Anita Weinberg

Anita Weinberg has worked on behalf of underserved and underrepresented children and families for over 40 years as an attorney and as a social worker. While at the Law School, she founded the ChildLaw Policy Institute and established the Legislation and Policy Clinic, both of which she currently leads. She was the founding director of the Law School’s Curt and Linda Rodin Center for Social Justice. Prior to teaching at Loyola, Professor Weinberg served as director of Policy and Planning for the Department of Children and Family Services Office of Inspector General. Previously she was an Assistant Cook County Public Guardian representing abused and neglected children and supervising staff attorneys. She also was a staff attorney with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago where she represented parents and children in the juvenile court, in class action litigation, and in legislative advocacy. Professor Weinberg was adjunct faculty at the University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration for nine years, where she created and taught a class on social work and the law. As a social worker she directed the Resources for Permanence Project at the Child Welfare League of America in New York City.

Professor Weinberg involves students in interdisciplinary projects in the areas of child welfare, juvenile justice and health. She is the recipient of grants from the Chicago Community Trust, Telligen, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for work on lead poisoning prevention. She serves on numerous committees and councils devoted to children's rights. She has co-authored amendments to the Illinois Juvenile Court Act and the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Professor Weinberg has testified before congressional and state legislative committees on child welfare, education, juvenile justice and health related issues.

Professor Weinberg was the recipient of the University’s inaugural St. Ignatius Loyola Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes a faculty member whose teaching involves a commitment to excellence, raises global awareness, promotes social justice and educates the whole student. She also has been recognized by the Family Defense Center with its Family Defender award, the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) with the Distinguished Alumni Award, the Edith Spurlock Sampson Juvenile Justice Pioneer Award, the Metropolitan Tenants Organization with its Housing Champion award, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Award.