Margaret E. Johnson

Margaret E. Johnson serves as Professor of Law, Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development, Director of the Bronfein Family Law Clinic, and Co-Director of the Center on Applied Feminism at the University of Baltimore School of Law. With over 18 years on faculty since 2006, she bridges legal scholarship with clinical practice through leadership roles in national organizations including the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) where she served as Co-President.

Her educational foundation includes a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin (cum laude, Order of the Coif) and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. Prior to academia, she gained practical experience as an employment discrimination litigator focusing on sexual harassment, clerked for federal Judge Hector M. Laffitte, and directed the Domestic Violence Clinic at American University.

Johnson's research pioneers menstrual justice as a legal framework, examining how structural oppression impacts pregnancy-capable individuals through reproductive freedom litigation, criminalization of pregnancy, and state constitutional challenges. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates narrative theory and critical reflection into legal practice, as demonstrated in her co-authored book Lawyers, Clients & Narrative (2nd ed. 2023). Current scholarship analyzes comparative menstruation law through her 2023 Fulbright Scholarship in Australia.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) Constitutional challenges to reproductive restrictions post-Dobbs, (2) Systemic advocacy for menstrual equity in education and professional licensing, and (3) Interdisciplinary collaborations bridging legal theory with medical research on reproductive health. Her work consistently applies feminist legal theory to real-world policy gaps.

Johnson's scientific recognition includes:

• 2024 Women’s Law Center of Maryland’s Rosalyn B. Bell Award
• 2020 UBalt Law Outstanding Scholarship award
• 2019 UBalt Law Outstanding Service award
• 2017 UBalt Law Outstanding Teaching award
• Top 25 Women Professors in Maryland (2013)
• 2012 USM Board of Regents' Faculty Award for Public Service
• UBalt Women's Bar Association Professor of the Year (2008, 2011)

As Director of the Bronfein Family Law Clinic, Johnson supervises students representing clients in reproductive rights litigation while co-leading the Center on Applied Feminism to translate theory into policy action. Her national influence spans editorial roles at the Clinical Law Review, leadership in AALS conferences, and expert advisory positions for organizations including Our Bodies Ourselves Today and the Global Menstrual Justice Report. Significant grant activity includes her 2023 Fulbright Scholarship examining Australian menstruation policy.

Johnson's institutional impact centers on the Bronfein Family Law Clinic providing direct legal services in family law and reproductive justice cases, and the Center on Applied Feminism which develops policy interventions through collaborations with feminist organizations nationwide. Her leadership extends to strategic partnerships with the Women’s Law Center of Maryland and participation in the Feminist Judgments book series.