Patty First

Patty First’s clients include the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Forum.

Combining years of legal and policy experience on Capitol Hill and at the Department of Justice, Patricia First advises our clients on a wide range of constitutional issues, including civil rights, immigration and women’s rights. Patty works to help clients turn their policy goals into reality, assisting primarily non-profits and foundations. Prior to joining The Raben Group in 2003, Patty held senior level positions in both the legislative and executive branches of government.

Patty is a five-year veteran of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), where she served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legislative Affairs. In this role, Patty was DOJ’s point person immigration and women's rights, serving as liaison between DOJ and Capitol Hill, the White House, and independent federal agencies.

Patty handled complex litigation as a trial attorney at DOJ in the Civil Rights Division. While working in the Voting Section, she analyzed redistricting plans, investigated charges of voting rights violations against minorities, and monitored elections to ensure that minorities were not disenfranchised at the polls.

Prior to her service with DOJ, Patty served as counsel to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) on the United States Senate Subcommittee on Immigration. During that time, Patty worked on landmark legislation related to immigration, welfare reform and anti-terrorism.

Patty earned her law degree at the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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