Alan Dershowitz

EXCLUSIVE
  • Renowned Defense Attorney
  • Prominent Scholar on U.S. Constitutional & Criminal Law
  • Bestselling Author of 'Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case' and 'Reasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice System and the O.J. Simpson Case'
  • Contributor, CNN

Civil liberties lawyer, law professor, and bestselling author Alan Dershowitz has been called one of the “most distinguished defenders of individual rights, “the best-known criminal lawyer in the world, and “the top lawyer of last resort. Dershowitz, a graduate of Brooklyn College and Yale Law School, joined the Harvard Law School faculty at age 25 – the youngest in the school’s history -- and became an Emeritus professor after 50 years of teaching and 10K students. Dershowitz continues to represent numerous defendants and takes half of his cases pro bono. In his speeches, he challenges audiences with thought-provoking perspectives on today’s foremost social, legal, and ethical issues.

Dershowitz is a vocal defender of civil liberties and the constitution. He is the author of many fiction and non-fiction books, including seven bestsellers. Dershowitz’s widely circulated column for The Hill, as well as his frequent appearances on major news outlets including the New York Times, Forbes, FOX News, and CNN, reflect his position as a leading voice on civil liberties and make him an in-demand speaker. His voice has been sought by Purdue University, Elon University, the Center of the American Experiment, the Institute for Policy Innovation, and Jewish Federations around the world, among countless others.

 


Alan Dershowitz headshot
Alan Dershowitz photo 3
Alan Dershowitz photo 2
Past Hosts Include:
  • Riverside Theatre Distinguished Lecture Series
  • Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
  • Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
  • Tampa Jewish Federation
  • Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York
  • Center of the American Experiment
  • Moriah Congregation
  • Jewish Federation of Los Angeles
  • United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto
  • Munk Debates
Rave Reviews About Alan Dershowitz
Our evening with Alan Dershowitz last night was a great success. People had a great evening and he was very personable, engaging, and had just the right amount of controversy to keep people mesmerized.

More rave reviews

"Professor Dershowitz was terrific in every possible way. He was a true mensch in everything he did for the gala, was extremely personable with all of our top donors and participated in all the activities we hoped he would. He handled a very difficult interviewer with poise and was terrific with his answers. I would gladly bring him in again."

-Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

"The group loved Alan Dershowitz! Professor Dershowitz was very gracious and our event was very successful (and sold out). Professor Dershowitz spoke compellingly about Israel and antisemitism. He is clearly very knowledgeable about diverse topics and definitely the kind of speaker audiences could listen to repeatedly. We could easily envision him as a return speaker."

-Tampa Jewish Federation

"Last evening’s event was outstanding. I would confidently say that we facilitated a logistically flawless or near flawless program. Professor Dershowitz was a wonderful choice as the keynote for this major donor event. He was attentive, articulate and extremely accommodating to all of our request. Thank you for your role in the success of our event."

-Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York

"The event could not have gone better! Our new venue, the catering, AV, concert hall, all the logistics worked well, but Professor and Mrs. Dershowitz were absolutely wonderful, making it even better. I've been reading some surveys from attendees, and it's so encouraging because the guests feel the same way! In fact, we should have kept Q&A open perhaps 10-15 minutes longer!"

-Center of the American Experiment

"The compliments and praise from our community are still pouring in at levels we have never previously seen.Professor Dershowitz was absolutely spectacular and a sincerely pleasure to work with. He was engaging, funny, and inspirational to all 800 + in attendance that evening. His private session with our teens was a remarkable gift they will not soon forget. Words cannot express our gratitude for what he gave to our community... While this extraordinary evening will be impossible to surpass, we look forward to working with you all in the future."

-Moriah Congregation

"He was very engaging and personable. Our donors loved the close proximity and his frankness when answering any and all questions. In our small group setting, he shared a great deal and made everyone feel very comfortable."

-Jewish Federation of Los Angeles

"Mr. Dershowitz was so good. The event was spectacular. There is no one like Dershowitz."

-United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto

"He received rave reviews and made an outstanding contribution to the debate. The video of the debate has been viewed over 100,000 times since Friday night, record for us and a testament to the passion, substance and debating savvy Allan brought to the contest. "

-Munk Debates

"He was terrific. I would highly recommend him to any Federation. "

-United Jewish Federation Of Northeastern New York

"I wanted to thank you for your visit to University of Florida and Hillel yesterday. Our students had an amazing experience with you throughout the evening and I cannot begin to express the power of the responses I got from students, faculty, and our staff in regards to the time they spent with you. We have an entire group of emerging leaders who you inspired yesterday and now it’s our job to continue that inspiration with effort and dedication to ensure future Israel activism."

-University of Florida Hillel

"It couldn’t have gone better. It was a fantastic night and Professor Dershowitz truly extended himself to help us maximize the value of his visit. He was great with our leadership and volunteers, and was brilliant during the main program. He also made himself available after the program for an impromptu session with high school and college students who were attending our program."

-Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

"Dershowitz was a bit hit, as always. Everyone really loved him. He got a standing ovation. A great speaker for us. "

-Jewish United Fund of Chicago

"Professor Dershowitz was a great hit! He was engaging, informative, and entertaining, and our format of having an emcee present topics to him which our audience had voted for online worked wonderfully. Also, his meeting with the high school students that afternoon was a terrific experience. "

- Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix

"On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County Women's Division, I would like to thank you for coming to our rescue on one day's notice and speaking at the 'Pride of our Lions' event. More than 200 major donors attended the program, which is the centerpiece of the Federation's annual women's campaign. Everyone concurred that your presentation was informative, insightful and thought-provoking. Rarely do our residents have the opportunity to hear from Jewish leaders who can examine such serious issues with depth, clarity and wit."

-Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County

"Your remarks were relevant, eloquently delivered and erudite with a clarity that left many of us in complete awe! You brilliantly wove the JNF message with beautiful simplicity into the complex tapestry of your words and you did it all within the time allotted. It was by far one of the best Negev Dinners ever held in Ottawa over the past few decades."

-JNF Negev Dinner

"Alan Dershowitz was fabulous, in every way. "

-United Jewish Federation Of San Diego County

"Alan Dershowitz had the audience spell-bound for the entire evening. Our attendance surpassed previous years. Instead of our normal 600 to 800 business people, 1,200 attended. Alan Dershowitz was not only brilliant, eloquent and professional in his field, but also able to spend all the time we required to meet the public and the press. He was genuinely warm and interested in our concerns."

-Federation of Jewish Community Services of Montreal

"I felt compelled to relay to you the significant contribution Alan Dershowitz made to the overall success of the evening. Professor Dershowitz's topic and presentation was so well received that he not only enthralled over 1,000 people who came to hear his lecture, but also the take-home value was so significant that the community has been talking about this event ever since. It is unusual for one man to have made such an impact, and he pushed the audience with his thought provoking charismatic delivery. We are all delighted that Professor Dershowitz was able to share his views with us and we are all better off for it."

-Allan C. Silber

"All aspects of the program--the lecture, interview and Arts & Ideas Forum--went extremely well. In fact, Professor Dershowitz's presentation can serve as a paradigm for future lectures with regard to the substance and quality of the presentation and the lecturer's demeanor and cooperative attitude. I can tell you that the students who attended the Arts & Ideas Forum commented that Professor Dershowitz was the first speaker they could recall who did not talk down to them. He engaged them immediately and was very candid and forthright with his responses."

-The Dowmel Foundation

"You have a gift and we appreciate that you traveled all the way to the 'Northland' to share important comments on Jewish life today. The St. Paul Federation was proud to have you address campaign leadership with such a meaningful message. We look forward to asking you to be our special guest again in the near future."

-United Jewish Fund and Council

"Our sold out crowd was truly engaged in a though-provoking evening from the patron dinner to the main lecture. He is truly a 'mensch' in every sense of the word and was approachable and gracious to all."

-Amy Bergman, Jewish Community Center

"It was truly an honor and a pleasure to have you as the keynote speaker. Your presentation on 'Defending Israel in the Media' was brilliant. I can't remember too many speakers that have received not one, but two standing ovations. I am appreciative that you made yourself available for the media and were very gracious in taking so many photos with attendees at the dinner. You were great! "

-UJA Federation

"I very much appreciate all of your efforts which contributed to making the evening an overwhelming success. The books you so graciously signed for our majors attending the dinner were a huge hit, and your warm presence at the cocktail reception and dinner added so much to the excitement of the evening. Your thought provoking speech was tremendous and very well received. The entire community is talking about the wonderful event. "

-Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte

"The Alan Dershowitz dinner at The Economic Club of Colorado last Tuesday was a huge success. This may have been the best program we have had since our founding in 1985.Alan's direct and engaging style immediately began to capture the audience. His initial remarks referenced the early foundations of law, democracy, and how they evolved. He discussed the Bible and its role, and quickly arrived at the present to address contemporary issues. After about 30 minutes of presentation, we found ourselves engaged in a dialogue with Alan and that continued for another 45 minutes.Alan received a standing ovation, the first I can remember for the Economic Club. I received comments from a number of members since the event. They didn't realize 'how much we think alike', 'how reasonable and insightful he is', and 'why he gets involved in these notorious cases'. In summary, Alan Dershowitz was the consummate speaker for why we have an Economic Club of Colorado. He stimulated us; he informed us; he challenged us; and he charmed us. "

-The Economic Club of Colorado

"The feedback we have received from those who attended has been overwhelmingly positive, due, in good measure, to your participation. Further, from a personal perspective, I enjoyed your talk immensely. I have been involved with credentialing policy issues over the last decade--assisting governments worldwide grapple with the complexities involved. Your coverage of the topic was impressively holistic, well thought out and 'on the mark.' It is obvious these issues are close to your heart."

-Unisys Global Public Sector

"The country club was overflowing with over 500 women from Bergen County - our largest crowd ever. His new book, Why Terrorism Works, provided timely information and suggested strategies for the future that everyone latched onto for hope. His seriousness about the subject coupled with his sense of humor provided the perfect combination for swallowing the hard facts that he was presenting. The feedback from the audience has been nothing but positive. They were even pleased that he spoke longer than the time to which he was allotted. When the crowd surrounded him to autograph his books, he was overly generous in making sure that everyone got some time with him."

-UJA Federation of Bergen County & North Hudson

"The reviews have been fabulous, and you helped to make this year's Challenges very special for the Jewish women in our community. We also appreciate how graciously you took photographs and signed books for everyone who make a request! Thank you for accommodating our leadership and participants! "

-Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix

"Your lecture on live satellite feed proved to be one of the major successes of our program year, with hundreds of attendees thanking our Jewish Community Federation for continuing with the event despite the change in circumstances. Your presentation was not only educational, but also community building. It was not only informational, but also emotionally powerful. Despite your being 3,000 miles away, the wonders of modern technology allowed you to connect with us. And through your words, our connections with Am Yisrael were made stronger. At the end of the lecture, the 1200 people in the auditorium gave you a standing ovation! "

-Riva Gambert, Director of Community Programs, Director of the Israel Task Force

"He was incredible...he was cooperative, entertaining, personable and just delightful...His speech was entertaining, on message and just long enough. His remarks about the ADL were phenomenal. You would have thought he worked for us. He made a strong pitch for support and praised the organization for several minutes, saying at one point that this work should be in the hands of professionals and the ADL is the most professional organization... We were very pleased with him and the way the evening played out...we were thrilled. "

-Anti-Defamation League / Pacific Southwest Region

"Professor Dershowitz was OUTSTANDING! What a mensch! He started the evening by engaging in conversation with our YLD division. He was passionate and gave the group a clear vision on why be Jewish...The young leaders were honored to be with him and again he was very candid with them. He then signed books and engaged in conversation with our Major Givers and Corporate Sponsors. Following that he spoke at our community presentation with over 400 people hearing his talk...He then signed books again and spoke with people at our dessert reception. I can't thank you enough for recommending Prof. Dershowitz. I would recommend him for EVERY community. "

-Jewish Federation of Pinellas County, Inc.

"Grand slam is all I can say. The evening was beyond any of our expectations. Our synagogue had one of its finest moments when were privileged to have Professor Dershowitz in our building. "

-Ohev Shalom of Bucks County
Collapse rave reviews

Alan Dershowitz Weighs In On The Future Of Hamas After It's Attack On Israel | Forbes Breaking News - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Alan Dershowitz
Expand all >

Global Perspectives on Justice and Civil Liberties

Professor ALAN DERSHOWITZ offers his thoughts as a scholar on constitutional law in this climate. Dershowitz shares his insights on the most pressing current events, coming to startlingly original and thought-provoking conclusions. ...

Professor ALAN DERSHOWITZ offers his thoughts as a scholar on constitutional law in this climate. Dershowitz shares his insights on the most pressing current events, coming to startlingly original and thought-provoking conclusions.

State of the Union: What’s Happening?

Globally recognized legal mind ALAN DERSHOWITZ looks at the big questions regarding globalization, human rights, freedom, democracy, the Middle East, and international affairs to make sense of the world in which we live. He analyzes current events, equipping audiences with the knowledge and understa ...

Globally recognized legal mind ALAN DERSHOWITZ looks at the big questions regarding globalization, human rights, freedom, democracy, the Middle East, and international affairs to make sense of the world in which we live. He analyzes current events, equipping audiences with the knowledge and understanding needed to make sense of our world and the future.

21st Century Antisemitism

Professor ALAN DERSHOWITZ, famous civil liberties lawyer, explains how current day antisemitism is different from the antisemitism of the past. His talks unite communities in their shared fight against antisemitism and hate, promoting democratic values of tolerance. Dershowitz provides actionable id ...

Professor ALAN DERSHOWITZ, famous civil liberties lawyer, explains how current day antisemitism is different from the antisemitism of the past. His talks unite communities in their shared fight against antisemitism and hate, promoting democratic values of tolerance. Dershowitz provides actionable ideas for audiences to try and make the world a better place by furthering and building bridges of tolerance, justice, and human rights.

X 
(-)
Speaker News

Professor Alan Dershowitz’s keynotes, debates, and Q&As engage audiences

Civil liberties lawyer, law professor, and bestselling author ALAN DERSHOWITZ captures audiences nationally with exceptional programs which inform, educate, and equip audiences to engage with today’s social and political issues. Here are some of his rave reviews:

  • Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev: “Professor Dershowitz was terrific in every possible way. He was a true mensch in everything he did for the gala… extremely personable… terrific with his answers… I would gladly bring him in again.”
  • United Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York: “Last evening’s event was outstanding… Professor Dershowitz it was a wonderful choice as the keynote for this major donor event. He was attended, articulate and extremely accommodating to all of our requests.”
  • Munk Debates: "He received rave reviews and made an outstanding contribution to the debate. The video of the debate has been viewed over 100,000 times since Friday night, record for us and a testament to the passion, substance and debating savvy Allan brought to the contest."

Watch Alan Dershowitz in discussion on 92Y >>

Watch Alan Dershowitz’s remarks at the Jewish Federation of Phoenix >>

Professor Alan Dershowitz connects with audiences through his podcast, ‘The Dershow’

Globally renowned civil liberties lawyer and bestselling author Professor ALAN DERSHOWITZ has launched a podcast, The Dershow with Alan Dershowitz. In biweekly episodes, he discusses politics, law, the constitution, and current events with a rapt audience of over 70K. Dershowitz addresses sensitive topics as an articulate, civil, and reasonable legal professional to capture not only the letter of the law, but its spirit as well. Designed to foster dialogue about some of the most relevant issues of the day, Dershowitz encourages audiences to contribute to the intellectual vitality of our time.

Listen to The Dershow with Alan Dershowitz on iHeart Radio >>

(-)
Books by Alan Dershowitz
(-)
Press & Media
(-)
Biography

Professor Alan M. Dershowitz is a Brooklyn native who has been called “the nation’s most peripatetic civil liberties lawyer” and one of its “most distinguished defenders of individual rights,” “the best-known criminal lawyer in the world,” “the top lawyer of last resort.”  He has been named America’s most “public Jewish Defender,” -- “the Jewish state’s lead attorney in the court of public opinion.” He is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, Emeritus, at Harvard Law School.  Dershowitz, a graduate of Brooklyn College and Yale Law School, joined the Harvard Law School faculty at age 25 – the youngest in the school’s history -- and became an Emeritus professor after 50 years of teaching and 10,000 students.

Dershowitz has been called the “winningest” criminal lawyer in modern history and has argued hundreds of appeals in courts throughout the nation. He has won the vast majority of his homicide cases and has never lost a client to the death penalty.  He continues to consult actively on both transnational and domestic criminal and civil liberty cases.  He continues to devote half of his practice to pro bono cases and causes.

Dershowitz has also published more than 1000 articles in magazines, newspapers, journals and blogs.  These include the New York Times, for which he has written numerous op-eds, book reviews and articles for the Week in Review, as well as for the Magazine and entertainment sections.  He has also written for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Harvard Law Review, the Yale Law Journal, the Huffington Post, Gatestone, Newsmax, Jerusalem Post, Ha’aretz, and Algemeiner.  Professor Dershowitz is the author of 35 fiction and non-fiction works with a worldwide audience, including the New York Times #1 bestseller Chutzpah and five other national bestsellers.  His autobiography, Taking the Stand: My Life in the Law, was published in 2013 and his eBook, Electile Dysfunction:  A Guide for Unaroused Voters, was published in 2016.  In his latest books, Trumped Up (8/2017), and The Case Against BDS (1/2018), Dershowitz reinforces his long standing record of presenting the issues of the day with "trenchant legal analysis" and "Using the scalpel of scholarship."

In addition to his numerous law review articles and books about criminal and constitutional law, he has written, taught and lectured about history, philosophy, psychology, literature, mathematics, theology, music, sports – and even delicatessens.

His writing has been praised by Truman Capote, Saul Bellow, William Styron, David Mamet, Aharon Appelfeld, A.B. Yehoshua, Elie Wiesel, Richard North Patterson, Steven Pinker and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.  More than a million of his books—translated in many languages -- have been sold worldwide.

He has also been the recipient of numerous honorary doctor degrees and academic awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship for his work on human rights, a fellowship at The Center for the Advanced Study of Behavioral Sciences and several Dean’s Awards for his books.

In 1983, the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith presented him with the William O. Douglas First Amendment Award for his “compassionate eloquent leadership and persistent advocacy in the struggle for civil and human rights.”  In presenting the award, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel said: “If there had been a few people like Alan Dershowitz during the 1930s and 1940s, the history of European Jewry might have been different.”

He has been the subject of two New Yorker cartoons, a New York Times crossword puzzle, and a Trivial Pursuit question.  A Sandwich at Fenway Park has been named after him—pastrami, of course.

He is married to Carolyn Cohen, a Ph.D. psychologist.  He has three children, one a film producer, one a lawyer for the Women’s Basketball Association and one a professional actor.  He also has two grandchildren, one a college senior at Harvard and the other on the way to medical school.