Stanford Law’s Rhode Center Appoints Malka Herman as New Executive Director

Prime Highlights

Malka Herman has been appointed as the new executive director of Stanford Law School’s Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession.
Herman said she looks forward to expanding access to justice and advancing the future of the legal profession through collaboration and research.

Key Facts

Before joining Stanford, Herman practiced civil and immigration litigation at Williams & Connolly LLP and clerked for Judge Gabriel P. Sanchez and Judge Jon S. Tigar.
She earned her JD from UC Berkeley School of Law and has published scholarly work in the California Law Review and William & Mary Law Review Online.

Background

Stanford Law School’s Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession has appointed Malka Herman as its new executive director, the university announced this week. The Rhode Center is known for its leadership in research, teaching, and policy work focused on legal ethics, civil justice, and the future of the legal profession.

Herman joins the center with strong experience at the intersection of legal research and practice. Her work centers on improving access to justice, strengthening pro bono practices in law firms, and addressing attorney misconduct. Her scholarly writings have appeared in the California Law Review and the William & Mary Law Review Online.

“I deeply respect the Rhode Center’s commitment to a fair and accessible legal system and the remarkable work it has already achieved,” Herman said. “As executive director, I look forward to collaborating with colleagues and partners across the field to expand access to justice and shape the future of the legal profession.”

Welcoming her to the role, Nora Freeman Engstrom, the center’s faculty co-director and the Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law, said, “We are thrilled to have Malka lead the Rhode Center and advance our mission of excellence, equity, and integrity in the legal profession.”

Before joining Stanford, Herman practiced civil and immigration litigation at Williams & Connolly LLP. She earned her JD from UC Berkeley School of Law, where she worked as a research assistant to Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. She also clerked for Judge Gabriel P. Sanchez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge Jon S. Tigar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.