Amber Banks

About Amber Banks

Civil rights and public interest attorney dedicated to advancing justice for youth, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities. I represent clients in matters involving educational equity, discrimination, police misconduct, and First Amendment rights. Licensed in Virginia, Texas, and the District of Columbia.My work is grounded in a multidisciplinary background spanning reproductive justice advocacy, community organizing, media and strategic communications, and nonprofit leadership.In addition to my legal practice, I teach and mentor emerging advocates as an adjunct professor at the VCU School of Education and as a lecturer and case supervisor in the Youth Advocacy Clinic at UVA School of Law.

Experience

1. Adjunct Professor, Educational Leadership

   VCU School of Education

   Dec 2025 — Present · Richmond, VA, US

   Adjunct Professor in the VCU School of Education Department of Educational LeadershipTaught ADMS 657: Educational Leadership and Civil Rights, a graduate‑level course examining the historical, legal, policy, and social foundations of civil rights in U.S. public education. Designed and facilitated an online learning experience that explored how communities, courts, policymakers, and youth movements have advanced and contested equitable educational opportunity. Led synchronous class sessions, guided student inquiry across themes of history, law, policy, and power, and supported the development of leadership skills to address contemporary civil rights challenges in schools. Curated interdisciplinary readings, facilitated discussions, and evaluated graduate student work on topics including segregation, school funding equity, disability rights, multilingual learner policy, the school‑to‑prison pipeline, and intersectional civil rights frameworks.

Education

• Vanderbilt University Law School

  Juris Doctor (J.D.)

• University of Virginia

  BA, Government

• Harvard University

  History, Media Studies

  2004 — 2004

• Robert E. Lee High School

  International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  2001 — 2005

• University of Oxford

  Comparative Politics, European Politics

  2008 — 2008

Skills

• Volunteer Management
• Policy
• Opposition Research
• Policy Analysis
• Sexuality Education
• Volunteer Recruiting
• Legislative Research
• Online Advocacy
• Non-Profit Leadership
• Event Planning
• Blogging
• Empowerment
• Issue Research
• Research
• Issue Campaigns
• Women Leaders
• Public Policy
• Strategic Communications
• Student Activism
• Bill Tracking
• Reproductive Health
• Abortion
• Intranet Quorum
• Nonprofits
• Advocacy
• Social Change
• Event Management
• Family Planning
• Public Speaking
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Media
• Non-Profits
• Community Organizing
• Project Management
• Program Development
• Peer Education
• Volunteer Training
• Reproductive Rights
• Community Outreach
• Legislative Relations