As the first executive director of the Social Justice Legal Foundation, Shubhra Shivpuri is dedicated to achieving our mission of fighting for just and equitable systems for our communities. She is responsible for developing litigation to advance civil rights, ensuring the growth of our fellows, and fostering relationships with community organizations, advocates, and academic partners.

Shubhra has a demonstrated and long-standing commitment to public service, including the fight for civil rights. As a deputy attorney general in the Civil Rights Enforcement Section of the California Attorney General’s Office, she was involved in some of the office’s most consequential matters, including litigation relating to the defense of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, for which she received a California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award. She also led a team tasked with a first-of-its-kind evaluation of the conditions of confinement at all federal immigration detention facilities in the state of California, for which she received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence. In addition, Shubhra led an assessment of the Sacramento Police Department in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark and has been recognized for her expertise in law enforcement practices, government oversight, and compliance.

Prior to joining the California Attorney General’s Office, Shubhra was a trial attorney in the Fraud Section at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she developed proactive investigations of federal health care fraud and tried cases in various jurisdictions nationwide. She also served as a featured speaker at trainings and enjoyed developing and mentoring more junior attorneys. She began her career in public service at the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Louisiana, where she investigated and prosecuted a variety of violations of federal law, including white-collar offenses, public corruption, and civil rights-related matters.

After graduating from law school, Shubhra joined Debevoise & Plimpton in New York as a litigation associate, where she represented clients in significant pro bono matters involving asylum and U visa petitions, securing public benefits, and death penalty habeas corpus petitions.

When not working, Shubhra enjoys hiking, cooking, baking, and activities such as watching the Great British Baking Show while eating said baked goods.