Dr. Michael Steinberg

Biography

Michael J. Steinberg is a Professor and the Practice Director of the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative at the University of Michigan Law School. His research interests primarily lie in civil rights and civil liberties law, where he has a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of public interest lawyers. Before joining the faculty at Michigan Law, he served for 22 years as the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, overseeing significant litigation in the state. Throughout his career, Steinberg has litigated numerous high-impact cases covering a wide range of civil rights issues including racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, police misconduct, freedom of speech and expression, immigrant rights, voting rights, women’s rights, post-9/11 issues, reproductive freedom, criminal justice reform, religious freedom, and disability rights. He has had six cases decided by the Supreme Court. Steinberg is also the founding director of the Civil Rights Litigation Initiative, providing students with the opportunity to litigate significant civil rights cases under supervision. His commitment to civil rights extends beyond the classroom, as he is a sought-after speaker at conferences across the country and has been interviewed by local and national media. Steinberg’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Wasserstein Public Interest Fellowship from Harvard Law School and the Treasure Detroit Award from Wayne State University Law School.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards