Rachel T. Goldberg

Rachel T. Goldberg is a Clinical Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, Cornell University, where she founded and directs the Appellate Criminal Defense Clinic and teaches Lawyering. Based at 240 Hughes Hall, Ithaca, NY, her contact details include email rtg67@cornell.edu and phone (607) 255-0183.

Education:

• J.D. from New York University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the N.Y.U. Review of Law and Social Change.
• Ph.D. in English Language and Rhetoric from the University of Washington, where she received numerous teaching awards and co-directed the Expository Writing Program.

Professor Goldberg specializes in appellate criminal defense for indigent clients, focusing on felony appeals and post-conviction proceedings in New York courts. Her work emphasizes constitutional rights, legal advocacy, and practical skill development through clinical education. She trains students in researching appealable issues, drafting briefs, and oral argumentation.

Awards and Honors:

• Numerous teaching awards from the University of Washington.

As director of the Appellate Criminal Defense Clinic, Professor Goldberg supervises law students handling real criminal appeals for incarcerated clients in New York City. Students manage all aspects of appellate defense, including client visits, issue selection, brief writing, and courtroom arguments. Her work bridges legal theory and practice while advancing access to justice for underserved populations.

The Appellate Criminal Defense Clinic operates as a core teaching unit within Cornell Law School, providing students with hands-on experience in criminal appellate procedure while serving indigent defendants.