Dr. Deepika Sharma

Biography

Deepika Sharma is a Clinical Associate Professor of Law and the founding director of the Housing Law Policy Clinic at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. She has spent 15 years as a housing justice litigator and community lawyer, serving recently as a commissioner on the United House LA Citizens Oversight Committee, appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Before her role at USC, she was the Director of Housing Security Initiatives and Policy Director for Councilmember Nithya Raman, where she drafted critical tenant protection legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to these positions, Sharma was a Senior Attorney at Public Counsel, where she led an affirmative housing litigation unit and achieved a landmark $2.5 million settlement in a multi-building Fair Housing Act case. Her extensive legal background also includes serving as a Supervising Attorney at the Eviction Defense Network and experience with the Litigation Department of Morrison & Foerster in Los Angeles. Sharma's work has significantly contributed to tenant rights and housing policy discussions, and she is frequently cited by various media outlets on these topics.

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