Legal Studies Events
Upcoming Events
April 24, 2025
6:00- 8:00 pm - Zinner Forum, Heller Schneider Building
Our democracy stands at a critical juncture, and each day brings increasing challenges. With each new round of executive actions, the norms and principles of democracy as we know it are further eroded. Threats to the legal profession and the court system impact the entire justice system and affect all people in this country. What do we all need to know to respond to the Rule of Law in crisis?
Join The Legal Studies Program and the Heller School for Social Policy for the 2025 Guberman Lecture, provided by Lauren Stiller Rikleen, Esq. Executive Director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy
The Guberman Lecture in law and social policy was established by his family to honor the noted Boston attorney and social justice advocate. The lecture is coordinated by the Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the Legal Studies Program.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Legal Studies Program! Please consider a gift to the Legal Studies Program or the Heller School, #Hellerat65. Both of these will benefit future students at Brandeis University!
Speaker: Lauren Stiller Rikleen '75, Esq. Executive Director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy
Lauren Stiller Rikleen is the Executive Director of Lawyers Defending American Democracy (LDAD). A former law firm partner and leader in professional and community organizations, Lauren is the author of 4 books and the editor of Her Honor –Stories of Challenge and Triumph from Women Judges.
Past Events
February 13, 2025
5:30 - 7:00PM | Schneider Bldg., Zinner Forum
Join us for a moderated discussion with Jean Trounstine, author of the book Motherlove - stories about mothers of children who committed murder. She will be joined by two others who have been impacted by crime: the mother of a teen who committed murder and a young man who served time in prison.
A reception with light fare and a book signing will follow the discussion.
About the Speakers:
Jean Troustine is the author of Motherlove and 6 other books. Jean is a professor, prison activist, and co-founder of the women's branch of Changing Lives Through Literature.
Donna Bright, Ph.d. is the Executive Director of Center for Community Health Education Research and Service Inc. Mother of Ahmad Bright, Emerson Prison Initiative graduate.
Karter Reed is a husband, father, son, who served more than 20 years behind bars. Karter is the subject of Boy With a Knife: A Story of Murder, Remorse, and a Prisoner's Fight for Justice.
This event is cosponsored by BEJI, Legal Studies, the English Department, and the Mandel Center For the Humanities.
November 17, 2022
Professor Rosalind Kabrhel, accompanied by a group of Legal Studies and Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative students and facilitators attended The Larger Conversation: Mass Incarceration, Creativity, and Healing on Nov. 17 at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Calderwood Hall The group heard award-winning poet, lawyer, and author Reginald Dwayne Betts, Stacey Borden of New Beginnings Reentry Services, Erika Rumbley of the New Garden Society, and André de Quadros of the Prison Arts Project at Boston University, as they discussed their work at the intersection of the arts and social justice in Boston and beyond. The presentation examined the effects of mass incarceration on individuals and communities, and discussed how the arts can support our imagining of more just futures and seed change on both personal and systemic levels.
As part of this program, the Museum hosted a book drive in partnership with the Prison Book Program, a local non-profit supporting the growth and development of people in prisons and jails.
March 9, 2022
Michael Horowitz '84 — recent recipient of the 2022 Alumni Achievement Award, who is the Inspector General of the Department of Justice. Attorney Horowitz came to speak to LGLS 118 and LGLS 89A on March 9 on the topic of law school, the Inspector General statute, and the way it structures Horowitz's role as IG of the Justice Department. He went on to speak about the importance of the Rule of Law and the need to make sure powerful agencies like the FBI stay within the rules." Several of the students from Dan’s class joined him for an informal dinner later in the afternoon.
Since 2012, Attorney Horowitz has overseen high-profile investigations such as the query into allegations of wrongdoing by FBI Director James Comey. Attorney Horowitz is acting chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
October 25, 2021
Alumnus Michael Bien ’77 joined students in the Legal Studies Practicum, Experiences with Justice, and students working with the Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative (BEJI) on Oct. 25 for an interesting discussion about his advocacy, the needs of incarcerated individuals suffering from disabilities, and his views on criminal justice reform.
Attorney Bien has devoted his career to protecting the civil rights of incarcerated individuals, particularly those with mental illness and other disabilities. This includes his successful advocacy (with his wife, Jane Kahn ’77) on behalf of a class of incarcerated individuals in California prisons. That case resulted in the Supreme Court ordering a reduction of the California prison system which it found to be violating inmate’s constitutional rights.