William Berman

Biography

William Berman is Professor Emeritus; Research Professor; and Academic Director of the Center for Housing Justice & Policy.

Professor Berman was the Managing Attorney of Suffolk's Accelerator Practice, the third year capstone experience for the Accelerator Program, a three year course of study that introduces students to the theory, practice, business and technology skills needed to represent average income clients who otherwise are without access to the justice system. The Accelerator Practice provides students a year-long clinical experience in a fee generating law firm embedded within the law school. The Accelerator Program offers students a unique opportunity to prepare for practice in a small or solo firm.

Prof. Berman was also the Director of Suffolk’s Housing Discrimination Testing Program, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with the Fair Housing Commission of the City of Boston. HDTP's mission is to eliminate housing discrimination through testing, enforcement and education. Professor Berman and his colleagues trained over 100 students and community members to conduct housing discrimination testing in the Boston area, and have referred numerous cases to local agencies for enforcement. Professor Berman also oversaw Suffolk's Fair Housing Fellowship Program and taught a fair housing seminar.

Professor Berman is a frequent speaker on topics related to clinical and experiential learning. Prior to joining Suffolk University Law School in 2000, Professor Berman worked in private practice at the Office of the Attorney General in Massachusetts and at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. He has over 27 years of experience litigating cases in Massachusetts.

Education

• BA, Union College
• JD, Boston University

Publications

Articles

• Transcending Prejudice: Gender Identity and Expression-Based Discrimination in the Metro Boston Rental Housing Market Forthcoming, to be published in Yale Journal of Law & Feminism, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2017
• William Berman & Jamie Langowski, Supreme Court Upholds a Critical Tool in the Struggle for Inclusive Communities, Human Rights at Home Blog, June 25, 2015.
• Why Not an International Clinical Legal Exchange Program? It Is Worth the Shlep, 21 CLINICAL L. REV. 171 (2014)
• Lingering Lead: Strategies for Eliminating Familial Status Discrimination Due to Lead Paint, 2 BEARING WITNESS: J. L. & SOC. RESP. 22 (2014)
• When Will they Ever Learn? Learning and Teaching from Mistakes in the Clinical Context, 13 CLINICAL L. REV. 115 (2006)