Dehlia Umunna

Dehlia Victoria Umunna is a distinguished Nigerian-American attorney and academic who has significantly impacted the field of criminal justice through her exemplary legal advocacy, mentorship, and scholarship. Recently appointed as a Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School (HLS), Professor Umunna has built a reputation for excellence, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to social justice.

Early Life and Education

She was born on May 11, 1973, in London, England, to a Nigerian father and a Sierra Leonean mother, and spent much of her early life in Nigeria, where her values of justice and service were deeply shaped. She grew up alongside two brothers in a culturally rich and academically driven environment that laid the foundation for her global perspective and lifelong dedication to advocacy.

She proceeded to obtain her Juris Doctor (JD) from the George Washington University Law Center, further strengthening her foundation in legal advocacy. To expand her influence in public service, she later earned a Master in Public Administration (MC) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government—a decision that reflects her interdisciplinary approach to law, governance, and community empowerment.

Legal and Academic Career

Professor Umunna’s career in criminal defense began with the D.C. Public Defender Service, where she served as a trial attorney, representing indigent defendants and building a reputation as a fierce and compassionate advocate.

She transitioned into academia with teaching roles at American University’s Washington College of Law as an Adjunct Professor of Law and Practitioner in Residence, where she mentored future lawyers and refined her teaching philosophy.

In 2007, Umunna joined Harvard Law School, where she rose through the ranks to become a Clinical Professor of Law. She also served as Deputy Director and Clinical Instructor at the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI), where she supervises third-year law students in real-world litigation. Under her guidance, these students have successfully argued cases before Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court, gaining hands-on courtroom experience.

Making History at Harvard and Expanding Impact

In 2015, Professor Dehlia Victoria Umunna made history as Harvard Law School’s first Nigerian professor of law, breaking new ground and becoming a powerful symbol of representation and excellence in academia. Born on May 11, 1973, in London, England, to a Nigerian father and a Sierra Leonean mother, she was raised in Nigeria, where her early experiences shaped her deep commitment to justice, education, and social change.

At Harvard, she currently serves as a Clinical Professor of Law and Faculty Deputy Director of the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI). In this role, she supervises third-year law students as they represent adult and juvenile clients in criminal and juvenile proceedings before Massachusetts courts, including the Supreme Judicial Court. Her teaching and research interests include Criminal Law, Criminal Defense and Theory, Mass Incarceration, and Race Issues, with a consistent focus on systemic reform.

Umunna’s academic credentials reflect her interdisciplinary and global outlook. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, San Bernardino, followed by a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law Center, where she also served as a guest lecturer for several years. She later received a Master in Public Administration (MC) from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Before joining Harvard Law School in 2007, she was an Adjunct Professor of Law and Practitioner in Residence at American University’s Washington College of Law (2002–2007), where she also served on the board of the District of Columbia Law Students in Court Clinic.

Professor Umunna’s frontline legal experience is as notable as her academic career. She worked for several years as a trial attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS). There, she served as a Felony One Trial Attorney, representing indigent clients in hundreds of serious criminal cases ranging from theft and drug offenses to high-profile cases involving rape, child sexual abuse, kidnapping, and homicide. Some of these cases garnered national media attention. She also trained other lawyers under the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act, helping shape the next generation of public defenders.

In recognition of her outstanding service and leadership, Professor Umunna has received several prestigious awards, including the Harvard Law School Dean’s Award for Excellence and the Southern Public Defender Training Center’s Outstanding Faculty Mentor of the Year Award. These honors underscore her reputation as a student supervisor, staff manager, lecturer, coach, and mentor.

Professor Umunna is a proud mother of two children, Edozie and Ifeanyi, and is a member of the Massachusetts, Maryland, and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

Her scholarship is both thoughtful and culturally informed. One of her most acclaimed publications, “Rethinking the Neighborhood Watch: How Lessons from Nigerian Villages Can Creatively Empower Communities to Assist Low-Income, Single Mothers in America,” was published in the American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law (Vol. 20, No. 4). This work reflects her unique ability to bridge global insights with local challenges to advocate for transformative justice solutions.

Praise and Recognition

Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow once noted:

“Dehlia’s students revere her; her colleagues at HLS and nationally look to her as an exemplary advocate, teacher, and mentor.”

Professor Umunna is renowned for her extraordinary trial record, effective leadership of CJI, and exceptional mentorship. Her work has earned her multiple awards in the areas of criminal defense, legal education, and public interest law.

National Advocacy and Training

Beyond the classroom, Umunna is a national voice for legal reform. She is a faculty member of Gideon’s Promise, where she trains public defenders across the United States. She previously served on the board of the D.C. Law Students in Court Clinic and has delivered lectures at institutions such as the George Washington University Law School.

Scholarship and Publications

Umunna’s academic work reflects her global perspective and dedication to community-based advocacy. Her notable article, “Rethinking the Neighborhood Watch: How Lessons from the Nigerian Village Can Creatively Empower the Community to Assist Poor, Single Mothers in America,” was published in the American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law, and continues to influence discussions on restorative justice and social policy.

Personal Reflection

Upon her appointment as Clinical Professor of Law, Professor Umunna stated:

“I am blessed and honored to join Harvard Law School’s remarkable faculty. I relish this extraordinary opportunity to continue work that I am truly passionate about, and I am grateful for the school’s deep commitment to criminal justice, mass incarceration, indigent defense, and social justice.”

Legacy and Impact

Professor Dehlia Umunna’s contributions span beyond legal theory and courtrooms—she is a mentor, thought leader, and change-maker. Through her advocacy, teaching, and scholarship, she continues to shape the future of criminal justice in America and inspire a global network of justice-oriented professionals.

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