Zahra Buck is an associate with Capitol Counsel LLC. She provides strategic advice and advocacy on a range of federal policy issues and initiatives before the House Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security. Ms. Buck served as a member of the professional staff of the House Homeland Security Committee during 2006. From 2004-2005 she served as a legislative assistant to Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), where she handled matters relating to energy policy, homeland security, the judiciary, and other subjects. Before moving to Washington, Ms. Buck served on the election campaigns of Democratic candidates in Congressional and state elections in Mississippi and Tennessee. Additionally, from 2001-2002 she served as a law clerk to presiding Justice Fred L. Banks, Jr. and Associate Justice James E. Graves on the Mississippi Supreme Court. As a law clerk, she reviewed and advised the justices on a variety of matters, including civil and criminal case law decisions. While in law school, Ms. Buck clerked for the Equal Opportunity Commission in Houston, Texas, where she reviewed labor and employment complaints and advised Administrative Law Judge Tony Guillory on his decisions. She also clerked in the litigation sections of the Dallas, Texas, law firms Jackson Walker and Gardere and Wynne. Additionally, she worked as a summer associate for Exxon in Houston, Texas in its litigation division. Ms. Buck earned her B.S. degree in Psychology cum laude from Jackson State University and graduated cum laude from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law.She is licensed to practice law in Mississippi.