Prior to joining the Student Legal Services office, Professor Ortega served as the supervising attorney for the Family Law Clinic at Penn State Law where she supervised certified legal interns in representing clients in divorce, child custody, support, and protection from abuse cases. During her time in Pennsylvania, Professor Ortega worked with East Bay Family Defenders in Alameda County, California, representing parents, children, and interested parties in child dependency cases, managing a high-volume caseload that provided her with extensive litigation experience. She also practiced law in Kansas as the managing attorney for the Medical Legal Partnership at the University of Kansas Hospital and supervised law students in their representation of clients in areas such as family law, immigration, and social security appeals. Professor Ortega has extensive experience representing vulnerable populations and has devoted her career to low-income legal services. She prides herself on practicing trauma-informed lawyering to have a positive impact on individuals and families. Additionally, she has held leadership positions with the Douglas County Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association, and is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, licensed to practice law in both Pennsylvania and Kansas.