WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy judge advocate, Lt. Tashinda Richardson, has been named to the National Bar Association (NBA) and IMPACT’s “Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40.” Honorees will be recognized at the NBA’s 88th Annual Convention in Miami, Fla., July 27. WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy judge advocate, Lt. Tashinda Richardson, has been named to the National Bar Association (NBA) and IMPACT’s “Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40.” Honorees will be recognized at the NBA’s 88th Annual Convention in Miami, Fla., July 27.

Nation’s Best Advocates recognizes talented individuals within the African American legal community who have achieved prominence and distinction, professionally and philanthropically, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering, uplifting and advocating for the African American community. Nation’s Best Advocates recognizes talented individuals within the African American legal community who have achieved prominence and distinction, professionally and philanthropically, and have demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering, uplifting and advocating for the African American community.

"I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award. I am so grateful to all of my wonderful mentors in the JAG Corps that have constantly motivated me to dig deeper to become a superior attorney and officer. I am also indebted to the lawyers and judges outside of the JAG Corps who have mentored me, my family, my friends, and especially my husband, who nominated me for this award,” said Richardson. "I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award. I am so grateful to all of my wonderful mentors in the JAG Corps that have constantly motivated me to dig deeper to become a superior attorney and officer. I am also indebted to the lawyers and judges outside of the JAG Corps who have mentored me, my family, my friends, and especially my husband, who nominated me for this award,” said Richardson.

A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Richardson graduated from Spelman College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After completing a year-long Watson Fellowship in Japan and South Africa, she began her legal studies at University of Maryland School of Law. During her second summer, she managed a full load of cases as a law clerk at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and, in her final year, she was a visiting student at Emory University Law School and a law clerk at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. She earned her Juris Doctor in 2008 and is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Richardson was commissioned through the JAG Corps A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Richardson graduated from Spelman College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After completing a year-long Watson Fellowship in Japan and South Africa, she began her legal studies at University of Maryland School of Law. During her second summer, she managed a full load of cases as a law clerk at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and, in her final year, she was a visiting student at Emory University Law School and a law clerk at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. She earned her Juris Doctor in 2008 and is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Richardson was commissioned through the JAG Corps Student Program in October 2008. She completed Naval Justice School in April 2009, and subsequently served as trial counsel at in October 2008. She completed Naval Justice School in April 2009, and subsequently served as trial counsel at Region Legal Service Office Southwest..

While at RLSO SW she led the command’s recruiting program, acting as an ambassador for the JAG Corps throughout the Southwest, which culminated in her selection as the Naval Legal Service Command Recruiting Officer of the Year. In April of 2011, Richardson transferred to the Office of the Judge Advocate General While at RLSO SW she led the command’s recruiting program, acting as an ambassador for the JAG Corps throughout the Southwest, which culminated in her selection as the Naval Legal Service Command Recruiting Officer of the Year. In April of 2011, Richardson transferred to the Office of the Judge Advocate General Military Personnel Division. There, she managed the JAG Corps’ presence at recruiting events for legal affinity groups, the internship and externship program, and the Command Equal Opportunity Program. Additionally, Richardson planned and implemented the Navy JAG Corps’ Street Law Diversity Pipeline Program, which brought a team of 20 judge advocates together to teach constitutional law issues to 9th-11th grade students at Forestville Military Academy in Washington, D.C. Richardson currently serves as the legal assistance and command services attorney at RLSO SW in Ventura, Calif., and prosecutes federal criminal cases as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. . There, she managed the JAG Corps’ presence at recruiting events for legal affinity groups, the internship and externship program, and the Command Equal Opportunity Program. Additionally, Richardson planned and implemented the Navy JAG Corps’ Street Law Diversity Pipeline Program, which brought a team of 20 judge advocates together to teach constitutional law issues to 9th-11th grade students at Forestville Military Academy in Washington, D.C. Richardson currently serves as the legal assistance and command services attorney at RLSO SW in Ventura, Calif., and prosecutes federal criminal cases as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.