Ellie Schwab

Background

At McEldrew Purtell, Ellie Schwab is an attorney on the Civil Rights Team specializing in wrongful convictions.

Ellie earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School where she focused on public interest work, particularly in areas affecting underrepresented communities. Her dedication to criminal justice reform led her to intern at several organizations, including the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, the Wrongful Conviction Unit at the Legal Aid Society, and the Capital Habeas Unit at the Federal Community Defender Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Through these experiences, Ellie gained invaluable insight into post-conviction work and the legal challenges faced by individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes.

In addition to her work in post-conviction cases, Ellie refined her trial skills at the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender and the Defender Association of Philadelphia. She also was an intern at the Federal Reentry Court, where she assisted formerly incarcerated federal prisoners with their reintegration into society, a role that deepened her commitment to criminal justice reform.

During law school, Ellie was recognized with the Exemplary Pro Bono Service Award for her commitment to public interest work. She served as a volunteer on multiple pro bono projects and, as President of the Equal Justice Foundation, raised funds to financially support public interest law students pursuing unpaid work in the public sector.

Originally from Texas, Ellie received a B.A. in Sociology with Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. In her free time, Ellie enjoys Pilates classes, spending time with friends, exploring local restaurants, and hiking.