Susan French

Biography

Professional Experience 

• Susan French is a Senior Staff Attorney for the Human Trafficking Project, International Human Rights Clinic, George Washington University Law School in Washington DC. Ms. French instructs clinic students and leads the human trafficking student team in identifying, investigating, and developing trafficking cases for civil litigation. Ms. French instructs clinic students in human trafficking law and works with the clinic students to develop hands on lawyer skills as applied to trafficking cases. 
• Ms. French was previously employed by the Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division,U. S. Department of Justice from September 1998 through June 2012 where she held various positions including Senior Special Counsel for Human Trafficking and trial attorney with the Criminal Section. From 2007-2011 Ms. French was assigned to the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit. 
• Ms. French has investigated and prosecuted labor and sex trafficking cases on behalf of the United States throughout the states, territories, and possessions and interviewed hundreds of trafficking victims employing a culturally sensitive and victim-centered approach. Ms. French has served as lead counsel for trafficking cases developing cases, handling pretrial matters, jury selection, witness development and testimony, opening statements, closing arguments, and sentencing hearings.

Human Trafficking Professional Outreach and Training

• July 2012 – Instructor, Human Trafficking Clinic, St. Thomas University Law School, Miami, FL
• January 2011 – Presenter, Belize OPDAT human trafficking training
• July - August 2010 - Presenter/Trainer - Malaysia, Brunei, and Cambodia, U.S. State Department (human trafficking investigations and prosecutions)
• October 2010 – Presenter, Vienna, Austria, U.S. State Department TIP Reporters
• November 2009 – Presenter, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan UNODC Working Group (human trafficking)
• June 2009 - Presenter, Manila, Philippines, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE Human Trafficking/Child Sex Tourism Training for Asia Attaches
• July 2008 – Panelist, Conference on Crime, Barcelona, Spain
• 2007/2008 – Participant, Collaborative Prosecutions of Human Trafficking Cases in United States (Dutch prosecutors- closed circuit training and in person)
• OPDAT human trafficking training/meetings with various foreign delegations
• Presenter and trainer on human trafficking for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; service providers; and non-governmental organizations in United States (examples: FBI 2010 Civil Rights In-service training; Florida Department of Law Enforcement 2009 Human Trafficking Summit; Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Rescue and Restore training; U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Education 2007 Basic Human Trafficking Seminar)

Professional Recognition

• Dave Allred Award (2010), Annual Award to Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division attorney in recognition of professionalism, commitment to civil rights, and sustained excellence
• Sheila and Paul Wellstone (2008) Annual Award for Contributions to Prosecution of Trafficking Cases – Recipient (presented annually to one person by The Freedom Network)
• Environmental Protection Agency 2007 awards for prosecution of United States. v. Evans, 2006
• U.S. Department of Justice Special Commendation (2007)
• United States Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (2004) for prosecution of United States v. Kil Soo Lee (large victim class sweatshop case)
• Civil Rights Division Special Achievement Awards (2000, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Prior Employment

Assistant Commonwealth Attorney and Special Prosecutor, Winchester, VA.(1989 -1998) 

• Prosecuted cases including child sex abuse, domestic violence, and juvenile adjudications
• Special Prosecutor for a multi-jurisdictional grand jury targeting mid- and upper-level drug dealers
• Developed community service program for juvenile offenders

Supervisory Attorney, Coordination and Review Section, Civil Rights Division U.S. Department of Justice (1980 -1987) 

• Supervised attorneys overseeing the enforcement of non-discrimination in federal programs
• Served on Attorney General’s review panels of individuals from Cuban Mariel Boatlift (reviewed incarcerated detainee cases pursuant to federal court order)

Attorney, Presidential Task Force on Sex Discrimination, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington D.C. (1977 - 1980) 

• Tasked with identifying sex bias in federal statutes, regulations, and programs
• Collaborated with federal agencies to take corrective action
• Drafted legislation and Annual Reports to Congress
• Published law review articles: (co-authored) Sexual Harassment in the Workplace - the EEOC New Guidelines, St. Louis Law Journal 1981; Rights of Rural and Farm Women, Ohio Northern University Law Review, 1978; and publications relating to the rights of women in the United States (translated into 20 languages)
• Testified before Senate Subcommittee on Aging about disparate impact of provisions of tax code on rural and farm women
• Extensively presented on women’s rights and sex discrimination.

Education

Juris Doctorate (1974)

College of William and Mary 

Williamsburg, VA

Bachelor of Arts (1970)

American University,

Washington, DC