Staff
Andy Dugan
Executive Director
Andy Dugan (he/him/él) is an attorney and the Executive Director for Skagit Legal Aid. His career includes substantial post conviction and housing related experiences and direct representation to historically underrepresented individuals. He feels fortunate to bring his years of legal experience and passion for expanding justice to the Skagit Valley.
Prior to moving to Washington, he was privileged to be one of the first staff attorneys at a legal clinic dedicated to representing LGBTQ community members across southern Ohio and previously served as a compliance and housing attorney for an innovative multistate law firm. He obtained his BSBA from The Ohio State University and his JD from Capital University Law School. Andy joined Skagit Legal Aid in July of 2020.
Andy is an active Ex Officio Member of the Skagit County Bar Association, a member of the Washington State Bar Association Pro Bono & Public Service Committee, and an Executive Committee Member of the Washington Pro Bono Council. He is also a member of the King County Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Washington Defender Association, and the American Bar Association.
Emma Long
Housing Justice Project Attorney
Emma Long (she/her/ella) is a Housing Justice Attorney with Skagit Legal Aid. Emma works on unlawful detainer cases for Skagit County. In this role she negotiates, counsels, and assists clients in a variety of ways as it relates to their housing stability.
Emma was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. In Spokane, Emma received a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Gonzaga University. Emma continued her education at Gonzaga and received her J.D. in 2022. After completing her education, Emma moved to Skagit County and started her career assisting the civilians of the area and has been an employee of Skagit Legal Aid since October 2023. Aside from housing work, Emma has experience in criminal law, tribal law, social security law, and family law.
When Emma is not working, you can find her exploring the local mountains and parks with her Golden Retriever.
Austin Hellman
Reentry & Pro Bono Law Clerk
Austin Hellman (he/him/él) is a Law Clerk for Skagit Legal Aid. He is currently assisting individuals with post-conviction issues such as Legal Financial Obligations and Vacating Criminal Convictions.
A Washington native, Austin earned his B.S. in Business Administration from Florida Southern College and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Before attending law school, Austin worked as a claims adjuster helping individuals who had been involved in serious motor vehicle accidents. During his time there, Austin discovered a passion for helping others and decided to further pursue this passion by attending law school. While in school, Austin volunteered for numerous programs to help expand access to the civil justice system such as Alternative Dispute Resolution and an Externship focused on assisting historically underrepresented communities.
Austin initially joined Skagit Legal Aid as an extern in January of 2022. After graduation, Austin moved back to Skagit County and joined Skagit Legal Aid full time shortly after.
Hermelinda Lucero
Housing Advocate
Hermelinda Lucero (she/her/ella) is a Housing Advocate for Skagit Legal Aid focused on assisting limited English speakers and farmworker families maintain housing stability.
Hermelinda was born and raised in Mount Vernon. Coming from an indigenous background , she is motivated by and enjoys sharing legal information and resources with the local indigenous community
Hermelinda is currently attending Skagit Valley College and intends to transfer to a university to further her legal education.
Hermelinda joined Skagit Legal Aid in January of 2023.
Adilene Calderon
Housing Justice Project Paralegal
Adilene Calderon (she/her/ella) is a Housing Justice Project for Skagit Legal Aid.
Adilene was born and raised in Delano, a small rural town in the central valley of California before moving to Mount Vernon, Washington. She has substantial experience in the criminal justice system where she further developed her strong belief that everyone deserves second chances in life. She looks forward to continuing her education at Skagit Valley College in the near future. In her free time, Adilene enjoys spending time with her young family.
Adilene joined Skagit Legal Aid in March 2024.
Trevor Torres
Accountant/Payroll Administrator
Marcelina Mendoza
Director of Community Engagement & Outreach
Marcelina Mendoza (she/her/ella) is the Outreach Coordinator for Skagit Legal Aid. She is a lifelong resident of Skagit County and does not imagine living anywhere else. She feels grateful for the opportunity to serve Skagit County residents by providing legal assistance and outreach services.
Marcelina has been working with Skagit County historically underrepresented and underserved communities since arriving in the United States in 2004. She has previously worked in the healthcare setting, serving as an interpreter and Promotora for the Hispanic community, focusing on Mixteco speaking families.
Marcelina earned her AAS at Whatcom Community College. She is attending Fairhaven College at Western Washington University with a concentration in the Law, Diversity, and Justice program. Marcelina joined Skagit Legal Aid in March of 2022.
Oscar Medina-Perez
Paralegal
Oscar Medina-Perez (he/him/él) is the Paralegal/Assistant for Skagit Legal Aid. As a lifelong resident of Skagit County, he is grateful to be able to assist in filling the gaps to legal assistance for historically underrepresented and underserved communities in the Valley.
Oscar career includes substantial paralegal experience in family law, housing, and debt collection matters.
Oscar received his education at the Whatcom Community College in the Paralegal Studies course. He has also attended the Core Family Law Curriculum through the Washington State Bar Association in connection with Whatcom Community College. Oscar is proud to have volunteered at the Street Law clinics through Law Advocates in Bellingham prior to joining Skagit Legal Aid in March of 2021.
Felicity Chamberlain
Housing Justice Project Attorney
Felicity (she/her/ella) is a Housing Justice Attorney with Skagit Legal Aid. Felicity assists clients in unlawful detainer cases, helps guide tenants through their various housing issues and assists in resolving pre-filing eviction matters through negotiations, counsel and advice, rent assistance.
A Washington Native, Felicity earned her B.A. in Business Administration from University of Washington - Bothell and her J.D. from University of Oregon. Prior to working at Skagit Legal Aid, Felicity practiced as deputy prosecutor in Adams County, Washington and Island County, Washington. She also spent some time working as a Deputy Attorney General in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, a remote island near Guam, where she learned to scuba dive.
In her free time, Felicity enjoys hiking and other outdoor activities like skiing and kayaking.
Auston Jimmicum
Tribal Law Clerk
Auston Jimmicum (he/him/él) is the Tribal Law Clerk for Skagit Legal Aid, and he is a Rule 9 Licensed Legal Intern. He is currently assisting tribal members in the Skagit Valley Area, mainly on the Swinomish Reservation, with various civil legal matters.
Auston is an enrolled member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and he grew up on the Makah Reservation in Neah Bay, Washington. He earned his B.A. in Law, Societies, & Justice with a minor in American Indian Studies from the University of Washington. He earned his J.D. with an Emphasis in Native American Law from the University of Idaho. During law school, Auston mainly assisted tribal members with Estate Planning, and other Family Law matters. He also has experience with work focused on addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples’ Crisis, Tribal Economic Development, and Tribal “Treatment as State” Applications. His passion for advocating for the unique issues and obstacles Native American people face is what inspired him to become a lawyer, and he hopes to apply this passion to his work at Skagit Legal Aid.
His goal is to expand the Tribal Law Clinics so that more tribes in Skagit County can take advantage of the services that Skagit Legal Aid provides.
Auston joined Skagit Legal Aid in April of 2023.
