Nicole J. Salonek Schladt 18L

General Counsel, Minnesota Department of Human Rights | Chair, Amplify Committee

Nicole J. Salonek Schladt (she/her) serves as General Counsel for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). MDHR protects the civil rights of Minnesotans through the Minnesota Human Rights Act, one of the strongest civil rights laws in the country. In her role as General Counsel, Nicole joins MDHR in envisioning a world where everyone can lead lives full of dignity and joy, free from discrimination.Prior to her role at MDHR, Nicole was an Associate Attorney in Nichols Kaster’s Civil Rights and Impact Litigation practice group. At Nichols Kaster, Nicole tackled social injustices and advocated for employees, students, prisoners, and other marginalized individuals in complex class and collective action lawsuits. She assisted clients with claims of discrimination, sex harassment, labor trafficking, denial of benefits, and other civil rights violations.Before joining Nichols Kaster, Nicole served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Susan M. Robiner in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District. Nicole received her J.D. from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time in law school, Nicole co-founded Emory LGBTQ Legal Services (ELLS), an organization created to provide pro bono legal assistance to members of Atlanta’s queer community. Her work with ELLS led to her receiving the 2018 Marion Luther Brittain Award, Emory University’s highest student honor, as well as the 2018 National LGBT Bar Association Student Leadership Award.Nicole has also earned degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Kentucky.