Guest Michael Kippins is a Boston-based civil rights attorney with Lawyers For Civil Rights. Driven by a desire to advocate for those too often left without robust representation, Kippins made the courageous jump from a big law setting to his civil rights practice and hasn’t looked back.

In one of his high-profile cases, Kippins is challenging what the suit describes as Harvard University’s system of admission bias toward “legacy” students and the harm that practice poses to communities, including first-generation students and students of color. 

During the episode, Kippins discusses the differences between civil rights law and his previous role in big law. From working with community groups to prioritizing public awareness of his cases, the range of skills required as a civil rights attorney is diverse and unique to the practice.

A career in civil rights litigation can be a labor of love and fulfill a passion. Hear how the work civil rights attorneys does make a difference in people’s lives. If you’ve been interested in pro bono work, if you’ve found something missing in another area of law, or if you’re simply curious about civil rights law, this is an episode you can’t miss.

Christina Gregg served as the associate producer on this episode of Young Lawyer Rising.

Resources:

Why I Became a Civil Rights Attorney 

ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section

Lawyers For Civil Rights

Lawyers For Civil Rights, Facebook  

Lawyers For Civil Rights, Email: [email protected]

Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association

Boys & Girls Club of Boston

Newsweek, “Harvard Faces Another Legal Fight Over Its Admissions”

Reuters, “Harvard 'Legacy' Policy Challenged On Heels Of Affirmative Action Ruling”

SXSW Educational Seminar Week

American Bar Association

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division