She received her J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. Her research focuses primarily on the evolution and application of legal protections for workers in an increasingly global and decentralized American workplace. Her current teaching interests are in the areas of labor and employment law, urban politics and development, and executive and legislative policymaking. Prior to arriving at Loyola in 2008, Professor Kennedy practiced law with the New York firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, specializing in corporate finance, and served as labor and employment counsel to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee.