard is a first-generation attorney and lifelong Ohioan who joined LASCO’s immigration team in August 2022. As an immigration attorney, she manages the Refugee Legal Referral Project and assists clients with a wide range of humanitarian immigration issues, including asylum
Education
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Public Service Fellow, 2022
- The Ohio State University, B.A. in Political Science, concentration in International Relations, minor in Spanish, 2018, cum laude
Personal
Outside of her professional life, Brooke serves on the Board of Directors for Our Helpers, a women-led nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of immigrant and refugee families in Central Ohio. She enjoys exploring local dining spots, particularly immigrant and Black-owned restaurants, and spending time with her mischievous corgi puppy, F. "Scout" Fitzgerald.
claims, removal defense, and securing U Visas, T Visas, TPS, and VAWA protections.
Brooke moved to Columbus in 2015 to attend The Ohio State University, where she majored in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations and minored in Spanish. She graduated cum laude in 2018. After completing her undergraduate degree, Brooke worked at Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS), where she taught English and Language Arts to Ethiopian and Eritrean elementary school students, before pursuing her law degree at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
During law school, Brooke was a student practitioner in both the Immigration Legal Clinic and the Justice for Children Legal Clinic. She also received the Greif Fellowship in Juvenile Human Trafficking, studying the intersection of human trafficking and international supply chains under the mentorship of Professor Kimberly Jordan. Brooke’s leadership roles included serving as President of the Immigration Law Society from 2020 to 2022, Chief Note Editor for the *Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution*, and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council. She graduated in May 2022 as a Public Service Fellow, recognizing her commitment to volunteer legal work.
Education
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Public Service Fellow, 2022
- The Ohio State University, B.A. in Political Science, concentration in International Relations, minor in Spanish, 2018, cum laude
Personal
Outside of her professional life, Brooke serves on the Board of Directors for Our Helpers, a women-led nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of immigrant and refugee families in Central Ohio. She enjoys exploring local dining spots, particularly immigrant and Black-owned restaurants, and spending time with her mischievous corgi puppy, F. "Scout" Fitzgerald.