Al Wakeel04.15.20 — Shannon Al-Wakeel has been appointed managing director of Northeastern University School of Law’s Center for Public Interest Advocacy and Collaboration (CPIAC). Al-Wakeel’s background and expertise include community lawyering, direct representation and public policy advocacy challenging state targeting of marginalized communities. 

“We are thrilled to have someone with Shannon’s experience, knowledge and passion join with our faculty, staff and students to fight for social justice,” said Professor Lucy Williams, faculty director of CPIAC.

Prior to joining Northeastern, Al-Wakeel co-founded and served as director of Muslim Justice League (MJL), a nonprofit organization advocating for human and civil rights that are threatened under national security pretexts. In particular, her work with MJL cultivated resistance to government practices that surveil, coerce and criminalize suspect communities. She previously worked with Massachusetts Law Reform Institute’s Immigrants Protection Project, and later with Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition as state policy director, where her advocacy contributed to secure immigrants’ rights protections at the local, state and federal levels. She holds a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and a JD from Harvard Law School.

“I’m delighted to join CPIAC and Northeastern University School of Law, with its incredible record of promoting social justice. I look forward to collaborating with Northeastern’s brilliant faculty, students, staff —  and our broader communities — to build a more just world,” said Al-Wakeel. 

About Northeastern University School of Law

The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country and is a national leader in legal education reform. Founded with cooperative legal education as the cornerstone of its program, Northeastern guarantees its students unparalleled practical legal work experiences. All students participate in full-time legal placements, and can choose from the more than 1,500 employers worldwide participating in the school’s signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experience to successfully practice law.

For more information, contact d.feldman@northeastern.edu.