Sophia Z. Lee

Sophia Z. Lee is Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law at Penn Carey Law, with a secondary appointment in the Department of History at the University of Pennsylvania. A leading legal historian, she is renowned for her pioneering work in administrative constitutionalism and the intersection of civil rights, labor law, and constitutional development.

Her research explores how administrative agencies shape constitutional meaning, particularly in areas of racial justice, employment rights, and privacy. She is the author of the influential book The Workplace Constitution from the New Deal to the New Right (2014), which traces the evolution of conservative legal thought and its impact on workplace rights. Her forthcoming work investigates the historical origins of privacy under the Fourth Amendment.

The recent articles of Dean Lee reflect a sustained engagement with administrative law, civil rights, and constitutional history. Her scholarship consistently highlights how non-judicial actors—especially federal agencies—have played a crucial role in shaping constitutional norms, particularly in the realms of racial and labor justice. Themes of historical continuity, institutional power, and the dynamic interpretation of rights recur across her publications.

She has been honored with Penn Carey Law’s top teaching awards, including the Harvey Levin, A. Leo Levin, and Robert A. Gorman awards for excellence in teaching. Her courses include Administrative Law, Employment Law, and seminars on racial justice and constitutional theory.

• Harvey Levin Award for Excellence in Teaching
• A. Leo Levin Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Robert A. Gorman Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dean Lee advises no formal students listed in public materials but has significantly influenced legal scholarship through mentorship and leadership. She served as Deputy Dean from 2015 to 2017 and has held leadership roles in the American Society for Legal History and the Labor and Working Class History Association. Her research has been supported by fellowships including the Samuel I. Golieb Fellowship at NYU School of Law.

She is actively involved in interdisciplinary legal scholarship and public engagement, contributing to platforms like The Regulatory Review and participating in national conversations on legal education and constitutional development.