Deborah S. Gordon

Deborah S. Gordon is a Professor of Law at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law, Drexel University, where she explores the intersection of language, emotion, and gender in inheritance law. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates narrative theory, rhetorical theory, and literature to analyze intergenerational donative transfers and fiduciary responsibilities.

• Education:
  • Juris Doctor (JD), Magna Cum Laude, New York University School of Law
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA), Magna Cum Laude, Williams College
• Research Focus:
  • Gender and language in inheritance law
  • Fiduciary duties and emotional dimensions of estate planning
  • Application of narrative and rhetorical theory to trusts and estates
• Professional Contributions:
  • Co-author, Experiencing Trusts & Estates (West Academic, 2017)
  • Contributor, U.S. Feminist Judgments Project (Cambridge University Press, 2016)
• Leadership Roles:
  • Member, Governing Board of the Legal Writing Institute’s Writer’s Workshop
  • Member, Executive Board of the American Association of Law Schools’ Trusts & Estates section
  • Member, Scholarship Development Committee of the Legal Writing Institute
• Career Highlights:
  • Practiced estate planning and fiduciary litigation at Day Berry & Howard (now Day, Pitney) in Stamford, Connecticut
  • Clerked for Judge I. Leo Glasser, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • Served as Sullivan & Cromwell’s pro bono fellow
  • Chosen by graduating students for the Dean Jennifer L. Rosato Excellence in the Classroom Award (2017)
• Contact:
  • Office: School of Law, Room 261
  • Email: deborah.s.gordon@drexel.edu
  • Phone: 215.571.4811