Sally Vandenberg

Scholar Criminal Law / Post-Conviction
Class of 2023
photo of Sally Vandenberg

"The William Wayne Justice Center is what attracted me to Texas Law. I have felt so supported by this community since before even stepping foot on campus. I am grateful to the Justice Center for plugging me into the many public interest opportunities I have at Texas Law."

"The William Wayne Justice Center is what attracted me to Texas Law. I have felt so supported by this community since before even stepping foot on campus. I am grateful to the Justice Center for plugging me into the many public interest opportunities I have at Texas Law."

Sally Vandenberg is an Assistant Public Defender at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Sally was previously a Gallogly Family Foundation Public Interest Fellow at Legal Aid DC in Washington, D.C., where she assisted clients with criminal record sealing matters and other casework targeted to address the collateral consequences of involvement in the criminal legal system.

At Texas Law, Sally was a member of the Justice Center's student advisory board and an executive board member of the Public Defense Group. She volunteered for several pro bono projects, including the Law for Black Lives Drug Conviction Relief Project, the Driver's License Recovery Project, the Expunction Project, and the Pro Bono in January Asset Preservation and Estate Planning Project. She participated in the Immigration Clinic, Criminal Defense Clinic, and Housing Clinic.

During her 1L year, Sally worked with Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, assisting attorneys in their representation of incarcerated people in New York state prisons. She spent the summer after her 1L year working with New York County Defender Services in New York City. The summer after her 2L year, she worked with the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia in the Parole Division. The fall of her 3L year, she worked on housing, employment, and property forfeiture matters with The Bronx Defenders’ Civil Action Practice.

Sally graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a BA in Economics. After college, she obtained her MEd and taught middle school math in Kansas City, MO, worked for Open Door Legal in San Francisco, and served as a court advocate for the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services in New York City.