James Muhammad is the Administrator for the Family Defense Center. He received his bachelor of science degree in Public Policy-Urban Studies from DePaul University and currently is working on his masters in Public Services Management at the School of Public Service at DePaul University. 

Staff Attorney

Alison McIntire is a Staff Attorney at the Family Defense Center. Prior to joining the FDC, she spent two years defending indigent juvenile and adult clients as an assistant public defender in Virginia. She has worked on numerous social justice issues, including legislative policy related to human trafficking and affirmative plaintiff civil rights litigation. She received her law degree, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School, where she served as the Executive Editor of the Suffolk Transnational Law Review, and her bachelor's degree in history and government from the University of Virginia. She is also fluent in Spanish.

Jessica Schore is a Staff Attorney at the Family Defense Center.  Jessica received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in May, 2008.  While at the University of Michigan, she served as a mentor in the Organization of Public Interest Students and was awarded a Student Funded Fellowships grant for her work in and commitment to public interest law.  Jessica received her bachelor of arts degree in English Language and Literature and a minor in History from the University of Michigan. 

Melissa Staas is a Staff Attorney at the Family Defense Center. Melissa received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in May, 2007, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Children's Legal Rights Journal. Prior to attending law school, she gained valuable experience as a grant-writer with Centro San Bonifacio (a grassroots, not-for-profit organization in Chicago, IL) and coordinator with Disability Services at the University of Minnesota. Melissa received her bachelor of arts degrees in Psychology and Women's Studies from the University of Minnesota.