Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. announces the appointment of Brenda Nipp as Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Public Benefits Law Advocacy Coordinator.  Brenda has been a Staff Attorney in the Stillwater City Law office for 8 years.  Ms. Nipp previously worked 3 years for Legal Aid as a paralegal.  She received a Bachelor of Science in Pre-law from Oklahoma State University, College of Arts & Science in 1983.  She received her J.D. from the University Of Tulsa College Of Law in 1991, attending evening classes while working as a litigation legal assistant.  During law school, Ms. Nipp was fortunate to serve as an Intern for the Honorable Judge Thomas Brett, District Judge of the Northern District of Oklahoma, member of the Energy Law Journal, President of the Advocacy Board and member of multiple student advocacy teams competing in regional, state, and national competitions.

Ms. Nipp has a combination of 27 years of legal experience as an attorney and as a legal assistant, CLA.  Some of Ms. Nipp’s areas of practice include Social Security disability and overpayments, DHS benefits, unemployment, divorce, child custody, protective orders, child support, guardianships, paternity, landlord/tenant, expungements, licensure issues, criminal defense, and general poverty law.  She was in private practice for 11 years, including serving 2 years as an appointed counsel through the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.  Also while in private practice, she served as an attorney representing families in various juvenile matters for Payne and Logan County.  Ms. Nipp was also the Municipal Judge for the Town of Coyle for 11 years.  Brenda is active in the Payne County Bar Association having served previously as Law Day Chair and assisting on several committees.

Some of the projects in which Ms. Nipp has been involved in during her employment with Legal Aid are the annual Pro Se Divorce Clinic, Legal Interns and volunteers supervisor and mentor, Community Provider seminar – Legal Information for the non- attorney, Pro Bono Coordinator for the Stillwater Legal Aid office and co-counsel with private attorneys on various pro bono cases.   She is excited about the opportunities of this new position and hopes to work with even more people expanding the awareness of Legal Aid and issues facing Legal Aid clients.

Ms. Nipp is involved in several community groups including serving as the Vice President of the Wings of Hope, Stillwater Domestic Violence Services, Inc., Board of Directors.  Ms. Nipp is also on the Board of Directors for Stillwater Girls Inc. (SGI) and Oklahoma Creativity Inc.  She is a past Board of Directors member for the United Way and Advisory Member for Payne County CASA.  Brenda is also leader of Girl Scout Troop 485, assistant coach for an Odyssey of the Mind team, Member of the Permanent Judicial Commission of Cimarron Presbytery, Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, and is a member of several Stillwater School booster clubs and groups.

Brenda has been married to her husband, Kelly for 25 years.  They have 2 daughters, Ashley, a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and Katharine, an 8th grader in Stillwater.   She enjoys time with her family including attending OSU Football and Women’s Basketball games, supporting her daughters in their activities, and working with students and others expanding awareness of Legal Aid and issues facing Legal Aid clients.

About Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
Legal Services is a statewide not-for-profit law firm providing free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income individuals, families and to elderly and disabled persons in the areas of domestic violence, consumer scams, housing, health and employment.  Legal Services attorneys and staff work through a network of 21 fully-staffed law offices and satellite offices, serving eligible clients in all 77 counties of Oklahoma.

Funding for Legal Aid is from the Legal Services Corporation, the State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, 14 United Way and United Fund organizations and generous attorneys, law firms, foundations, businesses and individuals throughout the state contributing to the Campaign for Justice.

Media Contact:
Michael Figgins, Executive Director
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
405-488-6768
michael.figgins@laok.org
 

Brenda Nipp
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
405-624-1734
brenda.nipp@laok.org