Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, has found itself in the midst of accusations of age discrimination, as stated in a recent federal lawsuit. The allegations come from 78-year-old tax law professor Philip Postlewaite, who claims to consistently receive lower base salary increases than his younger, less tenured, and less experienced colleagues, despite his significant contributions to the institution. Interestingly, there seems to be no correlation between the quality of Postlewaite’s work and his compensation, as he is regarded as one of the top scholars in tax law.
Postlewaite’s significant contributions to Northwestern include the establishment of a profitable LLM program for the Pritzker School of Law back in 2001. He has served as the director of this program since inception, and under his leadership, the program has consistently received high rankings. In spite of these achievements, the complaint put forth in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois asserts that the university has not rewarded Postlewaite adequately.
The lawsuit, under the docket number 1:23-cv-15729, emphasizes the issue of age discrimination within academia, which can often be overlooked amidst discussions of other forms of bias. It brings to light the struggles of experienced professionals who, despite their significant knowledge, expertise, and contributions, face discriminatory practices based on their age.
The case, filed in the Northern District of Illinois, has yet to receive a response from Northwestern University. A critical dialogue seems to be opened concerning age-bias in the world of academic law and beyond, highlighting the necessity of equal treatment and fair compensation regardless of age. For further information about the case, refer to the original article provided by Bloomberg Law.