Kaitlyn Schiraldi

Kaitlyn Schiraldi is Staff Attorney at the New Civil Liberties Alliance. Prior to joining NCLA, Kaitlyn worked at Mountain States Legal Foundation where she litigated to defend citizens from the government’s unwieldy power, filed amicus briefs, drafted comments on agency regulations, and was a frequent webinar panelist.

Kaitlyn graduated magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree, with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin.

Kaitlyn is licensed to practice law in Tennessee. She is one of four young leaders that head the Nashville Federalist Society’s Young Lawyers Committee—helping plan local events where the brightest legal minds come speak. She is also a member of the Steamboat Institute’s Emerging Leaders Council. In her downtime, you can find her spending time in the great outdoors with her husband and two dogs, or immersed in Nashville’s music scene.

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What is your current position?

I am currently a staff attorney at the New Civil Liberties Alliance.

What inspired you to choose this career path?

I survived a traumatic car accident in college that advanced my maturity very quickly. I felt the need to lead a purposeful life, and my career is no exception. Public interest work is precedent setting and creates a legal legacy that will far outlive me.

What are you currently working on?

I’m fortunate enough to defend clients against agencies such as the EPA and SEC, appear on podcasts and the radio, draft amicus briefs, and learn from the most outstanding attorneys in the country.

What is your fondest memory of the Claremont Institute?

My fondest memory of the Claremont Institute was on one free evening where a group of fellows went to the pier and to the ocean. I was surrounded by such impressive, intelligent young attorneys, yet we created a bond that was completely separate from our career titles and ambitions. I value the connections I made with each John Marshall Fellow and cannot wait to watch them rise to prominent positions as we become the next generation in charge.

What qualities do you believe will make outstanding statesmen/women in this century?

I believe the most outstanding statesmen/women must have optimism that this country will soon return to its charted course. Pessimism with no ambitious plan of action to resolve complained-of issues should not be welcomed in our Nation’s leadership.

Do you have a favorite quote? Why does it resonate with you?

Perhaps a poem can fall into the category of a “favorite quote,” but Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken resonates with me. I was required to memorize a poem in 4th grade, and that was my poem of choice. I’ve never forgotten the final line—“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Life is similar to the Choose Your Own Adventure books I so fondly remember from my childhood—there is no perfect way to navigate any portion of your life, and each decision leads to endless outcomes. Robert Frost reminds us all that the imperfect path is the most rewarding.

What is the most distinctive attribute/character of the people in the state where you grew up that you genuinely admire?

I spent a large majority of my life in Texas, and what I love most about Texans is their deepseated state pride. I call the great state of Tennessee home now, and feel that same overwhelming love from Tennesseans. The pride of these southern states is unmatched—showcased by kids learning all the words to Rocky Top or The Eyes of Texas alongside their ABC’s.

What is your favorite cultural/recreational pastime (or hobby) and why?

My most treasured hobby is antiquing. It requires hours of searching that may result in no worthy finds. But, the search for those gems is where the wonder lies. I’ve scored solid walnut midcentury buffet tables, original Nancy Drew novels with plain blue covers, an ornate gold-plated fireplace cover, and even my own wedding band. Home goods used to be made with such care and intention of being heirloom items, and I hope to curate quality items that my children would love to inherit. Similar to my career choice, antiquing requires a reverence for the past and an interest in its preservation.