Shefali Milczarek-Desai

Shefali Milczarek-Desai is an Associate Professor of Law and Co-Chair of the Bacon Immigration Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. She holds the Distinguished Public Service Scholar Award and is a Sustainable Economies Law Center Fellow. Her work bridges legal scholarship, clinical education, and advocacy for im/migrant workers’ rights, focusing on labor law, tort claims, and healthcare industry reforms.

Educations:

• J.D., cum laude, James E. Rogers College of Law (2001)
• M.A., Women’s Studies, University of Arizona (2001)
• B.A., summa cum laude, Whittier College (1997)

Her research investigates migrant child labor, paid sick leave access for undocumented workers, and the intersection of immigration status in tort law. Collaborations include Harvard Law School’s Labor and WorkLife Program and the Tucson Immigrant Workers’ Cooperative Network. She has produced influential documentaries like Soledad, based on asylum seeker advocacy, and co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles.

Key Awards:

• Distinguished Public Service Scholar Award
• Alternate Fulbright Award Winner
• Rhodes Scholarship Finalist
• Notre Dame Feminist Jurisprudence Award

Her clinical work has led to landmark rulings in the Ninth Circuit and Arizona District Court, defending asylum seekers and im/migrant workers. She teaches courses on labor law, torts, and immigration policy, while mentoring students in cross-cultural lawyering. Current initiatives include reimagining paid sick leave frameworks and advancing health equity in long-term care industries.