Melissa Rothstein
Adjunct Assistant Professor

Ms. Rothstein teaches Law for Social Workers at the Columbia University School of Social Work (CUSSW). She received a J.D. and a M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University in 1998.

Ms. Rothstein is currently a staff attorney and social work supervisor at the Office of the Appellate Defender (OAD), a not-for-profit law office representing criminal defendants who are challenging their criminal convictions and cannot afford a private lawyer. Ms. Rothstein primarily works as a lawyer, representing clients in the appeal of their criminal convictions and on related legal issues. In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Rothstein has started the social work unit at OAD and supervises a social work intern who works with OAD clients by advocating on their behalf to the parole board and within the prison system and assisting clients with issues that arise while they are incarcerated and as they prepare for release.