Mara Bridgman graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Public Administration before moving back to Madison. Since joining the firm in 2007 as the first administrative hire, she continues to play a key role in building and maintaining many of CJI’s agency partnerships and legal clinics throughout the community, including Neighborhood House Clinic and Law for Learners with Ascendium. Mara previously served as CJI’s Operations Director, before becoming Executive Director. As Executive Director, she is responsible for financial and personnel management, fundraising and event planning, innovative development, hiring, and volunteer coordination. Over the years, Mara remains committed to improving access to affordable quality legal services, along with being the office’s long-term “morale booster.”

Louis Palmatier received his B.A. in History and Classics from the University of San Francisco before attending the University of Wisconsin Law School. He worked as an extern for CJI in law school, and has since joined as a staff attorney. His practice areas include tenants' rights and family law, but he is always eager to explore new areas of the law. Louis firmly believes in CJI's mission and works to ensure that people facing housing or family crises have access to quality legal representation. He is eager to give a voice to those too often shut out of the legal system.

Keith Sayles is originally from the Madison area and received a BA from Carleton College.  Keith graduated from the University of Minnesota with a JD in 2008.  During law school, Keith interned at the Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office and later volunteered at the Drug Court Diversion Program in Hennepin County.  Keith was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 2009.  Immediately after admission to the Wisconsin Bar, Keith moved to New Jersey and then New York and was involved with CASA of Mercer County, NJ and New York Legal Assistance Group.  When Keith and his family returned home to Madison, he began volunteering with and later working at the Tenant Resource Center (TRC).  At TRC, Keith conducted legal research, drafted materials, taught seminars, and worked directly with both tenants and landlords with housing problems.  Keith is committed to helping provide open access to free and reduced cost legal services. 

Steven graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School. More information about Attorney Steven will be posted soon...

​Nathaniel graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2023. Prior to joining CJI, Nathaniel practiced at Legal Action of Wisconsin, where he gained experience helping folks burdened by debt to navigate their options. At CJI, Nathaniel’s areas of practice include family law, tenants’ rights, and bankruptcy. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your legal issue, Nathaniel would like to work with you to achieve peace of mind. The stakes of a legal dispute are often serious and personal, so Nathaniel strives not only to achieve his clients' goals but to ensure that the client feels informed and empowered in the process.

In the fall of 2019 Jennifer transitioned to an Of Counsel position with CJI. She has been with the firm since 2005, previously holding the positions of Managing Attorney and Development Director, and will continue to support its mission with a focus on guardian ad litem appointments and volunteer development projects. She is currently the Director of the UW Law School Family Court Clinic.  

Jennifer currently serves as Chair of the Dane County Bar Association’s Delivery of Legal Services Committee (DLSC). Jennifer has chaired the committee since 2004. During this time the DLSC has worked to develop, maintain, and coordinate pro bono and pro se projects, including pro se clinics and attorney training opportunities. This committee has won several awards for service. In 2007 Jennifer was honored as a Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal and in 2013 was honored by the Pro Bono Society of the UW Law School for her pro bono work. In 2015 Community Justice Inc. was honored as a legal innovator by the State Bar of Wisconsin for the firm’s Restraining Order Program. In her Of Counsel role, Jennifer primarily practices in the area of family law, frequently serving as Guardian ad Litem for children and vulnerable adults.  

Jennifer volunteers her time to assist pro se litigants through the DCBA Family Law Assistance Center, the Small Claims Assistance Center, the Veterans Law Center and the Senior Wills Program.