Jennifer M. Fernandez

Jennifer M. Fernandez is an Associate Professor of Law at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, where she teaches courses in legal methods, academic skills development, and housing law. Her teaching and scholarship focus on housing justice, racial and economic equity, and inclusive pedagogy in legal education. Professor Fernandez’s recent scholarship includes The Time is Now; ABA Standard 303(C) As the Impetus for A Truly Inclusive 1L Classroom (Washington University Journal of Law and Policy, 2024) and Dismantling Second-Class Justice through Transformative Reform in New York City Housing Court (Albany Law Review, forthcoming 2026).

Before joining CUNY Law, Professor Fernandez served as a Clinical Supervisor and Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where she taught in the Civil Practice Clinic and Externship Program, supervising students in matters involving housing, family, consumer, and employment law. She previously practiced as a staff attorney with Queens Legal Services and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, representing tenants and survivors of domestic violence in housing and family courts.

Professor Fernandez is actively engaged in local and national service focused on legal education, equity, and access to the profession. She currently serves on the Advisory Council of the New York City Housing Court Housing and holds leadership roles within the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA), including Co-Vice President and member of the Executive Committee and Board. Professor Fernandez also serves on scholarship and pipeline committees with the New York City Bar Association Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and is a founding member of the office’s National Association of Pipeline Organizations. In addition, Professor Fernandez is a member of the Association for Academic Support Educators (AASE). In 2025, her contributions to academic support and legal education were recognized with the 2025 Outstanding Debut Award from AASE.

Professor Fernandez holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School, an M.S. in Teaching from Pace University, and a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University. She clerked for Judge Lawrence H. Ecker of the New York State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District and is a recipient of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs and the New York City Teaching Fellowship. Prior to her legal career, Professor Fernandez taught special education in New York City public schools.

Jennifer has taught and mentored students in a range of settings including as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queens College-City University of New York, a New York City Department of Education special education teacher, and through working with various youth programs such as Sadie Nash Leadership Project, Legal Outreach, Columbia High School Law Institute, and the New York City Bar Association Diversity Pipeline Initiatives Committee.

Jennifer clerked for Judge Lawrence H. Ecker of the New York State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District. She is a recipient of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs and the New York City Teaching Fellowship. Jennifer’s scholarly interests include access to justice in local civil courts and administrative agency proceedings; increasing access to the legal profession; and examining American law school teaching methodology.