Mikael Rojas

Senior Counsel to Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice

Mikael Rojas is the Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. His career is dedicated to addressing issues of anti-discrimination and economic justice, focusing on challenges related to race, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, gender, pregnancy status, and sexual harassment and assault. His work demonstrates the profound impact that legal expertise can have in advancing civil rights and justice.

Before his current role, Mikael was an associate at Outten & Golden LLP, one of the nation’s leading civil and workers’ rights firms, where he represented individuals and class action cases. His unwavering focus on anti-discrimination and economic justice helped clients bring forth claims on a variety of crucial issues. Notably, he has advocated for DACA recipients denied equal student lending opportunities due to their immigration status and supported D.C.-area rideshare drivers seeking paid sick leave benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mikael's journey also includes serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Fernando M. Olguin, U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. Additionally, he co-chairs the Public Service Committee for the Hispanic Bar Association of D.C. (HBA-DC), encouraging members to engage in vital public service opportunities during these important times for our community and nation.

Originally from Yakima, Washington, Mikael graduated summa cum laude from Washington State University with a B.A. in English and Political Science. He earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he co-chaired the Stanford Latino Law Students Association and received the Judge Thelton E. Henderson Prize for outstanding performance in the law school’s legal clinic.