Amber Banks

Amber  joined the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Youth Justice Program as an Attorney in 2023, where she provides legal advocacy for youth and families, focusing on systemic change to support young people in staying with their families, in school, and out of the criminal legal system. In her role, Amber provides legal advice and counsel on education issues, represents youth and families in school, administrative, and court proceedings, and advocates for policies and legislation that protect and empower young people. She also engages in movement lawyering, community education, and other forms of advocacy to achieve systemic reform, and serves as the co-chair of the Virginia Education Law Task Force.

Prior to joining the Legal Aid Justice Center, Amber was a Staff Attorney at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), where she represented people in education, civil rights, LGBTQ+, and guardianship cases. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Law School, where she was the Garrison Social Justice Scholar for the Class of 2020 and received an Equal Justice Works Regional Public Interest Award. As a law student, Amber worked as a law clerk at the Texas Civil Rights Project, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the ACLU of Tennessee. Before law school, Amber worked with reproductive rights, health, and justice nonprofits, focusing on policy, education, and community outreach. She holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia.