Northwestern, a prestigious law school and a regular in T14 rankings, finds itself on the wrong side of a discrimination lawsuit filed by 42-year-long staff member, Philip Postlewaite. The law professor alleges that despite his considerable tenure, he has been subjected to age discrimination, reflected in his subpar remuneration. Reuters reports that he blames his age for the discrepancy in appreciation and monetary rewards compared to his younger colleagues.
Postlewaite, 78, filed the lawsuit in Chicago federal court, claiming a systemic gap in his salary increases compared to faculty members with fewer years of teaching experience. This, he alleges, started in 2013 when he declined a buyout offer.
The base salary for Postlewaite this year was $7,000 below the law school’s median of $289,224 and notably lesser, $55,000 to be exact, than the top 25% of salaries, which stands at $337,256. These figures were obtained directly from Northwestern, as stated in the complaint.
These financial discrepancies highlight that the school may be prioritizing younger professors, offering them more competitive salaries regardless of their experience or duration in service when compared to older professors like Postlewaite. Despite their age, these professors have dedicated significant portions of their careers to the school, demonstrating loyalty and commitment.
Following the lawsuit, both Northwestern and Postlewaite have not commented extensively on the case.
The original report extensively covers the situation, shedding light on the nuanced layers of alleged age discrimination within academic institutions, a topic of relevance and concern to legal professionals across the globe.