Staff and Board

Sarah joined SALSA, then CJP, in 2017 as its first Managing Attorney before she was selected to serve as SALSA’s first CEO/Executive Director in December 2019.

Although she and her family now call San Antonio home, Sarah is originally from Mobile, Alabama. Sarah attended college and law school at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she developed her desire to pursue public interest legal work. Sarah began her legal career on active duty with the United States Air Force as a member of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, where she represented the Air Force, active duty service members, and retirees on topics ranging from civil legal assistance to criminal law.

Sarah is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a recipient of the Emory University 40 under 40 Award, San Antonio Business Journal 40 under 40 Award, the San Antonio Bar Association’s President’s Award, and the Association of Corporate Counsel San Antonio Chapter’s Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life & Leadership Award.

Bob joined SALSA as a staff attorney and legal fellow with SALSA’s Housing and Homelessness Program and has since progressed to the role of Managing Attorney. Bob began in the legal profession as a solo practitioner in elder law, specializing in special needs planning.  As a law student, he participated broadly in indigent legal work, representing clients in eviction cases at St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social Justice and interning with both the Public Defender Service for D.C. and the Federal Public Defender office in San Antonio.

Before entering the legal profession, Bob served in the US Army for twenty years, before retiring in 2019 as a lieutenant colonel. He is a graduate of West Point, Texas A&M University, and St. Mary’s University School of Law. In 2020, he was selected as Tillman Scholar by the Pat Tillman Foundation for his commitment to giving a voice to the disenfranchised as well as his record of accomplishment. He is a member of the National Low Income Housing Coalition and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Miranda McCardle is SALSA’s Communications & Outreach Manager. She earned her BA in Marketing at University of the Incarnate Word. Her upbringing in San Antonio impassioned her to give back to her community by empowering artists, small businesses, and non-profits through her marketing and digital design capability.

She has over seven years of legal experience from working as a legal assistant and business manager in a small law firm. Miranda aims to use her multifaceted skill set to help facilitate SALSA’s rapid growth and commitment to closing the justice gap though creating connections to vital legal resources for those in need.

Joe Pina is a Staff Attorney with SALSA’s Veterans Legal Services Program. Joe has more than 34 years of legal experience. His areas of practice range from Family, Civil and Criminal, to Military and Real Estate Law.

As a retired Army Major with experience in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as an active participant in the Veteran’s Treatment Court (VTC) of Bexar County, Joe has the insight and understanding necessary, to assists our Nation’s veterans in the legal affairs of civilian life.

A proud local boy, Joe attended Harlandale High School and St. Mary’s University, before receiving his law degree from University of Texas in 1985.

Tashawna Taylor-Hall is a pro bono coordinator with SALSA’s Veterans Legal Services program. Tashawna joined our team in 2018 and has been the backbone of the program during our transition to a full-service pro bono organization. Tashawna has over five years experience exclusively working with underserved residents in Texas, beginning her pro bono services career with Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

Tashawna takes pride in helping veterans, as she comes from a military family. She completed the University of the Incarnate Word Paralegal Certificate Course in 2020.

Mónica Palma, SALSA’s first Equal Justice Works Fellow, leads the legal home at the Multi-Assistance Center (MAC) at Morgan’s Wonderland. Mónica is a proud Colombian-American and grew up in Connecticut. Mónica attended the University of Hartford for undergrad majoring in special education, prior to teaching in public, private, and charter schools. Mónica later earned her Master of Education at Texas State University where she graduated with a concentration in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Mónica obtained her board certification in behavior analysis and as a BCBA served as the director of clinical operations for an ABA clinic in San Antonio, TX. Mónica then decided to pursue a law degree so that she could better serve the special needs community she loves. Mónica graduated in May of 2023 from St. Mary’s University School of Law earning the Dean’s Award, Adele Advocate for the Poor Award, and the Catherine Stone Rock of Justice Award. Mónica is on the Board of Directors of Mission Alpha Advocacy (MAA), a non-profit advocating for world class healthcare for military families.  

Alison is a pro bono coordinator with SALSA’s Estates & Disabilities program. Alison graduated from Texas A&M University – College Station in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Like many who call Military City home, her family history was shaped by the diversity and experience of growing up as a child of the military. She has 9 years of experience working with legal practices & non-profits in San Antonio; including over 2 years as a Pro Bono Coordinator for SALSA.

Alison is passionate about giving back to the community through her work with estate planning & disability assistance services. She looks forward to the services that SALSA is able to provide to people receiving assistance from The Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland.

Clare serves as Staff Attorney for the Don’t Bully Me (DBM) Project, in collaboration with David’s Legacy Foundation, assisting Texas families in crisis and advocating for the legal rights of minors experiencing cyberbullying. Before joining the SALSA team, Clare was a civil litigator for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, primarily practicing consumer protection law.

Prior to her entry into the legal field, Clare worked in non-profit/volunteer management and higher education. She served as the inaugural Director of Community Engagement and adjunct faculty at St. Mary’s University. Clare pursued her dual degree (J.D./Master of Arts, International Relations) in the evening program at St. Mary’s, while working full time. She graduated cum laude, earning the Dean’s Award (2018) and Pro Bono and Public Service Certificate (2022), and as a member of the Phi Delta Phi International Honor Society. Clare is a certified mediator and is fluent in Spanish. Originally from New York, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton, double majoring in Communication and Spanish. Clare also holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Dayton in Pastoral Ministry.In her free time, Clare enjoys traveling, walks and cuddles with her rescue pup, Chulo, and volunteering with Girls on the Run of Bexar County.

Michael A. Argenal is a dedicated advocate for veterans’ rights, focusing on family law issues unique to veterans and their families. At 21, Michael received his undergraduate degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin. By 24, he had earned his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he honed his legal skills and deepened his passion for public service. In addition to his legal education, Michael also obtained a Master’s in Public Administration, equipping him with a comprehensive understanding of policy and administrative processes critical to serving the needs of the military community.

Hosted by the San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA) and sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Michael works to provide accessible legal services to San Antonio’s large veteran population. His commitment to this cause is deeply personal; as the son of a 100% disabled veteran, he witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by military families. Through his fellowship, Michael offers advocacy, mediation, and legal representation, while also training other lawyers in military family law to ensure a lasting impact on the community.