Illona Sheffey

Current

• Executive Director at IMANI
• Attorney and Counselor-at-Law at Law Offices of Illona Sheffey Rawlings

Past

• Assistant Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University School of Law
• Partner at Woodley, Williams, Fenet, Palmer, Boudreau and Norman, P.A.
• Special Assistant at Maryland Attorney General

• Assistant Attorney General at Maryland Department of Personnel
• Law Clerk at United States District Court, Judge Joseph C. Howard, Sr., District of Maryland

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Education

• Yale Law School
• Howard University

Connections

1 connection

Industry

Legal Services

Websites

• IMANI Network

Illona Sheffey’s Summary

Illona Sheffey’s Specialties:

Law ▪ Non-Profit ▪ Grant Writing ▪ Education ▪ Training

Illona Sheffey’s Experience

• Executive Director

  IMANI

  (Legal Services industry)

  1999 — Present (10 years )

  Management and supervision of the personnel and daily operations of this non-profit organization providing education, training and capacity building to under served community and faith-based organizations.

• Attorney and Counselor-at-Law

  Law Offices of Illona Sheffey Rawlings

  (Legal Services industry)

  1996 — Present (13 years )

  Mediation, Arbitration and exclusively Federal Court Civil Rights Litigation Practice in Texas, Louisiana and Maryland.

• Assistant Professor of Law

  Southern Methodist University School of Law

  (Legal Services industry)

  1992 — 1995 (3 years )

  Scholarship and teaching in the areas of Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Legislation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration), and Trial Advocacy.

• Partner

  Woodley, Williams, Fenet, Palmer, Boudreau and Norman, P.A.

  (Legal Services industry)

  1989 — 1992 (3 years )

  All types of civil litigation including employment actions, ERISA, medical malpractice, and insurance defense.

• Special Assistant

  Maryland Attorney General

  (Legal Services industry)

  1987 — 1989 (2 years )

  Counsel to State Administrative Board of Election Laws; Counsel to the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs, Minority Business Enterprise Certification Council; Fiscal Note Coordinator; Member, Hiring Committee for all attorney positions; Fair Practices Officer; Special duties and projects for the Attorney General.

• Assistant Attorney General

  Maryland Department of Personnel

  (Legal Services industry)

  1983 — 1987 (4 years )

  Representation of the State in a civil practice with an emphasis on employment law (including EEO, substance abuse and AIDS issues), health benefits, wage and hour and procurement law, including trial litigation and arbitration before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Advice of counsel including the drafting and review of legal briefs and memoranda, statutes, regulations and contracts. Special assignments including an investigation of conditions and personnel practices at a State mental institution, administrative prosecution before the State Pharmacy Board, extensive contract negotiation on the State health insurance contracts, and speeches on employment discrimination before several state and national conferences. Recipient of the Exceptional Service Award of the Attorney General’s Office (June 1985).

• Law Clerk

  United States District Court, Judge Joseph C. Howard, Sr., District of Maryland

  (Legal Services industry)

  1981 — 1983 (2 years )

  Responsible for coordinating and scheduling the court docket, including the drafting of legal memoranda and analysis of trial testimony and legal precedent in all criminal or civil matters involving a federal question.

Illona Sheffey’s Education

• Yale Law School

  1978 — 1981

  Honors: Dean’s List during exchange year at Georgetown Law Center (1979-80)

• Howard University

  B.A. , English Literature , 1978

  Honors:
  Summa Cum Laude
  Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity
  Dean’s List all four years

Additional Information

Illona Sheffey’s Websites:

• IMANI Network

Illona Sheffey’s Groups:

BAR ASSOCIATIONS
Maryland Bar Association
Baltimore City Bar Association
Monumental Bar Association (Judicial Nominating Committee 1988-89)
National Bar Association
Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, President 1988-89
Louisiana State Bar Association
Southwest Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Southwest Louisiana Association for Women Attorneys
J. L. Turner Society of Dallas, Texas