Alan Morton Dershowitz

Alan Morton Dershowitz is a Cambridge-based lawyer, legal scholar, author, and Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. His work focuses on constitutional law, criminal law, civil liberties, appellate advocacy, and high-profile public legal disputes. Dershowitz has handled criminal and civil matters while maintaining a long academic career, and his practice is closely associated with complex appeals, individual rights, public law issues, and legal strategy in matters involving significant public attention.

Alan earned his law degree from Yale Law School and his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College. After law school, he clerked for Judge David Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Justice Arthur Goldberg of the U.S. Supreme Court. This academic and clerkship background provided a strong foundation in constitutional analysis, appellate advocacy, legal writing, and the careful review of complex questions involving criminal procedure and civil liberties.

Alan joined the Harvard Law School faculty in 1964 and became a full professor at age 28. He later held the Felix Frankfurter Professorship and taught at Harvard for decades while continuing to practice law. His experience includes representing high-profile clients and working on major appellate and criminal defense matters, including the successful appeal for Claus von Bülow and advisory work in widely publicized criminal cases. His work often involves constitutional arguments, appellate strategy, and public legal controversies.

Alan Morton Dershowitz is recognized for his long career in law, teaching, writing, and public legal commentary. He has written extensively on criminal law, constitutional rights, civil liberties, Israel, and public affairs, with numerous books and articles reaching a broad audience. His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship and the William O. Douglas First Amendment Award. Through his advocacy, scholarship, and public commentary, Alan Dershowitz has built a legal profile centered on appellate practice, civil liberties, and constitutional debate.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Alan Dershowitz Consulting LLC
• Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
• Former Member, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association

Licensed State

• Massachusetts

Education

• Yale Law School
  Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
• Brooklyn College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges