Penn Law professor Alan Lerner died Thursday after a battle with lymphoma. He was 68.
The 1965 Penn Law graduate joined his alma mater’s faculty in 1993 after 25 years at Cohen, Shapiro, Polisher, Shiekman and Cohen, a Philadelphia based firm where he took cases focusing on discrimination.
After returning to Penn, Lerner brought his passions for civil rights and child advocacy to the classroom, founding and teaching the “Interdisciplinary Child Advocacy Clinic” as well as a “Civil Practice Clinic.” He was also a co-director of the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research. Through the Field Center and his courses, Lerner brought together specialists and students of law, medical and social work to delve into problems within the child welfare system and other issues facing children.
In a Penn Law press release, Penn Law Dean Michael Fitts said, “Alan was an exceptional lawyer, an inspiring teacher, and a devoted member of the Law School community.”
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