Dr. Colleen Shanahan

Biography

Colleen F. Shanahan joined Penn Carey Law as a Practice Professor in January 2025, bringing extensive experience in civil procedure, access to justice, and poverty law. A leading scholar in the area of state civil courts, Shanahan employs theoretical and empirical approaches to understand lawyerless courts and the challenges faced by millions of Americans. Her research has been published in prestigious journals, including the Columbia Law Review and Stanford Law Review. Shanahan is known as a nationally recognized clinical teacher, working with students and community organizations to promote racial and economic justice while reforming civil and criminal legal systems. Her clinic has recently focused on advocacy in areas such as public housing conditions and juvenile justice, earning accolades from local and national organizations and media coverage from NBC News and the Washington Post. Prior to her appointment at Penn Carey Law, she taught at Temple University Beasley School of Law and Georgetown University Law Center, and has a background in litigation at notable law firms. Shanahan holds an LLM from Georgetown Law, a JD from Columbia Law School, and an AB from Princeton University.

Research Interests

Experience