Philip Costa
Associate Professor of Academic Success and Bar Preparation
B.A., summa cum laude, New York University College of Arts and Science, 1989
J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, New York University School of Law, 1992
Member, New York State Bar
Following 15 years on the bench as a United States Immigration Judge and six years as an adjunct professor at Southwestern, Professor Costa joined the law school full time in July 2025 as Associate Professor of Academic Success and Bar Preparation. His teaching approach is grounded in the firm conviction that great lawyering is a driving force in achieving fairness, justice, and meaningful change.
“Justice doesn’t happen on its own. It is driven by great lawyers. At Southwestern, my goal is to educate and inspire a new generation of innovative, persuasive, ethical advocates who will stand up for what is right and make a difference.”
Professor Costa brings more than three decades of experience as a jurist, litigator, and educator. Prior to his judicial appointment, he served as Deputy Chief Counsel for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in New York, where he led litigation teams focused on administrative prosecution of human rights violators and designed national training programs in trial advocacy and legal writing. He began his career as an associate at Chadbourne & Parke, where he litigated complex federal and state court commercial actions. During this time, he also performed extensive pro bono work, including award-winning eviction defense advocacy in New York City Housing Court.
As a student at New York University School of Law, Professor Costa served as a teaching assistant for a 100-plus student torts course. He also volunteered at the Legal Aid Society and completed a year-long criminal defense clinical program.