colette tvedt| Episode 07

Despite knowing she wanted to be a public defender from the age of ten, Colette shares that even when you know where you want to go, finding who you are on the way there is the most rewarding part. 

Colette’s career has taken her through public and private defense work in DC, Massachusetts, Seattle, Denver, and more. Along with practicing, she has also served as Director of Public Defense Training and Reform at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Through all of these experiences, Colette not only continues to discover her own voice but has helped create spaces for other defense attorneys to find their own.

At its core, criminal defense work is about belonging: helping our clients feel seen and heard starts with an attorney who can stand confidently in who they are. This is a conversation about growth, identity, and the lifelong process of becoming the advocate your clients need.