The Center on Applied Feminism serves as a bridge between feminist legal theory and
the law.
Unique within the legal academy, the center seeks to apply intersectional feminist
insights to legal practice, and the insights from legal practice to intersectional
feminist legal theory to further gender and social justice. In particular, the center
examines how intersectional feminist theory can benefit legal practitioners in representing
clients, shape legal doctrine and play a role in policy debates and implementation.
The Center supports this work within the law school and broader community by contributing
to the intellectual life of the law school and beyond, supporting student education,
experience, and career goals, and engaging in community service and legal practice.
The Center on Applied Feminism holds conferences and regular colloquia on emerging
legal areas that intersect with gender and social justice. . The Center Sponsors the
Special Topics in Applied Feminism course and supports the broader law school curriculum
in gender law and justice. Supports student organizations and student scholarship
in the area of gender law and justice and helps students plan careers in gender law
and justice. Conducts research and scholarship, as well as provides expertise to media
and other fora, in the area of gender law and social justice. The Center, including
its student associates, partners with community groups to work on legal and policy
change in gender justice.
What's new?
Spring 2026
Teaching and Learning - Organized Special Topics in Applied Feminism course.
Teaching and Learning - Supporting Reproductive Justice course.
Legislative advocacy - Coordinated student working group on legislative initiative
with a Maryland reproductive justice organization.
Scholarship - CAF student research assistant attended Faculty Research and Development
events.
Careers - Organizing career panel on gender justice jobs with Law Career Development
Office.
Fall 2025
Scholarship - Organized annual Theodora Talks, research talks on gender and social
justice by UBalt Law faculty aimed at UBalt Law students. This year, Professor Margaret
Johnson presented her article about the Maryland Reproductive Freedom constitutional
amendment, Professor Afton Cavanaugh presented his article relating to the use of
dead names in trusts and estates, and Professor Dan Hatcher presented on his scholarship
relating to child support.
Teach In - CAF created a teach in within 24 hours of the news that period products
in the UBalt Law men’s bathrooms had been vandalized. Professor Chrysanthymum Desir
spoke about violence against transgender people in Maryland, Professor Johnson spoke
about menstrual justice and the need for menstrual products for trans men who menstruate,
and Dean Manrique spoke about student support and resources.
Networking - Held annual CAF & Cannolis student networking event with students and
faculty interested in gender justice. Legislative advocacy - Coordinated student working group on legislative initiative
with a Maryland reproductive justice organization.
Scholarship - CAF student research assistant attended Faculty Research and Development
events.
Spring 2025
Careers - Worked with the Center on Applied Feminism Student Associates to update
fellowship and internship listings related to gender and social justice jobs.
Movement Building - Worked with the Center on Applied Feminism Student Associates
to organize and coordinate events with Wake Forest law students who traveled to UBalt
Law for Law Review Symposium on state responses to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health
Org. that Center on Applied Feminism co-sponsored.
Advocacy - Professor Margaret E. Johnson spoke regarding the new presidential administration
and its regulation of abortion and reproductive freedom.
Networking - Held annual CAF & Cannolis student networking event with students and
faculty interested in gender justice.
Scholarship - Organized annual Theodora Talks, research talks on gender and social
justice by UBalt Law faculty aimed at UBalt Law students. This year, Professor Michele
Gilman presented her welfare fraud paper and Professor Margaret Johnson presented
her Menstrual Justice after Dobbs paper.
Scholarship - The Center on Applied Feminism co-sponsored UBalt Law Review’s symposium
on state responses to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org. on March 28, 2025 Careers - Organizing career panel on gender justice jobs with Law Career Development
Office.
Fall 2024
Advocacy -Co-sponsored with UBalt Law If/When/How student group live veiwing of and
discussion Maryland Supreme Court argument in Akers v. State regarding a criminal
murder prosecution of a woman who said she had a still birth.
Advocacy - Co-sponsored with UBalt Law If/When/How student group panel on Maryland
Reproductive Freedom Constitutional Amendment, Question 1 Referendum (Speakers Alice
Wilkerson, Executive Director, Advance Maryland; Yveka Pierre, Legislative Director,
If/When/How; Professor Margaret E. Johnson)
Teaching and Learning - Professor Margaret Johnson spoke about LGBTQIA+ legal issues
and Supreme Court at panel sponsored by UBalt Law OUTLaw and Trans Law Student Associations.
