معرفی
Catherine F. Klein is a Professor of Law and Director of Columbus Community Legal Services at The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. She co-directs the Families and the Law Clinic, a pioneering program addressing domestic violence through representation, outreach, and advocacy. Her expertise spans domestic violence, family law, clinical legal education, and international legal reform, with significant impact on legal services for vulnerable populations in Washington, DC and globally.
Education:
- J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law (Order of the Coif)
- B.A. in Philosophy, Northwestern University (Phi Beta Kappa)
Professor Klein's research centers on domestic violence and clinical legal education, exploring trauma-informed lawyering, emotional intelligence in legal practice, and global justice education. Her work integrates professional ethics with social justice advocacy, emphasizing systemic change through community engagement and international collaboration to enhance access to justice.
Her publications reveal a consistent focus on domestic violence intervention and clinical pedagogy, evolving toward global perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches. Recent works emphasize emotional dimensions of legal training and innovative methodologies for social justice lawyering, reflecting her leadership in transforming clinical education worldwide.
Awards:
- Watts Empowerment Award from WEAVE (2008)
- D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence Public Service Award (1989, 1994)
- Jagiellonian University Merentibus Medal to CUA (2008)
As Director of Columbus Community Legal Services, Professor Klein supervises student attorneys in family law and immigration cases involving domestic violence. She has secured Ford Foundation support for international legal education projects, including establishing Poland's first legal clinics. Her leadership in the Global Alliance for Justice Education involves designing worldwide conferences and Training of Trainers programs reaching 200+ professors from 50+ countries.
She leads the Families and the Law Clinic and collaborates with networks like the European Network of Clinical Legal Education to advance global clinical programs. Her work with Jagiellonian University created model clinics for Central/Eastern Europe, while ongoing projects with institutions in Jordan, India, and Nigeria expand access to justice through innovative clinical partnerships.
