Admissions Events Calendar

West Coast Consortium: Waitlist Panel and Virtual Law Fair
Tuesday, May 25, 2021   |  2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  PT  

Have you been placed on a waitlist for this fall? Join WCC law schools to learn how to navigate this process. Get tips and hints for planning, as well as what you should do to financially prepare. We’ll also talk about what you can do this summer to get yourself ready for law school. A fair with WCC member law schools follows afterwards! RSVP HERE!

 

   An Insider's Perspective - LSAT/LSAT Flex Workshop with 1L Testimonials

       Thursday, October 1st, 2020   |   4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST

Join Dean of Admissions, Lisa Gear, to learn about how the LSAT is used in the admissions process. Joining Dean Gear will be a panel of current 1L students who recently took one of the new LSAT-Flex examinations. They will share their insight on how they prepared for the virtual test, and provide tips for your success. 

 

   Southwestern Spotlight - Katherine Lawrence '12

   Monday, October 5th, 2020   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PST

Please join us as we welcome our Southwestern Spotlight alumnus speaker, Katherine Lawrence, '12, as she continues to advocate for domestic violence survivors despite the COVID-19 pandemic. During this virtual event, you will find out more from this brave and knowledgeable practitioner what it is like to be on the front lines of these very real (and little discussed) crises. This is an incredible opportunity to get face time with a nuts and bolts practitioner who is willing to share the good, the bad, and the ugly about some very tough issues. We hope to see you there! 

 

   An Insider's Perspective: Mock Admissions Committee and Blueprint Test Prep 

                Thursday, October 15th, 2020   |   4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PST

Join us for two sessions, where we’ll give you a deep-dive into the intricacies of the law school application and how each component is used to assess your readiness for a challenging educational experience. Learn how admissions committee members read an application and join along as our Dean of Admissions assesses excerpts from real law school applications. She will walk you through each application component, cover do’s and don’t’s, and demonstrate how each piece comes together to create a picture of the applicant’s background, strengths, weaknesses, and potential to succeed in law school. Then, hear from a Blueprint LSAT Preparation instructor, who will discuss the importance of the LSAT and walk you through real LSAT questions, providing advice on how best to approach the exam. 

 

   Southwestern Spotlight - Rosemary Tamayo

   Monday, October 19th, 2020   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PST

Please join us at this event with our Southwestern Spotlight student speaker, 3L Rosemary Tamayo. She is a first-gen student and a shining example of what happens when preparation meets opportunity. We urge you to take advantage of this special event and hear about Southwestern from a student who was in your shoes a few short years ago! Get to know Rosemary more through this video here!

 

   Southwestern Law Day 2020

  Saturday, November 7th, 2020   |   10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PDT

Southwestern's premier annual event for prospective students is now virtual! While the format is different, the goal remains the same - to show you what makes Southwestern unique and how Southwestern's flexible programs, diverse student body, and focus on student learning and success can help you reach your career dreams. Featuring a mock law class with Professor Rachel E. VanLandingham, Lt Col. (ret.) and a panel showcasing students and alumni, the day's events will introduce you to our community and our methods for preparing tomorrow's lawyers today. And new this year - a dedicated prospective student website designed to walk you through all that Southwestern has to offer!

• Featured Panelists
  • Michael Morse, '13 - federal prosecutor
  • Karen Aguilar, '14 - immigration attorney
  • Vanessa Barnett, 4th-year Evening J.D. student pursuing entertainment law
  • Alex Welfringer, 1st-year SCALE 2-Year Accelerated J.D. student pursuing criminal law

 

   Southwestern Spotlight: Nicole Rossi-Standley

   Monday, November 16th, 2020   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

Nicole Ross-Standley is a second-year student in our 2-Year Accelerated J.D. program, SCALE. As a SCALE II student, Nicole's schedule is tightly-packed with coursework as she prepares to graduate this spring, but that hasn't stopped her from taking leadership roles in five student organizations and participate in several more. Working on Law Review and Chairing the Trial Advocacy Honors Program round out her experience and complement her concentration in Civil Litigation and Advocacy. Join her for an intimate conversation at this next installment of our Southwestern Spotlight series.

 

   An Insider's Perspective: The Life of an Evening Law Student

   Monday, November 16th, 2020   |   6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PT

Is earning a law degree while juggling work, family responsibilities, and financial commitments REALLY possible? At the right school and with the appropriate support – it sure is! However, don’t take our word for it – hear it directly from four of our current part-time evening students yourself! An Insider’s Perspective: A Day in the Life of an Evening Law Student offers prospective students (you!) the opportunity to receive candid insight from current evening students about the transition and acclimation to law school all the way to a triumphant exit – all while striking a sustainable school-work-life balance. This event is a must see for applicants interested in our evening program!

 

   Insider's Perspective: Understanding LSAC's Credential Assembly  Service (CAS) Report

                Monday, November 23rd, 2020   |   4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PT

Perhaps you've attended workshops on personal statements or the application process in general, but do you really have a deep understanding of LSAC's Credential Assembly Service and the report they provide to law schools? What goes into a CAS report? What do admissions committee members see when they review it? Dean of Admissions Lisa Gear will explain the intricacies of this document and explain how its contents can help or hurt you in the application process. 

 

   Southwestern Spotlight: Matthew French, '19

  Monday, November 30th, 2020   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

Alumnus Matthew French, class of 2019, is a graduate of Southwestern's SCALE 2-Year Accelerated J.D. Program. With a background in public school teaching, Matthew has now transitioned to a career in civil litigation. In his current practice, he is an associate attorney focusing his work on plaintiff-side employment discrimination, wrongful termination, elder abuse, and medical malpractice, among other areas. He gives back to Southwestern as a board member for the Nickel Club, our group for recently-graduate alumni, and in this intimate conversation with prospective students, he'll share with you how he managed to graduate in two years, participate and lead in numerous student organizations such as OUTLaw and the Student Bar Association, complete two externships,  and travel! 

 

   SCALE Virtual Open House

   Thursday, December 10th, 2020   |   4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PT

Curious about Southwestern's 2-year accelerated SCALE J.D. program? Join us for this virtual open house for an inside look! Let us show you how SCALE’s flexible curriculum, tight-knit cohort, and guaranteed externship will help you become an excellent, practice-ready attorney in only two years. Meet Dean Harriet M. Rolnick and get a detailed breakdown of how the SCALE program works, in addition to hearing from a panel of current students who are thriving in the SCALE program. You'll also have the opportunity to hear from our Financial Aid guru Suzanne Kunz on how to make your law school experience as affordable as possible.

 

   Diversity Day 2021

  January 30, 2021   |   10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT

Southwestern Law School’s Spring semester roster of prospective student events starts off with our annual Diversity Day. This year's event will be hosted online and will feature three significant discussion topics, below. Dean Susan Prager will welcome you to the event, and following the program, we invite you to join us for a virtual reception where you can meet and speak with Southwestern deans, professors, students, and Admissions officers.  RSVP Here!

• Copyright Culture and Black Music: A Legacy of Unequal Protection, with Professor Kevin Greene

African American music artists have been routinely deprived of legal protection for their creative works under the copyright regime. For many years, this perspective has only been faintly hinted at in legal scholarship, leaving Black artists as the "invisible" men and women of copyright jurisprudence. The issue of copyright deprivation and Black artists is highly significant, given the enormous cultural contribution of Black music to American society, the importance of music to Black culture, and the tremendous economic benefits at stake. In this important discussion, Professor Greene will dissect the history of Black artists' unequal compensation for and recognition of their cultural contributions.

• A Call to Action: The True Definition of Student Leadership in Law School, with student organization and affinity group leaders, co-moderated by Dean Nydia Dueñez, '10, and Dean Robert Mena

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." - These wise words from John F. Kennedy summarize the role our Student Bar Association and Student Organizations played in helping the Southwestern community heal during a difficult year fraught with social, racial, and political unrest. Come learn from our Student Bar Association and our Student Organizations the true meaning of student leadership. The SBA will discuss our Safe Space Series, which was created to provide Southwestern’s diverse student body a forum to freely address, question, and dissect issues of social justice. You will also have the opportunity to hear about Town Hall Meetings led by Southwestern's student affinity groups, which provided students from various identities the opportunity to be heard. This is your opportunity to hear from and about the real Southwestern Law School community! This panel will be co-moderated by Dean of Students and Diversity Affairs, Nydia Dueñez, '10, and Dean of Student Affairs, Robert Mena.

•  Why Law Students Matter, a panel discussion with change-making legal clinic students, moderated by Professor Beth Caldwell

Our students don’t wait to become lawyers before they start impacting their communities - they start while they're still in law school. Nowhere do you see this more than in our Southwestern Clinics. Clinical students have fought for the child who will no longer be expelled from school after countless hearings with their school district; the individual whose immigration status was changed to allow them to remain in this country; the youth offender who was granted parole after 25 years in prison; and the the college student getting their rental deposit back from an unscrupulous landlord. All of these cases - and hundreds more - remind us of one constant: a Southwestern Law student was their legal advocate. Come join this conversation to hear from our campus' true change-makers and envision yourself in their shoes soon, ensuring justice before the law. This panel will be moderated by Professor Beth Caldwell, best-selling author of Deported Americans: Life After Deportation to Mexico, immigrant community advocate, and juvenile justice expert.

 

   An Insider's Perspective: Introduction to Legal Research

   February 9, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT

Our "Insider's Perspective" series continues into the Spring semester and our first topic will delve into the basics of legal research. Join Associate Dean and Law Library Director, Professor Margaret Hall, for a lively lesson on one of a lawyer's most crucial skills. Professor Hall will show you how to approach a research question, experiment with a hypothetical problem, and concretize theoretical concepts.

 

   Part-Time Evening Program Virtual Open House

  February 11, 2021   |   5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PT

Don't miss this encore presentation of our Part-Time Program Virtual Open House! Participate in a synchronous and asynchronous online course simulation, see a sample part-time evening course schedule, learn about how evening students can participate in Externships and Clinic and receive valuable information on how to finance your legal education. We hope to see you there!

 

West Coast Consortium: First-Generation Students and the Personal Statement: Perspectives that Enrich the Law School Experience
Friday, February 12, 2021   |  2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.  PT  

At this virtual event, come hear from a panel of first-generation law students as they discuss their paths to and through law school. Learn how their backgrounds help them approach legal education with new perspectives and elevate the classroom and cultural experience. After the panel, meet with representatives from 16 West Coast private law schools.

 

   SCALE Program AMA (Ask Me Anything) Event

  February 19, 2021   |   4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT

Want to learn how to complete law school in two years through Southwestern's SCALE J.D. Program? Want to know how accelerated law students incorporate externship, honors programs, and clinics? Or how to cultivate your application to have a competitive edge for SCALE? What about student life and bonding with your cohort? Join us for this open forum SCALE program AMA (Ask Me Anything) Event and bring all the questions YOU have! We'll provide the answers! Don't miss your chance to meet, chat with, and have your questions answered by SCALE Dean Harriet Rolnick and current SCALE students Jeffrey Laufer (SCALE I,) Katherine "Katie" Giegoldt (SCALE I,) Jesus Hinojosa (SCALE II,) and Joshua Davis (SCALE II.) 

 

  Southwestern Spotlight - Angel Ajala, second-year law student and student leader

   February 22, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. PT

Second-year law student Angel Ajala is back for an encore performance after her outstanding presence at our January 30 Diversity Day event.  Co-Founder of the Student Bar Association's Safe Space Series, Peer Mentor, Teen Court Representative, Black Law Student Association Event Coordinator, research assistant, former Clinical Student, and community volunteer, Angel focuses her efforts on investing in others and giving back in gratitude for what she has and has been able to achieve. In this intimate 45-minute discussion, meet Angel and find inspiration from her path into the legal profession. 

 

East Meets West Coast Consortium: Moving Out-of-State for Law School 
Wednesday, February 24, 2021   |  3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  PT  

Join current students from 6 law schools as they talk about their decision to move out-of-state for their legal education, as well as their law school experience. Feel free to submit questions ahead of time or bring them to the session!

 

  Succeeding in Law: Guidance from Mentors Who Have Walked in Your Shoes

 February 27, 2021   |   10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT

A critical part of legal education is learning about the legal profession and the variety of careers you can pursue using your J.D. degree. These lessons are oftentimes even more impactful when they come from accomplished professionals who share backgrounds similar to yours, and who can mentor you as you follow the paths they once walked. At this annual event for prospective students - now online! - hear from 12 attorneys in various practice areas, participate in speed networking, and learn about Southwestern's Career Services and Externship opportunities.

In the spirit of Southwestern’s 100+ year history of access and diversity, this program highlights the Armenian-American and Iranian-American legal communities in Los Angeles and is open to all who wish to gain insight into a career in law.

Southwestern offers a special thanks to the Armenian Bar Association and Iranian-American Bar Association who serve as co-sponsors for this annual event.

 

   Meet the Faculty: Mock Class with Part-time Evening Program Co-Director Bridgette de Gyarfas

  March 6, 2021   |   11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT

Join us virtually on Saturday, March 6th at 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PT and meet Professor, Evening Program Co-Director (and Southwestern alumna) Bridgette de Gyarfas as she offers a thrilling taste of Criminal Law, simulating what a real class session will be like this fall. 

During the Mock Class you will take on the role of a law student, engaging in a back-and-forth conversation about attempted murder and what constitutes a crime. Using a hypothetical, you'll learn the definition of attempted murder, focus on the facts of the case, and determine whether the defendant's actions warrant the charge. And, in the end, discover a twist to the story that you didn't see coming! 

 

West Coast Consortium of Private Law Schools: Finding your Fit and Financial Aid
Monday, March 8, 2021   |  5:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.  PT  

Hear a panel of students discuss what they were looking for in a law school and why they chose to attend their respective institutions. Learn about the intricacies of paying for law school directly from financial aid officers. Then, circulate in a virtual law fair to meet admission officers from a variety of West Coast law schools.

 

   An Insider's Perspective: Personal Statements and Letters of Recommendation

  Monday, March 15th, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PT

Writing your personal statement for a law school application can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What should you say?

Southwestern’s Dean of Admissions wants to help you with these questions! This Monday, join her interactive workshop on law school personal statements. She’ll provide you with expert advice, guidance on what to do and what to avoid, and insight into how personal statements are used in the admissions process. Dean Gear will also go over her tips for letters of recommendation and field inquiries about the law school application process. 

 

    Southwestern Spotlight: Natasha Aminpour, '19

    Monday, March 22nd, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

Recent grad Natasha Aminpour will share her experience and passions in this Southwestern Spotlight. Currently working in family law, Natasha is a graduate of Southwestern's Part-time Evening Program. Over her four years, she externed for two District Attorney's Offices while in law school and participated in the Persian Law Student Association and Teen Court.  Come be inspired by her vibrant personality and enthusiasm for helping prospective law students find their path.

 

   Meet the Faculty: Catherine Carpenter, '76

  Friday, March 26th, 2020   |   4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PT

In this presentation, you'll meet Professor - and Southwestern alum - Catherine Carpenter as she discusses one of her research topics, "The Child Scarlet Letter: Why Putting Kids on the Registry is Wrong." Professor Carpenter will examine the practice of including juveniles on the public sex offense registry, sometimes for life, for sexual acts that they committed as kids. A nationally recognized scholar in sex crimes, whose publications have been cited widely by courts and attorneys, she is also a Southwestern student favorite, teaching Criminal Law and Co-Directing both our Moot Court Honors Program and the Part-time Evening Program. 

 

   Southwestern Spotlight: Brittany Butler, third-year law student

  Monday, April 5th, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

Brittany Butler is a current 3L in the Traditional Day Program. She came to law school with the dream of becoming a Public Defender. During her time here, she has been involved in various on-campus activities such as being the Co-President of the Mass Incarceration Awareness Law Society, being on the Dean's Task Force for Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, participating in the Street Law Clinic and the Public Service Program. She has had the opportunity to work with the Los Angeles Innocence Project, the Los Angeles Public Defender, and the ACLU of Louisiana. Her passion and purpose inspire her to pursue justice in many forms and in this intimate conversation, you'll learn what it takes to use the law as a tool for change. 

   Southwestern Spotlight: Emily Rehm, '17

                Monday, April 19th, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

Emily Rehm graduated in 2017 from our Part-time Evening program and now clerks for a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. A star student in law school, Emily mastered the arts of time management and focus, which helped her excel in activities such as Moot Court, Law Review, the Journal of International Media and Entertainment Law, and her TA and Research Assistant roles. She also shared her enthusiasm for law school and learning in her roles as a Dean's Fellow and Writing Center Fellow. At this Spotlight, find out how you, too, can master law school and have a great time while doing so! 

 

   An Insider's Perspective: Friday with the Fellows

               Friday, April 23rd, 2021   |   12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. PT

Interested in making a smooth transition from undergrad or the workforce to law school? We thought so! Join our Academic Success faculty and the Dean’s Fellows to learn how to adapt to the academic rigor of law school. Southwestern's Dean’s Fellows are upper-division students with strong academic skills who guide other students in best-practice study methods that will help them become acclimated to the study of law. Join this session to hear their tips for making the most of your in-class experience. 

 

   Part-Time Evening Program Virtual Open House

                Monday, April 26th, 2021   |   5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PT

Back by popular demand! Please join us for an encore presentation of our Part-Time Evening Program Virtual Open House. We get it – earning a law degree while juggling work, family responsibilities, and financial commitments is daunting. But you can do it – at the right school and with the appropriate support. From the comfort of your home, join us to receive guidance from faculty on how to succeed in law school while striking a sustainable school-work-life balance. At this event, you'll participate in a synchronous and asynchronous online course simulation, see a sample part-time evening course schedule, learn about how evening students can participate in Externships and Clinic and receive valuable information on how to finance your legal education. 

 

 Southwestern Spotlight: Mandi Brooksbank, '16, SCALE 2-Year   Accelerated J.D. Graduate

  Monday, May 3rd, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

Mandi Brooksbank currently works for Entertainment One, a multinational content production and distribution subsidiary of Hasbro. As in-house counsel in the television business and legal affairs department, Mandi gets to work on talent deals, sale negotiations, legal aspects of production, and more. If this sounds like the entertainment law job that dreams are made of, just remember that she put in a lot of hard work to get there. Not only did she complete law school in two years, she also participated in Law Review, the Trial Advocacy Honors Program, and the Negotiation Honors Program, receiving distinctions in all three. She completed multiple externships, and helped her peers as a Dean's Fellow and Peer Mentor. Her multi-faceted approach to success relied not just on performing well in school, but also on networking and building her professional reputation. 

 

  An Insider's Perspective: How to Wait on the Waiting List

  Monday, May 10th, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PT

Being waitlisted can feel like being in limbo. What does it mean and what do you do while you wait? How do you navigate communicating with schools you've received offers from and those you are still waiting on? Join our Dean of Admissions for an informative and interactive session about this mystifying aspect of the admissions process. Learn what to do and what to avoid, receive pro-tips on how to position yourself for success, and receive insight that will help you feel empowered during the waiting period. 

 

West Coast Consortium: Building Your Timeline and Virtual Law Fair
Wednesday, May 12, 2021   |  4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.  PT  

Preparing to apply to law school can be a nerve-wracking process. Building a strategic timeline is the key to a successful admissions experience! At this webinar, learn effective ways to plan for taking the LSAT, requesting letters of recommendation, and more. Following the panel, you can meet with Admissions staff from numerous different private west coast law schools, including Southwestern. 

 

  An Insider's Perspective: Friday with the Fellows

 Friday, May 14th, 2021   |   12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. PT

Interested in making a smooth transition from undergrad or the workforce to law school? We thought so! Join our Academic Success faculty and the Dean’s Fellows to learn how to adapt to the academic rigor of law school. Southwestern's Dean’s Fellows are upper-division students with strong academic skills who guide other students in best-practice study methods that will help them become acclimated to the study of law. Join this session to hear their tips for making the most of your in-class experience.

 

  Southwestern Spotlight: Michael Morse, '13, Federal Prosecutor

  Monday, May 17th, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. PT

"Jury trials are the reason I became an attorney." - Southwestern Alumnus Michael Morse. If these words sound like they could be yours, then don't miss our Southwestern Spotlight on 2013 graduate, and current federal prosecutor, Michael Morse. With his heart set on trial work, Michael attended our three-year full-time program and immersed himself in externships and extracurriculars. He participated in the Black Law Student Association, was the Academic Chair for the Trial Advocacy Honors Program, and worked in both the LA County Public Defender's and District Attorney's Offices. These activities provided him the experience necessary to land his post-grad position as an LA County Deputy District Attorney. He has since grown in his career and now serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, LA Office. Meet him on May 17th and learn how you can make your trial advocacy dreams a reality. 

 

  Insider’s Perspective: Alumni from the Evening Program

  Wednesday, May 19th, 2021   |   5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. PT

Have you ever heard the saying, “you can’t have it all?” Well, at Southwestern, you can. We prioritize the experiences of all our students, including those who are attending law school part-time. A misconception about going to law school part-time is that you will miss out on opportunities or that’s it’s impossible to balance real life (jobs, family, etc.) with law school. Our panelists for the Insider’s Perspective: Alumni from the Evening Program have all successfully managed to balance work and school, participate in honors programs, and find career opportunities that are the envy of the legal profession.

 

  An Insider's Perspective: Life as a Trial Lawyer

 Monday, May 24th, 2021   |   6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PT

Southwestern has a long history of producing top litigators and fierce courtroom advocates. At this event, you'll learn how our programs support successful trial work and hear what it's like to be in a courtroom with all eyes on you while your client's future stands in the balance. Drawing upon all aspects of legal acumen, from problem solving to improvisation and thoughtful argumentation to creative story-telling, trial work requires a variety of skills and keeps the job interesting through lifelong learning. Even though every day may not be your own courtroom drama, you'll hear how life as a trial lawyer is both fulfilling and enjoyable.