Latrice Burks-Palmerio, also known by her powerful online presence as #blkgrlmgclwyr, is an impact litigator specializing in employment law for marginalized communities and representing survivors of sex crimes. Latrice combines her legal acumen with a deep commitment to justice. She has also contributed to the public discourse through self-published articles that analyze and critique the evolving political landscape of America. Latrice’s work examines how the structures of American fascism and empire-building manifest in law, policy, and social movements, making her a critical voice in understanding the political currents shaping the nation today.
Latrice is an expert in American politics with a deep focus on the intersection of American fascism and the decline of empire. Latrice’s academic journey began with an International Baccalaureate class on totalitarian regimes, which laid the foundation for her nuanced understanding of authoritarianism. She graduated with honors in Political Science from the College of Wooster, where her thesis examined the dynamics of Black social movements in the U.S. Further refining her expertise, Latrice earned her law degree from USC Gould School of Law, gaining invaluable insights into U.S. Constitutional law.
Latrice was a litigator at an Am Law 100 firm where she gained experience in intellectual property, product liability, and business litigation. As a third-year associate, she obtained a dismissal of defamation and contractual interference claims filed against a prominent financial company. For this victory, Latrice was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2023 Leaders of Influence – Minority Attorneys list.
She received invaluable training as a judicial law clerk to senior U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson for the District of Connecticut. While attending the USC Gould School of Law, she was a judicial extern for the Hon. Andre Birotte, Jr. of the U.S.D.C. Central District of California. She also served as an extern for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. She was the founding member and former co-president of USC Womxn of Color Collective (WOCC)1, an organization dedicated to discussing and tackling the issues specific to women of color in the legal field. Also while in law school, she served as a research assistant and teaching apprentice for renowned constitutional law scholar Professor Samuel Erman.
Latrice is passionate about mentorship and has served as a mentor to prospective and current law school students and to younger associates at her previous firm. A true champion for DEI, she also serves as the first African American woman on USC’s Clerkship Committee Board of Directors. Outside the office, Latrice enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Michael, and her Persian cat Diva Kitty.
[1] The “x” in Womxn of Color is used intentionally to embrace and include people who identify as women and are not cis women.
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