Shani is an experienced leader in client-centered, trauma informed legal advocacy having dedicated her career to serving survivors of sexual and gender based violence.   
 
Before serving as NYLAG’s vice president of strategy, for six years Shani worked as the associate director of NYLAG’s Domestic Violence Law Unit, and the project director of Project RISE. Shani worked with survivors of intimate partner violence, abuse, and sexual assault, both adults and immigrant youth. She has over a decade of complex litigation experience. In addition to her own practice, Shani supervised staff who serve these populations through direct representation in matrimonial law, family law, and immigration law matters.  
 
Shani has also led trainings and participated in panels on related substantive law; working with survivors of trauma and abuse; trauma’s psychological, physical, and physiological impacts; vicarious trauma; and provision of client-centered trauma-informed representation. Previously, Shani oversaw Safe Horizon’s Immigration Law Project, and was an advocacy and communications officer with Jesuit Refugee Services in the Southern Africa Region.