Vivianne Guevara is the Social Work Program Coordinator of the Mills Legal Clinic at Stanford Law School.

She has been a social worker in public defense for over 18 years and a restorative justice practitioner and facilitator for 12 years. She has provided mitigation in state and federal criminal cases nationwide, as well as restorative justice training and facilitation globally.

Prior to joining the Mills Legal Clinic, Vivianne worked in private practice and was the founding Director of Social Work and Mitigation at the Federal Defenders of New York in the Eastern District, where she developed one of the first Federal Defender social work practices in the nation. Vivianne was previously an Investigator and Social Worker at the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, and began her work in public defense as a social worker at the Bronx Defenders in 2007. Vivianne has planned and provided training in defense social work practice and mitigation since 2011 – at national Federal Defender workshops and conferences, law schools, and federal & state public defender offices/districts nationwide.

Vivianne began facilitating restorative circles in 2014 through her work in Federal public defense. Since then, Vivianne planned and facilitated hundreds of circles within/for the criminal legal system, schools, universities, coalitions, community members, and private and non-profit organizations.

Vivianne comes from a family of farmworkers, faith workers, and social justice workers. She strives to honor their legacy and that of her ancestors through a life of service. Vivianne continues to learn through teaching others and by providing opportunities that promote community and healing.