NATASHE ABRAHAMS

PO Box 551: San Francisco: CA 94104-0551:  (510) 285-7384: natashe22@hotmail.com

 

EDUCATION

Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, CA
LLM in International Legal Studies Candidate,     May 2007
LLM in US Legal Studies, July 2006

Honors: Scholarship Recipient from the American Association of University
Women ( AAUW)

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
LLB,              December 1993
BA, English, December 1991

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Attorney General's Office, Department of Justice, San Francisco, CA

Spring Intern, March 2006 to May 2006

Researched numerous legal issues for the Criminal Law Division.    Drafted memos on legal issues in homicide case.

THE NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY

SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR                                                

Mitchell's Plain Magistrates Court Cape Town, South Africa                                

October 2001 to July 2005

Supervised, directed and coordinated the work and activities of prosecutors I managed.   Trained members of the prosecuting staff and Investigators in the preparation of dockets and subsequent prosecutions.   Solved complaints and representations by members of the public.   Advised and reported on charges of criminal conduct, personnel and draft legislation. Studied case dockets and other information regarding alleged crimes and decided on the institution of criminal proceedings.   Presented the States' case in court, which included interviewing prospective witnesses, examination in chief, cross-examination and addressing the court on conviction and sentence.   Received Merit Award for Outstanding Work Performance.

SENIOR STATE ADVOCATE                                                              

Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit, Pretoria, South Africa                

January 2000 to September 2001

Reviewed relevant and current legislation and made recommendations for amendments.   Monitoring trends and practices in the prosecution of crimes against women and children.   Co-ordinate and facilitate training needs of relevant role players.   Handled public complaints on domestic violence and sexual offences.   Set up a database for collection of national sexual offence statistics.   Implementation of prevention programs at high schools.

JUNIOR STATE ADVOCATE                                                       

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cape Town, South Africa     

July to December 1999

Presented trials and appeals in court.   Extensive preparation of High Court trials (rape, murder, robbery).   Drafted trial briefs (Heads of Argument) for appeals.   Assessed inquest cases and authorized further investigation if required.   Drafted charge sheets.   Assessed case dockets and recommended prosecutions.

SPECIALIST PROSECUTOR                                                            

Sexual Offences Regional Court, Cape Town, South Africa

February 1997 to June 1999

Prosecuted sexual offence cases; rape, indecent assault, incest.   Gave presentations at Junior Schools; advised teachers and learners on correct procedures for reporting sexual abuse.   Advised Junior Prosecutors on the prosecution of sexual offence cases.   Guided the South African Police Services and the Child Protection Unit in the investigation and collection of evidence.   Received Merit Award for Outstanding Work Performance.

PROSECUTOR                                                                                    

District and Regional Court, Cape Town, South Africa

July 1995 to January 1997

Prosecuted serious offences; armed robbery, fraud, major thefts and housebreaking cases.   Intensive research and preparation.   Reading dockets and assessing whether prosecutions were justified.   All related general correspondence, administration and record keeping.

Received Merit Award for Outstanding Work Performance.