Faculty Profile: Janet Goode

Janet Goode graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a B.A. in history.  She received her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 2002.  At Stanford, Janet was an executive board member of the Stanford Law & Policy Review.  Following law school, Janet clerked for the Hon. Keith P. Ellison in the Southern District of Texas.

Janet has broad litigation experience.  She was an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney’s Office where she handled a large caseload of both misdemeanor and felony offenses.  Janet has extensive courtroom experience including presenting before the grand jury, arguing motions, jury selection and trial work.  Janet also has experience conducting investigations and was a member of the Domestic Violence Unit.

Janet then joined Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (now K&L Gates) representing clients in white collar criminal matters, insurance defense, bankruptcy preference actions, stock purchase agreements, and contracts focused on software.

For the past six years, Janet served as the first Executive Director of Christian Legal Aid of Pittsburgh (“CLA”) providing free legal services at community clinics.  CLA is the largest pro bono community clinic in Pittsburgh.  Janet was responsible for training and managing a large staff of volunteer attorneys and law students, as well as representing clients in areas as diverse as family law, landlord tenant matters, personal bankruptcy, consumer debt suits, and criminal expungements.  Janet is a recipient of awards from both the local bar association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association for her work with CLA.

In addition to her legal career, Janet has served on the executive committee of the board of a community health center dedicated to providing quality, whole person, affordable heath care and is on the governing board of her church.