SUMA MATHAI is a public interest attorney and educator. She received a joint Law/Master of Social Work degree at the University of Southern California (USC), and was awarded an Equal Justice Works post-graduate fellowship to provide advocacy and education for teens. As a public interest attorney, her law practice focused on advocacy for teens and immigrant survivors of domestic violence.

Prior to joining USC as Adjunct Faculty, Mathai was the Associate Director at Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ), a non-profit agency that provides free legal services to low-income families. During her tenure at LACLJ, she developed and managed new projects, including a social work case management program and a pro bono volunteer program, and programs serving self-represented litigants at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Mathai has been working with children and families for over 20 years, and continues to work with non-profit agencies to provide resources for survivors of domestic violence.