Professor Anderson began her legal career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (UK) in London, England and joined Boyd Law in 2007. Professor Anderson is a member of the Nevada Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and a recipient of the State Bar of Nevada’s Medal of Justice. From 2019-2021, Rachel Anderson served as General Counsel at the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Professor Anderson has served as Secretary of the National Bar Association and as President of the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association. Professor Anderson established the Poverty Law & Policy Clinic in 2023.

Professor Anderson earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, her M.A. in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, and her Zwischenpruefung from the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. While earning her J.D. at U.C. Berkeley, she served as Articles Editor on the California Law Review, Executive Editor on the Berkeley Journal of International Law, and Managing Editor of the Berkeley Journal of African-American Law & Policy. A longtime Nevada resident, Professor Anderson is a graduate of Edward C. Reed High School in Sparks, Nevada.

Professor Anderson’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including:

• Jefferson Fordham Society Law Office Accomplishment Award, ABA State & Local Government Section (member of recipient team: Nevada Office of the Attorney General Policy Research Team), 2021
• The 5 “Cs” Award, State of Nevada, Office of the Attorney General, 2020
• Next-Level Inspiration, 2020 Women of the Year, Emerge Nevada, 2020
• Urban Chamber of Commerce, Women in Business Award, 2015
• U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Certificate of Commendation, 2015
• U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Senatorial Recognition, 2015
• U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Certificate of Special Congressional Commendation, 2015
• U.S. Representative Joe Heck (R-Nev.), Certificate of Special Recognition, 2015
• U.S. Congressman Crescent Hardy (R-Nev.), Certificate of Congressional Recognition, 2015
• Lieutenant Governor Mark A. Hutchinson (R-Nev.), Certificate of Recognition, 2015
• Lawyers of Color Magazine, Law School Diversity 50 Under 50 List, 2014
• Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Certificate of Appreciation for Elevating the Conversation on Issues of Racial Equity and Social Justice, 2014
• U.S. Congressman Stephen Horsford (D-Nev.), Special Congressional Recognition, 2013
• Law Professors Division of the National Bar Association, Outstanding Service Award, 2013
• State Bar of Nevada, Medal of Justice, 2012
• University of California Berkeley, School of Law, Olin Law & Economics Fellowship, 2003
• University of California Berkeley, School of Law, Justice Ira F. Thomson Fellowship, 2002