Scheduling to Enhance Law School

Mission and Values

Southwestern Law SchoolLos Angeles, California

Doreen HeyerAssociate Dean for Academic Administration

Austen ParrishVice Dean and Professor of Law

An Overview

1. The Mission

2. Enhancing the Mission

3. Nudging Others?

“This panel explores the extent to which law schools can enhance the intentional design of their mission and values into their curriculum

and programming.”

1. Southwestern’s Mission2010 ASSOCIATE DEAN’S CONFERENCE

The Mission

Our Formal Mission Statement

“The mission of Southwestern Law School is to produce highly-skilled graduates who are capable of integrating

theory and practice to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Through excellent faculty committed to

promoting the highest level of professionalism, Southwestern seeks to create a vibrant academic

community with a student-centered approach to legal education.”

Southwestern: Who We Are…

• 100 Year History: established in 1911, as the second law school in Los Angeles, in the heart of Los Angeles.

• Clear Founding Mission: founded on strong academic and scholarly ambitions, with a mission of providng access to underrepresented groups.

• Strength in Diversity: one of the most diverse schools in the nation.

• Changes in Legal Education: recognized for our curricular innovations.

The Mission

Recent History: A Period of Remarkable Change…

• Facilities Expansion: $30 mil. campus expansion in late 1990s, plans to build student housing and 5-6 additional campus buildings over next 4-5 years.

• Curricular Reform: revamped first-year and upper division curriculum over past 5 years.

• Tremendous Growth in Faculty Hiring: a significant amount of lateral and entry-level hiring.

The Mission

The Mission

Focusing on Two Aspects of the Mission

• Theory to Practice: A Lawyer’s Law School

• Flexibility and Choice: Scheduling for Non-traditional Students

2. Enhancing the Mission2010 ASSOCIATE DEAN’S CONFERENCE

Enhancing the Mission

Enhancing “Theory to Practice”

• A three track legal writing program (“LAWS”).• A first-year elective.• A January Intersession.• Capstone courses.• Floating mini-term courses.• Clinics, externships, practicums.

Enhancing the Mission

Enhancing Flexibility and Choice

• PLEAS: a 4-year, part-time program for students with child-care or elder-care responsibilities.

• SCALE: a 2-year, accelerated skills program.• Evening: a 4-year, part-time program for working

professionals.• An Online LL.M. Program: an online LL.M. program in

Entertainment and Media Law.• Dual Degrees: a 4-year MBA/JD and MAM/JD program

with Claremont; and a 3-3 program with Cal. State Dominguez Hills

3. Nudging: Practical Considerations2010 ASSOCIATE DEAN’S CONFERENCE

Practical Considerations

Challenges to Implementation

• Complexity of scheduling….• Challenges with co-curricular activities….• Challenges with academic support….• Challenges with facilities/space….• Faculty buy-in (and staff too!)….• Importance of strategic planning….

Happy to discuss more if helpful…

Doreen Heyer dheyer@swlaw.edu(213) 738-6801

Austen Parrishaparrish@swlaw.edu(213) 738-5728