Dr. Cara Mcclellan

Biography

Cara McClellan is an Associate Professor of Law and the Founding Director of the Racial Civil Justice Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. She provides students with hands-on experience in civil rights litigation and policy advocacy, focusing on systemic racism and social justice. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she believes in the long arc of justice. Previously, McClellan worked as Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where her work centered on increasing educational equity and combating the criminalization of Black individuals. She has gained extensive litigation experience as lead counsel in several high-profile cases, including challenges against discriminatory practices in education and policing. McClellan’s scholarly work has been published in notable law reviews and she frequently contributes to discussions on civil rights and education policy across various media outlets. A proud Philadelphia native, she earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. McClellan returned to Yale to obtain her Juris Doctor, where she served as an editor and president of the Black Law Students Association. She has clerked for federal judges and began her career in education as a teacher with Teach For America.

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Experience