Elliot Certain is a Counsel Unbound Policy Coordinator at the Institute for Justice, where he works to reform Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) statutes alongside community members, professionals, and innovators without law degrees to provide basic legal advice to those in need.
Prior to joining IJ, Elliot worked at the local, state, and federal levels of government, including in his home state of Tennessee. He has also worked through internships with the ACLU and FIRE, where he focused on activism campaign & event logistics and free speech research. Elliot graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Social Work and earned his Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
Originally from Tennessee, Elliot’s interest in law, policy, and advocacy stems from his experiences as a transgender man. This lived experience sparked a drive to ensure that everyone, regardless of who they are, receive the same rights and protections no matter where they live. In Elliot’s free time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, and reading.