Focused, Client-Centered Advocacy
Ashley Ann Garland represents individuals in criminal matters and brings a unique blend of courtroom skill and behavioral-health leadership to every case. Her practice spans preliminary hearings, summary trials, arraignments, motion practice, and day-to-day case strategy. She draws on prior experience in civil litigation to manage complex discovery, briefing, and negotiations with care and precision.
Criminal Defense Experience
As an Assistant Public Defender with the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office in Norristown (January 2025–Present), Ashley represents individuals at every early stage of the criminal process, including preliminary hearings, summary trials, arraignments, and miscellaneous court appearances. She conducts targeted legal research to inform defense strategy and drafts, files, and argues motions designed to protect her clients’ rights and position their cases for the best possible outcomes.
Before public defense, Ashley served as a Civil Litigation Associate at Mitts Law, LLC in Philadelphia (August 2022–January 2025). There, she handled research and writing for pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, and appellate-style briefing. She prepared for and participated in settlement conferences, oral argument, depositions, client meetings, court hearings, strategy sessions, and trials—experience that sharpened her advocacy and strengthened her courtroom readiness. Ashley first joined Mitts Law as a Law Clerk (September 2021–August 2022), where she supported complex civil matters with deposition preparation, pleadings, memoranda, and trial prep.
Ashley also gained hands-on criminal defense exposure as a Law Clerk at Fairlie & Lippy, P.C. in North Wales (March 2022–June 2022). She researched and drafted memoranda for criminal cases headed to preliminary hearings, motion practice, and trial, giving her early insight into how strategic research and writing can move a case forward. Earlier, she served as an Intern with the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (May 2021–August 2021), assisting the Executive Director with organizational projects and resource development that supported defender services statewide. During law school, Ashley supported legal education as a Teaching Assistant at Temple University Beasley School of Law (June 2021–August 2021), assisting Prof. Marian Braccia in the Introduction to Trial Advocacy course for Temple’s China LL.M. program.
Behavioral Health Leadership & Operations Experience
Before practicing law, Ashley built a significant leadership career in behavioral health—experience that now informs her client-centered approach in criminal and civil matters. At Pyramid Healthcare in King of Prussia, she served as Clinical Director (September 2019–August 2022), overseeing clinical operations across fifteen physical locations and an online counseling division. She ensured licensing and accreditation compliance, designed and delivered staff training, helped launch new programs, and developed clinical and medical policies and procedures that improved patient care.
As Executive Director (February 2019–September 2019), Ashley managed multi-site teams, built and maintained annual budgets, conducted market research to guide program development, and analyzed productivity to implement performance improvements. In her earlier tenure as Regional Director of Operations / Program Coordinator (February 2017–February 2019), she directed operations across multiple locations, provided clinical supervision, managed site budgets, and developed programming to meet evolving community needs.
At Fairmount Behavioral Health Systems in Philadelphia, Ashley advanced from frontline care to unit leadership. As a Unit Supervisor (August 2016–February 2017), she led clinical operations for an adult female trauma unit and an adolescent female unit, supervised and trained staff, maintained payer and licensing compliance, assessed clinical needs, and monitored outcomes. Previously, as a Therapist (May 2011–July 2016), she facilitated group, individual, and family therapy; conducted assessments; and coordinated with community partners to ensure continuity of care. This deep clinical background equips Ashley with an uncommon understanding of mental health issues that often intersect with the justice system.
Pro Bono Legal Services & Community Involvement
Committed to serving vulnerable populations, Ashley volunteers her time to pro bono matters in the region. With the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project in Norristown (March 2024–January 2025), she represented minors in Protection From Abuse (PFA) hearings and criminal cases. Her work regularly involved coordination with families, opposing counsel, child protective services, law enforcement, and prosecutors—ensuring that each child’s voice was heard and their rights protected.
In Philadelphia, Ashley partnered with Philadelphia VIP (March 2024–January 2025) to represent low-income clients in divorce matters, estate planning, and arbitration. Through these matters, she provided accessible, practical guidance and advocacy, helping clients navigate complex life events and legal processes they might otherwise face alone.
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania (Attorney ID 331767)
- New Jersey (Attorney ID 423002023)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Honors & Awards
- Barrister’s Award, Trial Advocacy (Temple Law)
- Victor A. Jaczun Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy (Temple Law)
- Outstanding Oral Advocacy, Legal Research & Writing (Temple Law)
- Multiple Distinguished Class Performance Awards (Temple Law)
Education
Temple University Beasley School of Law — Philadelphia, PA
- Juris Doctor, Certificate in Trial Advocacy & Litigation (May 2022)
- Trial Team: August 2020–April 2022
- Honors: Distinguished Class Performance (Legal Research & Writing; Civil Procedure; Criminal Procedure; Evidence) • Outstanding Oral Advocacy (Legal Research & Writing) • Barrister’s Award (Trial Advocacy) • Victor A. Jaczun Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy
- Guided Research:
- With Prof. Jules Epstein — Race, Eyewitness Testimony, and Wrongful Conviction
- With Prof. Lauren Ouziel — The Criminal Justice Disparity: How the Department of Justice and African American Communities Contribute to the Disparity Between Racial Groups in the Criminal Justice System
University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, PA
- M.Phil.Ed., Professional Counseling (May 2011)
- M.S.Ed., Counseling & Psychological Services (August 2010)
Yale University — New Haven, CT
- B.A., Psychology (May 2009)
Professional Memberships & Leadership
- Montgomery Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Section Treasurer (2024)
- Young Lawyers Section Vice-Chair (2025)
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Co-Chair (2024–Present)
- 2024 Leadership Academy Participant
Licenses
- Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (since 2013), License No. PC007120