Rais Akbar

Rais Akbar is a Senior Staff Attorney in the Housing Law Unit. He represents low-income tenants in eviction and housing conditions cases before the D.C. Superior Court. He also litigates housing law claims before administrative bodies, such as the D.C. Housing Authority and the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Prior to joining Legal Aid DC in November 2020, Rais was an Assistant Public Defender in Maryland. First, as a district court criminal defense attorney in St. Mary’s County, where he represented indigent clients charged with criminal offenses in hearings regarding bail review and alleged violations of probation, and at trial. After two years as a criminal defense attorney, Rais began representing parents facing short- or long-term family separation because of alleged abuse or neglect of their children.

Prior to becoming a public defender, Rais was the Juvenile Justice Policy Director for Advocates for Children and Youth, in Baltimore City, Maryland.

Rais earned a JD from Howard University School of Law, and an LL.M. in Law and Government from American University Washington College of Law.