Michael Terasaki
PRO BONO COUNCIL MANAGER
Michael's (he/him/his) role is to increase the quantity and quality of pro bono legal services across the state, by increasing coordination and collaboration between volunteer lawyer programs and the legal aid network. His position is supported by LFW and hosted at the Eastside Legal Assistance Program in Bellevue.
Michael spent the past years directly representing pro bono and low bono clients, primarily in employment, health insurance denial, disability discrimination, and homeowner foreclosure matters. He has litigated on behalf of hospitals and patients when insurance companies failed to pay for services, and prior to law school, Michael worked in legal technology and data forensics.
Having worked with underserved populations in the Seattle area and in Grant, Lincoln, and Spokane Counties, Michael understands the wide range of challenges facing low-income clients and the organizations that serve them. He strives to reinforce the effectiveness of the Pro Bono Council and develop new and creative ways to strengthen services.
In his free time, Michael enjoys running, biking, playing video games with his children, and brewing beer.
Jill Miesner
Pbc and Dementia Legal Planning (DLP) project coordinator
Jill (she/her/hers) serves as the Pro Bono Council and Dementia Legal Planning Project Coordinator. Her career and passions are focused in law and advocacy. During her time at Washington State University (WSU) she served as a campus fellow with a local advocacy organization, where she founded and led a group focused on expanding and ensuring students’ access to care. While at WSU she also contributed to creating and opening an on-campus food pantry, which now feeds over eleven thousand clients per semester. After graduating she joined a law firm where she gained professional experience and exposure to the legal field, further fueling her interest in law. Before finding her way to the Pro Bono Council she also worked alongside a real estate team to expand her knowledge on marketing. She is excited to be serving clients statewide and contributing to growing the Dementia Legal Planning program.
Jill graduated from Washington State University with a BS in Pre-Law Philosophy and a BS in Sociology. She hopes to continue her education and go to law school someday. In her free time, Jill enjoys playing bass and pottery or you can find her surfing, or traveling.