Announcements

Announcing the 2024 Grand Marshals:

Professor Michael Dorff says...

"I am deeply honored that the class of 2024 selected me to serve as Co-Grand Marshal.  Commencement is a wonderful celebration of these extraordinary students’ hard work and achievement.  I’m thrilled to have the privilege of sharing that pivotal moment with our graduates as they hear their names called and walk across the stage, transitioning from student to counselor."

Professor Christopher Robinette says...

"It is such an honor to be selected as Co-Grand Marshal.  Most of this class and I entered Southwestern together three years ago, and I am thrilled to be beside them as they go out into the world to do great things."

Announcing the 2024 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient:

Appointed to the Ninth Circuit by President Clinton in 1998 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw formerly served as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Central District of California. Her prior legal practice included a partnership at O'Melveny & Myers, LLP, where she specialized in complex litigation, intellectual property, and media defense law. Judge Wardlaw's civic engagement is extensive, including roles as president of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and board member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, the UCLA Center for Communication Policy, and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. She currently serves on the UCLA Law School Board of Advisors, and the boards of the Center Theatre Group and the Norton Simon Museum. 

Judge Wardlaw graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with an A.B. in Communication Studies. She earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1979, where she was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate and received the Order of the Coif. Her dedication to judicial and community service has garnered her numerous accolades, including the Maynard Toll Award for Distinguished Public Service and the title of UCLA School of Law Alumni of the Year for Public and Community Service. 

Expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming commencement, Judge Wardlaw remarked, "It is a great honor to speak at Southwestern Law School's commencement. My path in law has been deeply influenced by values that Southwestern champions: public service, diversity, and leadership. I am excited to share my story and encourage our future leaders to courageously advance justice and the rule of law in our society." 

Announcing the 2024 Student Speaker:

A first-generation student from the Inland Empire, Brenda has shaped her law school career around public-interest law, with a focus on education and child advocacy. Her professional experiences include clerking for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, volunteering at Inland Counties Legal Services Expungement Clinics, and serving as a judicial extern to Judge Annabelle Cortez at Edelman Children’s Courthouse. 

At Southwestern, Brenda served as Co-President of the Women’s Law Association and Co-Vice President of the Advocates for Children’s Rights, earning recognition as a “rising star” from the Children’s Rights Clinic. 

"As I reflect on the past three years, I am grateful to have been part of a community that both inspired and challenged me,” said Brenda. “I am honored to represent the Class of 2024 as this year’s commencement speaker." 

Graduating with a Public Interest Concentration, Brenda is committed to continuing her advocacy for children and families in her future career. 

Announcing the 2024 Commencement Singer...

Quentin, armed with a BFA in acting from Howard University and an MFA in producing for theater and film from the California Institute of the Arts, has returned to Los Angeles all the way from New Zealand with a steadfast pursuit of a career in entertainment law. His passion for advocating for the rights of Black artists fuels his mission to ensure fair compensation, complete intellectual property ownership, and equal creative freedom within the industry.

At Southwestern, Quentin has thrived in the SCALE 2-year accelerated program, leaving an indelible mark on the institution's extracurricular landscape. His contributions span a multitude of roles, from serving as a Teaching Assistant and Dean’s Fellow to assuming leadership positions such as Co-Vice President of BLSA. Additionally, Quentin has been actively involved in Law Review, the Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic, and the Negotiation Honors Program and has served as a mentor for both the First Generation Law Students Association and the SCALE program.

With a concentration in entertainment law and distinctions as a Biederman Scholar and Langston Bar Scholar, Quentin is unwavering in his commitment to reforming industry standards. His ultimate goal is to merge his expertise in entertainment law with estate planning, offering comprehensive legal support to empower artists on a holistic level.