Our Team

Administrative Staff

 

Robert Johns

 

Robert Johns is the Executive Director at AppalReD Legal Aid, and he works in the Prestonsburg office. He can be reached at robertj@ardfky.org or (606) 889-1984. Prior to joining AppalReD Legal Aid in 2015, Robert worked as a staff attorney and managing attorney for 20 years with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services in Steubenville, Ohio. He began his legal career as an AmeriCorps Attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality in Findlay, Ohio. He is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School and the University of Notre Dame. Robert serves on the board of directors of the Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Sandy Valley Transportation Services, Inc., and Mountain Plus Services, Inc.

 

Evan Smith

 

Evan Smith is the Advocacy Director at AppalReD Legal Aid, and he works in the Prestonsburg office. Evan can be reached at evans@ardfky.org or 606-889-1958. Evan is involved in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. He has particular expertise in appellate advocacy, federal black lung benefits law, and other areas of administrative law. Evan joined AppalReD Legal Aid from Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center where he was a Skadden Fellow. Evan clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit for the Honorable John M. Rogers. Evan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and received a Master’s in Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government. Along with his work at AppalReD Legal Aid, Evan actively participates on the boards of Kentucky Lawyers for the Arts, the Floyd County Community Foundation, and Headwaters. Follow him on twitter @evanky.

 

Barbourville Staff

 

Melissa Tidwell

Melissa Tidwell is the Directing Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Barbourville office. She can be reached at melissat@ardfky.org or 606-546-5115 ext. 4105. Melissa has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She spent the first eight years of her time at AppalReD representing survivors of domestic violence and now focuses on consumer, bankruptcy, and public benefits cases. Melissa joined AppalReD after graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Kirsten Clancy

Kirsten Clancy is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Barbourville office. Kirsten can be reached at kirstenc@ardfky.org or 606-546-5115 ext. 4102. Kirsten has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She is a HUD certified housing counselor. Kirsten is a graduate of UNC School of Law.

 

Ellen Johnson

 

Ellen Johnson is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Barbourville office. Ellen can be reached at ellenj@ardfky.org or 606-546-5115 ext. 4108. Ellen has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in family and domestic violence law. She joined AppalReD Legal Aid after graduating law school. Ellen is a graduate of Morehead State University and Appalachian School of Law. She has previous experience interning at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass while pursuing her law degree. 

 

Jennifer Perkins

 

Jennifer Perkins is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Barbourville office. Jennifer can be reached at jenniferp@ardfky.org or 606-546-5115 ext. 4107. Jennifer has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in family law. Jennifer joined AppalReD Legal Aid after a decade of working as a Public Defender. Jennifer graduated with Honors from The Appalachian School of Law, where she was the Senior Articles Editor on the ASL Law Review Board.

 

 

Central Intake Unit Staff

 

Katie Mullins

 

Katie Mullins is the Directing Attorney, Central Intake and works in AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Katie can be reached at katiem@ardfky.org or 606-886-3876 est.1525. Katie has advised clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in bankruptcy and family law. Katie joined AppalReD Legal after three years in private practice handling primarily bankruptcy and domestic cases. Katie is a graduate of the Appalachian School of Law.

 

Hazard Staff

 

Charnel M. Burton

 

Charnel M. Burton is the Directing Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Hazard office. Charnel can be reached at charnelb@ardfky.org or 606-439-2315 ext. 6004. Charnel has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in family, eviction, and administrative law. Charnel joined AppalReD Legal Aid after 7 years in private practice. Charnel is a graduate of University of Kentucky College of Law.

 

Cassandra Combs

Cassandra Combs is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid's Hazard office. Cassie can be reached at cassandrac@ardfky.org or 606-439-2315 ext. 6001. Cassie has experience in all types of cases AppalReD Legal Aid handles but has particular expertise in Family Law and is particularly passionate about serving juveniles and survivors of domestic violence. Cassandra hails from Hazard is a proud graduate of Perry Co. High. She attended Hazard Community and Technical College and is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University. Cassandra is a graduate of Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA. She comes to AppalReD Legal Aid from private practice.

 

Low Income Tax Clinic Staff

 

Richmond Staff

 

Stephanie Flanary

 

Stephanie Flanary is the Directing Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Richmond office. Stephanie can be reached at stephanief@ardfky.org or 859-624-1394 ext. 3001. Stephanie has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in bankruptcy, family and expungement law. Stephanie joined AppalReD Legal after working for the State of Maine as a program coordinator for homeless programs. Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law and Berea College.

 

Leigh Ann Moore

 

Leigh Ann Moore is a Senior Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Richmond office. Leigh Ann can be reached at leighannm@ardfky.org or 859-624-1394, ext. 3014. Leigh Ann has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in domestic violence, juvenile, and family law, including divorce and custody cases. Leigh Ann joined AppalReD Legal Aid after her graduation from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2011. Follow her on twitter @LegalLeighAnn.

 

Caleb Pittman

 

Caleb Pittman is a VOCA Attorney in AppalReD Legal Aid’s Richmond office. He can be reached at 859-624-1394 ext. 3015 or calebp@ardfky.org. Caleb has represented clients who are victims of crimes in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. He has particular expertise in family law. Caleb joined AppalReD Legal Aid after working as a public defender for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. Caleb is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he was the editor in chief for the Law Review. Outside of his work at AppalReD Legal Aid, Caleb is a member of the Berea Makerspace (a community workshop where members share knowledge and tools to promote creative projects) and a devoted caretaker of two mixed-breed dogs. 

 

Margaret Sites

Margaret Sites is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Richmond office. Margaret can be reached at margarets@ardfky.org or 859-624-1394 ext. 3009. Margaret has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in housing and consumer law. Margaret joined AppalReD Legal Aid after graduating from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she clerked at the Legal Aid Society in Louisville.

 

Pikeville Staff

 

Kristie M. Goff

 

Kristie M. Goff is a Senior Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Pikeville and Prestonsburg locations. Kristie can be reached at kristieg@ardfky.org; (606) 886-3876, Ext. 1604; or (606) 437-3446. Kristie M. Goff has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in consumer law, public benefits and housing cases, and is a HUD certified housing counselor. Kristie M. Goff joined AppalReD Legal Aid after six years of private legal practice.  Kristie M. Goff is a graduate of Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

 

 

Prestonsburg Staff

 

Kelly Ward-Wallen

 

Kelly Ward-Wallen is the Directing Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Kelly can be reached at kellyw@ardfky.org or by phone at 606-886-3876 ext. 1632. Kelly has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has particular expertise in consumer law and housing cases and is a HUD certified housing counselor. Kelly joined AppalReD Legal after spending 5 years in private practice. Kelly is a graduate of Appalachian School of Law.

Whitney Bailey

Whitney Bailey is the Medical-Legal Partnership Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Whitney can be reached at whitneyb@ardfky.org or by phone at (606) 889-1963. Prior to joining AppalReD, Whitney managed a solo civil law firm for two years in Lexington, Kentucky and focused her practice on Guardianship, Elder Law and Estate Planning, Family Law, and Real Estate. Whitney is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana. For the foreseeable future, Whitney will be serving as a Disaster Resource Attorney to meet the urgent and immediate needs of clients who were impacted from the devastating flooding.

Candice Messer

Candice Messer is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Candice can be reached at candicem@ardfky.org; (606) 886-3876 ext. 1626. Prior to joining AppalReD Legal Aid, Candice was an analyst for the Kentucky legislature. She also has experience working on domestic violence and family law cases with Legal Aid of the Bluegrass. Candice joined AppalReD after moving back to the Appalachian area where she grew up. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she was on the Moot Court Board and a member of the Appalachian Law Caucus.

 

Casey Michalovic

Casey Michalovic is a Project Renew Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Casey can be reached at (606) 886-3876, Ext.1639, or caseym@ardfky.org. Casey joined AppalReD Legal Aid after working in private civil practice. Prior to that, she worked for several years as a public defender for the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. Casey is a graduate of Pikeville College and Salmon P. Chase College of Law. While in law school, Casey worked for a summer as a law clerk in AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office.

Travis Tackett

 

Travis Tackett is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Travis can be reached at TravisT@ardfky.org or by phone at 6060-886-3876, ext. 1638. Travis is a graduate of the Appalachian School of Law and Morehead State University. Travis enjoys volunteering at local food pantries and more recently, has been helping with disaster relief efforts in his spare time.

Courtney Taylor 

Courtney Taylor is a Legal Assistance to Victims Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Prestonsburg office. Courtney can be reached at courtneyt@ardfky.org or by phone at 6060-886-3876, ext. 1625. Prior to joining AppalReD Legal Aid, Courtney worked as an Unemployment Insurance Appeals Referee for the Office of Unemployment and as a Law Clerk for the Department of Public Advocacy. Courtney is a graduate of the University of Pikeville and the University of Kentucky College of Law.  

 

Somerset Staff

 

Amber Shewmake

 

Amber Shewmake is the Directing Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Somerset office. Amber can be reached at amberd@ardfky.org or (606) 679-7313, ext. 7206. Amber has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. She has a particular interest in public benefit cases and helping to provide safety and stability for all clients. Amber joined AppalReD Legal Aid after law school but has prior experience assisting on a variety of cases including tax, wills & estates and criminal defense. Amber received her undergraduate degrees from The University of Kentucky and obtained her Juris Doctorate from Charlotte School of Law.

 

Jimmy Fahringer

 

Jimmy Fahringer is a Staff Attorney in AppalReD Legal Aid’s Somerset office. He can be reached at (606) 679-7313 ext. 7208, or jamesf@ardfky.org. Jimmy represents clients in all types of cases that AppalReD handles. He has substantial experience in housing law, including representing tenants and homeowners in evictions and foreclosures. He is a HUD certified Housing Counselor, meaning that he can help clients make plans for major housing related decisions. Prior to his career in law, Jimmy worked as a lobster packer for five years. He joined AppalReD Legal in 2018 after graduating from the University of Michigan School of Law.

 

Michelle Fisher

 

Michelle Fisher is a Legal Assistance to Victims Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Somerset office. Michelle can be reached at michellef@ardfky.org or 606-679-7313 ext. 7209. Michelle has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. They have particular expertise in domestic violence and family law. Michelle joined AppalReD Legal Aid after clerking at the Independent Police Monitor in New Orleans. Michelle is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. Along with their work at AppalReD Legal Aid, Michelle actively participates in Pulaski County Operation UNITE Coalition, and PFLAG.

 

Seneka Land

 

Seneka Land is a Staff Attorney at AppalReD Legal Aid’s Somerset office. Seneka can be reached at senekal@ardfky.org or 606-679-7313 ext. 7208. Seneka has represented clients in all types of cases that AppalReD Legal Aid handles. He has particular expertise in family law, protective orders, and estate planning. Seneka joined AppalReD Legal Aid after spending time as a solo practitioner. He is a graduate of Western Michigan Law School. Along with his work at AppalReD Legal Aid, Seneka actively participates in programs focused on children’s literacy and feeding the homeless.

Volunteer Lawyers for Appalachian Kentucky (VLAK) Staff

 

Mary Going

 

Mary Going is the Pro Bono Director of AppalReD Legal Aid. Mary can be reached at 606-886-3876, ext. 1315 or maryg@ardfky.org. Mary previously represented clients in AppalReD’s Hazard and Prestonsburg offices, primarily in the area of family law. She is a graduate of Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, and while in law school worked for Legal Aid of the Bluegrass. Prior to her career in law, Mary worked as a registered nurse for twenty-five years, primarily with homeless persons experiencing addiction and mental illness.