Sofia Yakren

Sofia Yakren is a Professor of Law at The City University of New York School of Law. She specializes in teaching Lawyering, Torts, and Disability Law. Previously, she taught at American University Washington College of Law, focusing on Disability Law and clinical legal education. Her academic career is complemented by extensive experience as a civil rights litigator, including work at Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP and as an Arthur Liman Fellow challenging welfare system discrimination. She holds a B.A. from Yale College and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Professor Yakren’s research emphasizes disability rights, legal education, and the intersection of law and emotion. Notable work includes analyses of wrongful birth litigation, cognitive science’s impact on legal reform, and the emotional dimensions of legal practice. Her teaching philosophy prioritizes client-centeredness, ethical reflection, and self-awareness in lawyering.

Prior roles include a law clerkship with Judge Nancy Gertner of the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts. She has no listed scientific awards but has contributed significantly to clinical legal education and civil rights advocacy. Her professional activities include directing law clinics and publishing in top journals such as the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and Fordham Law Review.