Shobha Mahadev is a Clinical Professor of Law and Assistant Dean for Clinical Education at the Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She represents adolescents and adults facing trial or who are convicted of offenses that occurred in their youth and supervises students on those cases. Shobha also leads the Illinois Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Children, advocating for fairer sentencing approaches for youth and young adults through policy and litigation. The Coalition’s work and Shobha’s expertise have contributed to significant sentencing reforms in Illinois and across the country. Shobha has also co-authored numerous amicus curiae briefs submitted in the U.S. Supreme Court, state supreme courts, and other courts of review. Prior to joining the faculty at Northwestern, Shobha was an Assistant Defender with the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender, where she represented clients convicted of criminal offenses on appeal. She received her B.A. in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley and her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

Heather Saunders joined the Bluhm Legal Clinic in 2024, following nine years working in a community-based, holistic legal services organization on Chicago’s West Side. She supported youth and young adults moving through the criminal court system as they pursued paths of employment, education, and independent living. Heather is dedicated to creative problem-solving with individuals who have been negatively affected by the court system as they seek to improve the quality of their lives. Heather received her MSW from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2010 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2023. Heather is committed to staying up to date on best practices when working with court-involved individuals.