J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law
B.A., Oberlin College
Office hours by appointment
Rachel Bennett is the Director of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender Innocence Project Clinic at UBalt Law. The MOPD Innocence Project Clinic identifies individuals who have been wrongfully convicted in Maryland state courts, conducts extensive investigation, and litigates legal claims seeking to overturn wrongful convictions. The Innocence Project Clinic engages in advocacy work to challenge the systemic failures that lead to wrongful convictions.
Before joining the MOPD Innocence Project Clinic, Prof. Bennett was a Senior Attorney with the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights where she represented detained individuals in removal proceedings, and served as a qualified representative for noncitizens found incompetent to represent themselves. Prior to the Amica Center, she was an Assistant Public Defender with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender for 11 years, where she practiced in multiple jurisdictions, including Baltimore County Circuit Court, Baltimore City misdemeanor and felony divisions, and with the statewide Post Conviction Defenders. Rachel earned her law degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She is originally from New York City.
Admitted to practice law in Maryland and New York, First Judicial Department.