Title: Associate Attorney
Company: Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC
Education: JD, Certificate in Public Interest Law, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (2019); BA in Politics, Certificate in Latino Studies, Princeton University (2016)
Career History: With, SWMW Law, St. Louis, MO (2024-Present); Associate Attorney, Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC (2023-Present); Staff Attorney, ArchCity Defenders (2021-2023); Law Clerk, Superior Court of the District of Columbia (2019-2020); Immigration Law Clinic Student Attorney, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (2018); Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Summer Intern, Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (2018); Summer Honors Program Intern, New York City Law Department (2017); Student Intern, Princeton University Office of Religious Life (2014-2016); Administrative Intern, Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrants (ILSI) (2015); Resident Advisor, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (2014); Dining Services Student Employee, Princeton University (2013-2014); Intern, Office of Congressman William Lacy Clay (2013)
Brittney Watkins, Esq., Associate Attorney at Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC and a Discovery, Research, and Writing Associate at SWMW Law, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of law.
Wielding expertise in civil law and civil rights work, Ms. Watkins has been serving at SWMW’s St. Louis office since 2024, representing clients impacted by mesothelioma, and as an associate attorney at Maunee Raichle Hartley French & Mudd since 2023. In this capacity, she prepares clients for deposition and answers their questions about the case process; attends motion calls and drafts responses to various legal motions; and conducts research focused on niche legal issues to assist in representing clients and advocating for justice.
Before joining MRHFM, Ms. Watkins found success as a law clerk at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and a staff attorney on the Civil Litigation Team and Fatal State Violence Project at ArchCity Defenders. While in the latter role, she primarily worked on complex civil rights litigation, advocating for families in the face of law enforcement killings and in-custody deaths; her work addressed police accountability and systemic injustices, resulting in significant policy changes—such as the implementation of a ban on no-knock warrants and establishment of a reparations commission in St. Louis.
Utilizing these skills, Ms. Watkins has recently been actively involved in educating the public about reparations, drafting policies, and supporting the formation of the reparations commission. Additionally, she’s provided political education to the families she represents, empowering them to advocate for themselves and share their stories. She has also worked on cases addressing jail conditions, drawing attention to the conditions in St. Louis area jails. Her dedication to policy work and her commitment to supporting families have made a meaningful impact in her community.
Building the foundation of her career as a student at Princeton University, she interned with the Office of Congressman William Lacy Clay and worked as the resident advisor of the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America and an administrative intern for Interfaith Legal Services for Immigrants. The recipient of the Alberto Santos-Dumont Prize for Innovation and the Sr. Martin Luther King Jr. Journal Award, she ultimately earned a Bachelor of Arts in politics, with a certificate in Latino studies, from the institution in 2016. She obtained her Juris Doctor, with a Certificate in Public Interest, from Washington University School of Law in 2019. While at WashU Law, she received the Scholar in Law Award.
Ms. Watkins, a dedicated member of such organizations as the Princeton Association of Black Women, Black Law Students Association, and the Princeton University Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, strives to expand her impact as an attorney by assisting more people. She aims to increase her caseload and further develop her skills to ensure everyone, regardless of income, receives top-notch representation. She eventually hopes to engage in more political education work, such as developing curricula, writing, and conducting workshops to educate her community.