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Columbia Law School has a history of fighting for justice and equality. That distinguished legacy continues through our scholarship, advocacy, and clinical work around the world.

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Richard Briffault

Richard Briffault is a leading authority on state and local government law, legislation, the political process, and government ethics. He is chair of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board, an independent agency tasked with enforcing ethics laws. He is also a member of the board of the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law.

Briffault is frequently interviewed by national media on campaign finance and election law matters, offering commentary and analysis. Recently, he co-authored the eighth edition of the casebook State and Local Government Law, and he previously co-authored Dollars and Democracy: A Blueprint for Campaign Finance Reform, a report of the New York City Bar Association. Briffault is the reporter for the American Law Institute’s project on principles of government ethics and vice-chair of the Citizens Union Foundation, which analyzes proposed public policies, and evaluates legislation at the city and local level.

How we pay for our democracy is crucially significant for how it’s going to operate. It’s something we all have a stake in.