AALS Honors Associate Dean Stacy Caplow, Public Service Director Danielle Sorken for Pro Bono Work

The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) has bestowed honors on two faculty members who have played pivotal leadership roles in developing and expanding Brooklyn Law School’s robust pro bono legal programs.  

Associate Dean of Experiential Education and Professor of Law Stacy Caplow and Public Service Office Director and Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law Danielle Sorken were each named members to the inaugural class of the AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll. They were selected for their exceptional work engaging in, expanding, and/or supporting the law school community in providing pro bono legal services.

“In addition to our congratulations, we also thank you for your work performed in furtherance of access to justice,” a statement from AALS said. “Our communities are better places because of your involvement in pro bono service.” 

A leader in clinical legal education, Caplow is the Law School's first dean overseeing all aspects of clinical and experiential education. She teaches criminal law and several immigration courses, and co-directs the Safe Harbor Project. Caplow’s many other roles related to public service have included serving as president of the Clinical Legal Education Association and on the board of editors of the Clinical Legal Review.

In addition to leading an office that provides public sector career counseling, programming, and pro bono opportunities, Sorken developed the Government Honors Fellowships summer program and helps oversee others, such as the Arthur Pinto Public Service Fellowship for LGBTQ Rights and Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Law fellowships. She teaches the summer intersession course Introduction to Public Interest Lawyering. 

The announcement of the awards comes ahead of the AALS annual meeting where they will be presented. The meeting will be held Jan 3-7, 2023, in San Diego, Calif.