Rachael E. Kohl

Rachael E. Kohl is an Assistant Professor of Law (Teaching) and Faculty Director of the Master of Studies in Law Program at Wayne State University Law School. She teaches across multiple programs, including the J.D., Master of Studies in Law, and undergraduate minor in law. Her expertise lies in civil rights, labor, and employment law, with a focus on unemployment insurance equity and systemic discrimination issues.

Previously, Kohl directed the Workers’ Rights Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, aiding workers in unemployment insurance disputes. She collaborated with the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance equity in unemployment programs. Before academia, she ran a general law practice, partnered with the Sugar Law Center, and worked at Pitt McGehee Palmer and Rivers, PC, handling employment discrimination cases and class-action lawsuits against Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Her research addresses intersections of disability law, unemployment policies, and systemic inequities. Key publications include critiques of outdated unemployment laws and pandemic-era policy reforms. She co-authored Michigan’s Unemployment Benefits Law, a leading practice guide, and contributed to journals like the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy.

Kohl holds a J.D. from Wayne State University and a B.A. (cum laude) from the University of Michigan. Her teaching spans Employment Law for Human Resources, Law and Harm, and Employment Discrimination courses, reflecting her commitment to bridging legal theory and practical advocacy.