Experienced And Diverse Legal Team Protecting The Rights Of Federal Employees

Xiaoya Zhu

Xiaoya Zhu

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Biography

Xiaoya Zhu is an Associate Attorney at Southworth PC, where she provides dedicated representation to clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and Office of Federal Operations (OFO). With a strong foundation in economics and political science, which she gained from her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, Xiaoya brings a unique perspective to her legal practice.

Prior to joining Southworth PC, Xiaoya built a solid foundation in law through a variety of roles. She served as a Legal Extern at the Cobb County District Attorney's Office, where she drafted legal documents, prepared discovery materials, and recommended sentencing ranges for various criminal matters. She represented the State at pleas, arraignments, and motions, under the supervision of district attorneys.

In addition, Xiaoya served as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Christopher C. Bly at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, where she conducted legal research and drafted reports & recommendations in employment, prisoner civil rights, and social security cases.

Xiaoya holds a Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law, where she distinguished herself with her academic achievements and contributions to the Emory Law Journal as an Articles Editor and Staff Member. As a Research Assistant, she produced research memos with suggestions to update an adoption law casebook after researching attorneys' roles in adoptions and intercountry adoptions.

Xiaoya is recognized within the firm as the go-to-person in case briefing, owing to her exceptional analytical skills and a sharp eye for identifying key evidence in favor of her clients. Her dedication to thorough research and case preparation is well illustrated in one instance where she invested considerable time and effort in locating supporting cases for a client's claims. This process required extensive digging, yet the result was instrumental in advancing her client's case. This example showcases Xiaoya's commitment to her clients and her ability to leverage her strong research skills to their advantage.

Xiaoya is also committed to service outside of her professional roles, as evidenced by her work as a Group Facilitator for the Wolverine Support Network at the University of Michigan, where she led group discussions promoting students' emotional and mental well-being.

She is proficient in Mandarin Chinese & English. In her practice, Xiaoya combines her legal acumen, attention to detail, and commitment to justice to deliver the best outcomes for her client.

Education

  • Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia
    • Juris Doctor
  • University of Michigan
    • Major: Economics
    • Major: Political Science

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Wolverine Support Network at the University of Michigan, Group Facilitator

Past Positions

  • Cobb County District Attorney's Office, Legal Extern
  • Honorable Christopher C. Bly at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Judicial Intern

Languages

  • Mandarin Chinese
  • English

Current Employment Position

  • Associate Attorney

Practice Areas

  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC
  • Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)