Has Brandeis Legal Studies changed your life? Would you like to help those following in your footsteps thrive? Celebrate our program's 50th anniversary with us! Consider donating, no amount is too small!

To donate online, navigate to our 50th anniversary fundraising campaign. If you would rather donate via check, please email melissamckenna@brandeis.edu!

Experience the Law

On April 28, the LGLS 89A Law & Society class presented the "Grad to Job" panel with ACLU Massachusetts. Panel attendees heard from two ACLU staff members about their experiences, both with their organization and with transitioning from education to advocacy.

Students in the IP for Innovators course wrapped up the semester with a lively mock Supreme Court debate on a timely topic: should AI-generated artwork be eligible for copyright protection? Pictured are students who deliberatied over the case of Théâtre D’opéra Spatial, a striking piece created with the AI program Midjourney. The photo below shows the artwork at the center of the discussion.

2025-2026 ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows

ENACT is thrilled to announce the second cohort of the ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows. The ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellowship affords Brandeis students the opportunity to collaborate with a group of their peers to engage in on campus research followed by an on campus change project. Together, the cohort will explore themes of access to basic needs on campus and ultimately create events and awareness raising efforts to enact data driven change. Students will learn about state level policy and ways in which they can advocate for state, local, and institutional policy change. 

The ten undergraduate Brandeis students who have been selected to serve as the second cohort of the ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows are: Alyson Chavez Valdivieso (2028), Diana Sola Chacon (2026), Gabrielle Daley (2026), Kimberly Rosas Avila (2026), Lola Hamilton (2026), Monica Claros (2026), Myah Crowell (2026), Ollie Small (2028), Sherren Jie (2026), and Zahria Questelles (2026). One Master’s in Public Policy student from The Heller School has also been selected to both participate with and serve as a peer mentor to the undergraduate Fellows! We are excited to welcome Chloe Morales!

2025 ENACT Corps

This summer, ENACT is officially launching the ENACT Corps! The ENACT Corps is a supervised summer internship opportunity for Brandeis undergraduate students that includes substantive work related to policy, government, and/or research. Students will be supervised by both the internship site supervisor as well as Assistant Director of Research at ENACT, Charlotte Powley. Placement sites include 1) the Office of Senator Barry Finegold, 2) the Office of Representative Sam Montano, 3) the Office of Representative Steven Owens, 4) the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus, 5) Our Bodies Ourselves, and 6) the Office of the State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. 

We welcome the following students as the inaugural cohort of the ENACT corps! Yasamine Brown Kocaman (2026), Wilfred Chilangwa (2027), Alyssa Golden (2026), Mariana Ortega Martinez (2027), Anh-Thu Pham (2026), and Grace Toscano (2027).

Summer Internship Course

Do you have a summer law or policy internship at home? Consider taking the summer session of LGLS 89A! This course will be synchronous but virtual, allowing for internships all over the globe. We would love to work with you as you take on the summer!

Summer Business Law

Are you looking to check off a legal studies requirement this summer? Consider taking LGLS 189A with Professor Breen!

This class will cover the most important rules and doctrines that together, make up the legal landscape of business. By the end of this class, it is hoped that students will know enough of the law to avoid needless and potential harmful mistakes in their professional careers, while at the same time knowing something of the opportunities law affords us to do business in an orderly, profitable and predictable way.

On May 1, Jane Kahn Undergraduate Research Fellowship recipient Marcy Waring '26 presented her research at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations symposium.

Marcy did a beautiful job, we are so proud of her for continuing her research based on her proposal "“Autistic individuals, policing, and sentencing: “what happened?” and what now?” Congratulations Marcy!

Noah Levy

Noah Levy is a Senior from Ocean, New Jersey. He majors in politics and minors in legal studies, economics, and business. He is interning for Congressman Steny Hoyer this summer. He previously worked for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer. On campus, he is the Editor-in-Chief of the Brandeis Law Journal, an Admissions Fellow, and president emeritus of the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee. He is a specialty coffee hobbyist, so in addition to legal studies, feel free to ask him about his dozen pour-over, espresso, immersion, and percolation coffee makers and hundreds of beans he's tried!

Jasper Kleinschuster

Jasper is a senior from Long Island, New York majoring in History and Politics and minoring in Legal Studies and Hispanic Studies. He interned at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, where he helped the immigration unit organize their advocacy agenda. This summer, he is working as a canvasser with the Fund for the Public Interest on their campaign to tighten regulations on water treatment facilities in order to prevent synthetic chemicals from contaminating our drinking water. Jasper is also an active member of Brandeis Quiz Bowl, where he is club secretary until Spring 2026. He closely follows current-events global politics, and is always looking for an excuse to ramble about upcoming elections in pretty much any country. He can't wait to help people navigate and get the most out of the Legal Studies program!

Emily Yao

Emily Yao is a rising junior from Guangzhou, China, majoring in History and Philosophy with minors in Legal Studies and Italian Studies, following a Pre-Law track. She has a passion for tracing the historical development of law and enjoys examining the legal boundaries surrounding art, antiquities, and entertainment. Drawing from her international and multilingual background, Emily is committed to promoting cross-cultural communication within the framework of legal systems. Last summer, Emily interned with the Foreign Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Government, focusing on government affairs. During her sophomore year, she also served as a Museum Education Intern at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, where she helped bring industrial history to life for visitors. In her free time, Emily enjoys photography, attending K-pop concerts, and playing video games. She also loves exploring Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End. Emily is happy to be a Legal Studies UDR and looks forward to connecting with everyone!

Niyati Patel

Niyati Patel is a senior from Willowbrook, Illinois. She is majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Legal Studies, Art History, and Classical Studies. Niyati is interested in advocacy and social justice. She has interned with Elena’s Light and volunteers to tutor high school students in Illinois. Niyati loves to visit art galleries and museums and is always up for a conversation about her experience as a Legal Studies minor, her internship experience, advocacy experiences, and any other questions about the department or opportunities. Feel free to reach out to her through email!

Program Prize/Award Winners:

Justice Louis D. Brandeis Essay Prize - Julia Fair

Justice Louis D. Brandeis Internship Research Prize - Gretchen Wang

Justice Louis D. Brandeis Internship Research Prize - Maya Kushner

Lester Martin Foundation Award in Legal Studies - Sabrina Waddell

Lester Martin Foundation Award in Legal Studies - Peyton Gillespie

Are you an alumni of the Brandeis Legal Studies program? We would love to hear from you and learn what you have been up to! Please fill out the form linked below to share with our community!