JEAN C. CAHN

Jean Camper Cahn (1935–1991): A Trailblazer in Legal Services and Public Interest Law

Jean Camper Cahn was a pioneering attorney and advocate for legal services for the poor, best known for co-founding the Legal Services Program and laying the groundwork for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Her visionary work helped institutionalize free legal aid for low-income individuals in the United States, transforming access to justice.

Born in 1935, Cahn was raised in a family deeply committed to social justice. She attended Swarthmore College before earning her law degree from Yale Law School, where she met her husband and lifelong collaborator, Edgar Cahn. Together, they became instrumental in shaping the modern public interest law movement.

In 1964, Jean and Edgar Cahn authored the seminal article "The War on Poverty: A Civilian Perspective," published in the Yale Law Journal. Their work directly influenced President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, leading to the establishment of federally funded legal services programs. The Cahns were also central figures in the creation of Neighborhood Legal Services, a model that brought legal aid to underserved communities.

Jean Cahn’s advocacy extended beyond legal services. She was a dedicated educator, teaching law students about social justice and community lawyering. She co-founded the Antioch School of Law in 1972, one of the first law schools focused on public interest law, emphasizing practical training and community service.

Throughout her career, Cahn fought tirelessly to ensure that legal aid remained a fundamental right rather than a privilege. Her work continues to influence legal services and public interest law programs across the country.

Jean Camper Cahn’s legacy lives on in the countless legal aid organizations and public interest lawyers who continue her mission of ensuring equal access to justice for all.