Maria Amalia Nieto (“Amalia”) joined Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in September 2021. Prior to joining, Amalia clerked for the Honorable Jaclyn Medina, J.S.C., in Bergen County Superior Court. Amalia graduated from Rutgers Law School in Newark in May 2020.

During law school, Amalia gained extensive hands on experience as a clinical student in the International Human Rights Clinic as a clinical student. As a clinical student, Amalia wrote portions of an amicus curiae brief on a pending First Amendment case where an immigrant rights activist was targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for his political speech.

Amalia was a member of the Rutgers Moot Court Board National Mock Trial Team, where she worked with classmates to create legal, factual, and thematical theories for two full mock trials. Amalia conducted openings, direct examinations, and cross examinations. Amalia and her team competed in the Texas Young Lawyer Association National Trial Competition and the American Bar Association’s National Trial Competition New York Regional. Her team was selected as semifinalists in for their region at the ABA National Trial Competition for their performance conducting a trial for a whistleblower claim under Federal law.

At Rutgers, Amalia was also a staff editor for the Rutgers Journal of Law & Public Policy.

Amalia was a law clerk for Outten & Golden LLP in New York, where she researched complex issues relating to federal court litigation and certification under the Fair Labor Standards Act in the Second and Third Circuit.

Amalia began her legal journey as an advocate protecting consumers in various internships with the Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey and the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Additionally, she interned for the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor where she gained experience conducting client interviews and depositions.

Prior to law school, Amalia was a Legislative Aide for Senator Arthenia Joyner in the Florida Senate before moving to New Jersey for law school.

Amalia was born in Cuenca, Ecuador and speaks Spanish fluently.