Jeffrey M. Cohen

Jeffrey M. Cohen is an Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston College Law School. He specializes in criminal law and procedure, with a focus on corporate sentencing and government fraud. Previously, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Massachusetts, prosecuting high-profile public corruption and fraud cases, and worked at the U.S. Department of Justice as an Honors Program Trial Attorney. He clerked for federal and state judges in Massachusetts and taught at NYU and Boston University Law Schools before joining BC Law.

Education:

• B.A., University of Pennsylvania
• M.St., Social Anthropology, University of Oxford
• J.D., Stanford Law School

Research Interests: Professor Cohen’s work examines intersections of criminal law enforcement and corporate accountability, particularly in white-collar crime and regulatory compliance. His scholarship addresses audit practices, corporate governance, and ethical dilemmas in legal and accounting professions. He has published extensively on topics like PCAOB inspections, auditor independence, and fraud detection mechanisms.

Media Engagements: Cohen frequently advises on legal issues in high-profile cases, including ICE arrest controversies, presidential pardons, and corporate sentencing policies. Recent media features include analyses in The Boston Globe, New York Times, and Law360.

Teaching & Clinics: Teaches Law Practice, Evidence, and Criminal Trial courses. Leads a new clinic assisting pro se litigants, building on his prosecution and defense experience.

Professional Background: Combines academia with 15+ years of legal practice, including federal prosecutions, DOJ litigation, and judicial clerkships. His career bridges theoretical legal scholarship with real-world regulatory challenges in corporate and criminal law domains.