Robert Dinerstein Retires After Four Decades of Advocacy for Disability Rights and Innovative Legal Education
Honoring the Influence of an Esteemed Legal Scholar: Pioneering Disability Rights and Revolutionizing Legal Education
Robert Dinerstein, a distinguished professor of law and the director of the Disability Rights Law Clinic at American University Washington College of Law, has retired after four decades of service. During his tenure, Professor Dinerstein became known for his passionate advocacy for people with disabilities, his commitment to clinical legal education, and his innovative teaching methods. Dinerstein's retirement marks the end of an era, and his contributions will be missed by many.
Dinerstein began teaching at AUWCL in 1983 and held various administrative positions over the years. He was the associate dean for academic affairs from 1997 to 2004, the associate dean for experiential education from 2012 to 2018, and the director of the clinical program from 1988 to 1996 and again from 2008 to 2018. He was also the acting dean of the law school from 2020 to 2021.
Dinerstein was a leading expert in disability law, particularly in the areas of mental disabilities law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He was the author or co-author of several books, including "A Guide to Consent" and "Lawyers and Clients: Critical Issues in Interviewing and Counseling." He also published numerous articles and chapters on disability law and clinical legal education, and in the latter area is known for his scholarship on client-centered counseling.
Dinerstein's impact on his students was immeasurable. Many of his former students remember him as a brilliant and dedicated teacher who challenged them to think critically about the law and its application to people with disabilities. They credit him with inspiring them to pursue careers in disability law and advocacy.
Mehreen Butt '05, managing director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University School of Law said, "Congratulations Prof. Dinerstein! Your class led me to a career in helping vulnerable populations including people living with disabilities."
"Your seminar on disabilities and the law continues to inspire me in the work that I do as employment counsel," said Shannon M. Gibson, lead employment counsel at Credit Karma. "Thank you for your leadership and service."
Dinerstein was also deeply committed to public service and advocacy. He served on the President's Committee on Mental Retardation (now called the President’s Committee on People with Intellectual Disabilities) from 1994 to 2001 and was a commissioner on the ABA Commission on Disability Rights from 2018 to 2021. He consulted for the World Health Organization and the Open Society Foundations on mental health law reform and disability rights issues in Africa and Latin America.
"I will never forget my experiences in Professor Dinerstein's Criminal Justice Clinic," said Lori Manning '89, senior counsel in the NYC Office of the Corporation Counsel. "It led to my start as a public defender and 37-plus years later my practice still includes criminal law. Best wishes and thank you!"
"Congratulations Professor Dinerstein!" Elisabetta Granieri '05, staff attorney at GT Independence said in a LinkedIn post. "Your dedication to teaching and inspiring students, like myself, has been invaluable. Thank you for educating me on disability and the law during my LL.M. program."
Dinerstein's retirement is a loss for the legal community and for the disability rights movement. His legacy, however, will continue to inspire future generations of lawyers and advocates to fight for the rights of people with disabilities.
"Thank you, Professor Dinerstein, for the mentorship and teaching!" said Jamie Rudert '10, a judicial law clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. "WCL will never be the same without you. You inspired me to enter a public interest career in disability rights and I am forever grateful."
To see photos of the retirement celebration, click here.
~Story by Keith Pierce.