Brooklyn Law School Launches Sports Law Clinic to Protect the Rights of Emerging and Underserved Athletes
Brooklyn Law School (BLS) today announces the launch of the BLS Sports Law Clinic, a new in-house legal clinic that will provide free legal services to athletes and sports organizations facing complex legal challenges. Led by Professor Jodi Balsam, a nationally recognized expert in sports law, the clinic will give law students hands-on experience working directly with clients whose access to sports—and ability to pursue related opportunities—is hindered by legal barriers.
The BLS Sports Law Clinic will support athletes and sports participants who cannot afford or otherwise obtain legal representation, with a priority given to young, emerging, and economically disadvantaged athletes. Eligible clients include individuals who meet indigency standards and nonprofit entities dedicated to expanding access to sports.
“Sports play a transformative role in society—they teach discipline, build community, and provide pathways to opportunity,” said Professor Balsam. “But as the rules governing sports become increasingly complex, many athletes struggle to comply and secure their access to sports participation. Our clinic ensures that those most vulnerable to exclusion or exploitation can understand their rights, advocate for themselves, and participate fully and fairly in the sports they love.”
Under Professor Balsam’s close supervision, the clinic will advise and represent clients on a broad range of legal matters, including team eligibility and selection, college recruitment, early commercial/name-image-likeness (NIL) activities, SafeSport compliance, scholarship and funding entitlements, disciplinary matters, and competition integrity. These issues require navigating a patchwork of public law and private regulations that often place significant burdens on young athletes in Olympic, collegiate, high school, amateur, and recreational sports.
In addition to direct representation, the clinic will pursue law reform initiatives, produce research-driven policy briefs, and offer educational workshops for youth sports organizations—all aimed at making sports access safer, fairer, and more transparent at every level.
The launch of the BLS Sports Law Clinic builds on Brooklyn Law School’s longstanding commitment to experiential learning, public service, and preparing students to practice in rapidly evolving areas of law.
For more information or to inquire about services, visit the clinic’s website to submit a client intake form.
Contact:
Professor Jodi Balsam
Director, BLS Sports Law Clinic
Brooklyn Law School
Office: 718.780.0379 | Mobile: 917-690-0400
