Rafaela Varela

Rafaela Varela serves as the Supervising Attorney for the Community Economic Development unit within the Neighborhood Economic Justice Project at Legal Services NYC since February 2023, focusing on supporting worker cooperatives, non-profit organizations, and small businesses in Brooklyn. Prior to this role, Rafaela held various positions including Visiting Clinical Professor and Supervising Attorney at MAIN STREET LEGAL SERVICES - CUNY School of Law, where expertise was provided in transactional legal services to the LGBTQ+ community. Internships at prominent organizations including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, and the Federal Defenders of New York contributed to a diverse background in civil litigation and advocacy. Rafaela's educational background includes a Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from the City University of New York School of Law and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Latin American Studies, and Women's Studies from the University of Central Florida.