Jonathan Entin (JD ’81) Gives Back, Paying Tribute to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

For Jonathan Entin (JD ’81), his reason for establishing scholarship support for students at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law is simple — give back what was once given.

Having graduated from Northwestern Pritzker Law in 1981, Jon credits his time as a student for shaping him into the legal educator he is today. According to him, now it’s time to give back, generously committing $1 million in scholarship support to Northwestern Pritzker Law’s students. 

“I owe my career to Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law,” he says, acknowledging the extraordinary impact the faculty had on his professional development. “I think I would not be who I am if it weren’t for the faculty and fellow students.”

As an emeritus professor at Case Western University Reserve School of Law, where he served for more than four decades, Jon understands the challenges faced by today’s law students, particularly the financial burdens that can limit access to legal education. This understanding has fueled his commitment to supporting future generations of legal scholars via the Jonathan L. Entin Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was originally established in March 2024 and supplemented in March 2025. The fund was created to support law students considering careers in civil rights, civil engagement, or public service.

“I hope this scholarship enables students to have the opportunities I received — free from the weight of financial strain,” he says.

Jon’s most recent contributions to the fund reflect his belief in the transformative power of legal education. He notes that, while the original fund was significant, it did not provide enough financial support to cover the ever-increasing cost of tuition in today’s landscape.

A Distinguished Career

Jon’s career spans decades in academia and public service. After graduating from Northwestern Pritzker Law with his JD, he served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Following his clerkship and practice with a Washington law firm where he helped to exonerate an innocent death-row prisoner, he became a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he also served twice as associate dean for academic affairs. His extensive scholarship covers constitutional law, civil rights, civil liberties, and administrative law, and he has published extensively in his fields of expertise.

In addition to his academic achievements, Jon has been actively involved in public service, including his role as executive director of the Arizona ACLU, where he worked on pivotal civil rights issues. His commitment to advocacy and education has earned him respect from colleagues and students alike, influencing countless future lawyers.

A Legacy of Inspiration

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Interim Dean Zachary D. Clopton shares the Law School’s gratitude for Jonathan and his generous legacy.

“Jon Entin’s influential and extensive career in the field of law and legal education serves as a testament to Northwestern Pritzker Law’s strength in educating the world’s top minds and scholars,” says Clopton. “We are both honored and privileged to benefit from Jon’s success through the Jonathan L. Entin Endowed Scholarship Fund, which has already supported myriad students and will continue to do so.”

As a scholarship supporter, Jon’s dedication to education is rooted in the influential figures he encountered during his time as a student. For example, he remembers fondly the role Professor Victor Rosenblum played in instilling confidence in him when he was a first-year law student, which he says changed his trajectory.

“Victor decided that I might be a teaching prospect and set out to make sure I did not foreclose that option,” Jon reflects, expressing gratitude for the mentorship that shaped his career path.

He adds, “It was a time when I had been waiting around for someone to come to me and gently explain that they had confused my file with somebody else’s so I shouldn’t have been admitted.”

Jon also reflects on the mentorship he received from Professor Len Rubinowitz, whom he describes as “the best teacher I have ever had — anywhere.”

As a law professor, Jon credits the relationships formed with Northwestern Pritzker Law faculty members such as Rosenblum, Rubinowitz, and others as foundational to his own teaching philosophy, as he aimed to inspire and guide his students the same way they did.

One particularly striking memory Jon shares from his time as a student at Northwestern Pritzker Law involves an important Supreme Court abortion case in which Professors Rosenblum and Robert Bennett argued on opposing sides.

“It was inspiring to see them still being real friends despite their profound disagreement in that case,” he says.

For him, the experience exemplified the respectful discourse and camaraderie that can exist even amidst deep ideological differences—an ethos he has tried to pass on through his scholarship and teaching.

As Jon reflects on his philanthropic goals, he envisions the scholarship creating opportunities for students who aspire to make a difference in the world. Furthermore, he dreams of a future where financial barriers are diminished, allowing students to focus on their education and advocacy.