Nycole Waller
(She/her)
Field of Work
Legal Services
Organization
Legal Field
Years of Experience
7
Why Mental Health?
Mental health is so important because it helps us be who we are. As well I feel it is a way to connect, I have yet to meet someone who hasn’t struggled with mental health themselves or know of someone who has. I also am a mental health advocate because of my brother. I lost him in 2017 due to mental health.
Where I Started
My career first started in undergrad where I served as a victim/witness advocate intern in Milwaukee County. It made me realize on both sides (both victims and defenders) the role that mental health can play. This experience really helped me see the need for mental health advocacy in the criminal justice system.
Where I Am Now
I just finished a graduate fellowship with a public defender’s office here in Minnesota. Currently, I am studying to take the bar exam and look into jobs with a treatment court emphasis.
Where I'm Going
During my time in law school I learned about treatment courts. These are “newer” types of courts that are growing in the U.S. I did a clinic research project and was lucky enough to have an attorney mentor me who was a part of the Anoka County MN Treatment Courts.