Radhe Patel

Radhe is a Clinical Instructor with ELC and has served as a Lecturer on Law for Harvard Law School Negotiations Workshop. She has handled numerous First Amendment and democracy reform cases in state and federal court, including several protest cases in Chicago arising out of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.  

Radhe is passionate about elevating underrepresented voices and improving democratic institutions to be more participatory and responsive to the people they represent.  She is interested in the application of democracy reform tools including election law, First Amendment law, and negotiations theory to the arenas of policy development, grassroots organizing + coalition-building, international relations, and other political dealmaking applications. Her research also covers speech in schools and treatment of journalists and protestors in a changing world. Prior to ELC, Radhe was the Stanton clinical fellow at the University of Illinois College of Law’s First Amendment Clinic.

Radhe served in New York City government, first in the NYC Department of Education and later as a City Hall Advisor in the Mayor’s Office, instituting reforms in both Education and Health + Human Services. She co-founded two organizations, Rikers Debate Project–assisting students on Rikers Island with advocacy and debate skills–and Women of Color for Progress–elevating women of color in NYC in developing leadership and advocacy skills.

She studied Chemical Engineering and Political Science at Columbia University, and completed her JD at Harvard Law School. She clerked for Hon. Edmond Chang in the Northern District of Illinois. As a law student, she was Notes Editor on the Harvard Law Review and served as President of the American Constitution Society Chapter.

Radhe has served on the boards for the Illinois chapters of the American Constitution Society, the Washington Leadership Program for South Asians, and is a public affairs coordinator for a collection of hindu temples.