Karen Ullman

Lecturer in Law
Last Updated: September 25, 2023

Karen Ullman is the supervising senior staff attorney of the Adoptions Project at Public Counsel. Ullman started the Adoptions Project at Public Counsel in 1997 and has overseen the finalization of over 8,500 adoptions for abused and neglected children from the foster care system in Los Angeles County. Ullman is an expert in public benefits for foster children and successful utilized direct representation, policy advocacy and impact litigation to ensure that foster children with special needs receive the proper level of funding and other needed supports.

As an adjunct professor at USC Gould School of Law, Ullman teaches the Children’s Legal Issues Practicum on the Child Welfare System in California. Students in the practicum also have a placement at the Children’s Rights Project at Public Counsel and work on foster child adoption cases under attorney supervision.

Ullman received a BA in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and a JD from New York University School of Law.