Becki T. Kondkar

Becki T. Kondkar is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic at Tulane Law School. She co-founded the Women’s Prison Project, which collaborates with the Criminal Justice Clinic to advocate for women incarcerated due to abusive partners. Her expertise spans gender-based violence litigation, intersections of intimate partner violence with civil and criminal systems, trauma-informed legal practices, and systemic reform for survivor justice.

Education:

• BA, magna cum laude, 1996, North Carolina State University
• JD, 1999, University of North Carolina

Research and Advocacy Focus: Kondkar’s work examines law enforcement responses to intimate partner violence, family law applications in survivor advocacy, and institutional barriers to justice. She integrates trauma-informed approaches into legal education and practice, emphasizing holistic advocacy across civil and criminal forums. Her Women’s Prison Project highlights systemic failures in addressing abuse histories during criminal sentencing and post-conviction proceedings.

Scientific and Professional Recognition:

• Emil Gumpert Award (2020) from the American College of Trial Lawyers
• Excellence in a Public Interest Project (2019) from the Clinical Legal Education Association
• Esprit de Femme Award (2012) from LSU
• Wynne Professionalism Award (2015) from the New Orleans Association for Women Attorneys

Mentorship and Systemic Reform: As Clinic Director, Kondkar trains law students in trauma-informed lawyering and direct representation of survivors in protective orders, custody disputes, and criminal post-conviction cases. Nationally, she has educated attorneys, judges, and advocates on psychological science in legal cases and authored key practice manuals. She serves on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Louisiana’s Domestic Violence Prevention Commission, driving systemic improvements for abuse survivors.