Tulane Law Graduate Kayla Ogden Awarded Prestigious Prettyman Fellowship

Kayla Ogden (L’24), a recent graduate of Tulane Law School and former student attorney in the Juvenile Law Clinic, has been awarded the E. Barry Prettyman Georgetown Fellowship, one of the most prestigious postgraduate fellowships in juvenile and criminal defense law in the country. 

The Prettyman Fellowship, based at Georgetown University Law Center, is a highly competitive, two-year program that provides recent law graduates with intensive training in criminal trial advocacy and clinical teaching. Fellows represent indigent clients in criminal cases in the District of Columbia under close faculty supervision. In addition to courtroom practice, fellows receive formal training in clinical pedagogy and supervision. Fellows earn an LLM in Advocacy upon completion of the program. 

“At this stage in my career, being selected for the Prettyman Fellowship means an opportunity to hone and expand my current foundational skillset in juvenile defense,” Ogden said. “It will allow me to continue to define myself professionally as a youth defender, and to step into my career in youth justice with more confidence.” 

Ogden was nominated for the fellowship by Professor of Clinic Law and Director of the Tulane Law Juvenile Law Clinic David Katner, under whom she served as a student attorney during the 2023–2024 academic year. While in the clinic, Ogden distinguished herself as the top student in the program, demonstrating exceptional commitment to client advocacy, professionalism, and legal skill. 

Katner praised Ogden’s ability to navigate the complexities of juvenile advocacy during her time in the clinic. “Kayla was an outstanding student attorney,” Katner said. “She has the training and the temperament to work with juveniles who often demonstrate high levels of immaturity, frequently in tandem with mental health complications or diagnoses.” 

Ogden credited Tulane Law’s clinical program with preparing her for the fellowship and her career in public defense. “The Tulane Law clinic prepared me for this opportunity because I experienced firsthand the impact of bridging academia with actual practice,” she said. “Law students hoping to become public defenders need real-life experience with real people and real cases to fully appreciate the multisystemic needs of their future clients.” 

Ogden's dedication to public service and youth advocacy has already earned her statewide recognition. In 2024, Ogden received the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Jackson-Ryan Award for devoting over 259 hours of public service to nonprofits and community organizations. Ogden continues to serve vulnerable populations as a children’s defense team staff attorney at the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, where she joined in September of 2024. 

Ogden said her commitment to juvenile defense work is rooted in personal experience. “I am drawn to juvenile defense work because I had system involvement in my own childhood,” she said. “These experiences gave me insights and inspired me to become an empathetic advocate for young people.” 

Ogden’s selection for the Prettyman Fellowship reflects both her individual excellence and the strength of Tulane Law’s clinical programs, particularly their commitment to preparing students for impactful careers in public service and juvenile advocacy.