Emma Coleman Jordan

Professor of Law

Business LawCommercial LawEconomic JusticeRace and the Law

Emma Coleman Jordan is a Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where she has been on the faculty for decades. She graduated first in her class from Howard University School of Law and is a past president of both the Association of American Law Schools and the Society of American Law Teachers. She was a White House Fellow in 1980-81, serving as special assistant to the Attorney General. She was elected to the American Law Institute in 1984 and has been a leading voice on economic justice, financial regulation, and the intersection of race and commercial law.

Teaching Style

Professor Jordan is a commanding classroom presence who uses the Socratic method to challenge students to connect legal doctrines in business and commercial law to questions of economic justice and racial equity. She cold-calls with high expectations, drawing on decades of experience in legal education to push students toward rigorous analysis. Her classes emphasize how commercial and financial regulation affects different communities, and she expects students to engage with the social context of business law.

Cold Call Tips

  1. 1Be prepared to discuss the intersection of race, economics, and commercial law
  2. 2Understand the regulatory framework for financial institutions and be ready to analyze its effects on different communities
  3. 3Know the assigned cases thoroughly, including the economic and social context in which they arose
  4. 4Be ready to discuss current events related to financial regulation and economic inequality

Areas of Expertise

Financial regulation and economic justiceRace and economic inequalityCommercial lawCorporate governanceCivil rights law

Education

  • J.D., Howard University School of Law (cum laude, first in class)
  • B.A., California State University, San Francisco

Notable Publications

  • Economic Justice: Race, Gender, Identity, and Economics (co-authored casebook)
  • Articles on financial regulation and racial economic inequality

Research Interests

Financial regulation and systemic riskRacial wealth gap and economic inequalityCorporate governance and stakeholder theoryCommercial law and consumer protectionCivil rights and economic justice

More Professors at Georgetown University Law Center

Prepare for Emma Coleman Jordan's Class

Use Gunner Mode to practice cold calls, get AI case briefs for assigned readings, and build flashcards. 3-day free trial, then $9.99/month.

Explore More Study Resources