Shakira joined Children’s Law Center in 2017. As a law student, Shakira completed over 850 hours of clinical work as a student attorney at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law’s (UDC-DCSL) Juvenile and Special Education Law Clinic and General Practice Clinic. As a student attorney in UDC-DCSL’s General Practice Clinic, she represented the best interest of children in custody Guardian ad Litem cases. In addition, while in law school, Shakira worked as a law clerk for the Children’s Law Center, interned at Prince George County State Attorney’s Office in their Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit and was a Street Law facilitator at a DC public high school. Prior to law school, Shakira worked at Defender Association of Philadelphia as a Social Service Advocate for dependent children and served as a CASA in Philadelphia.