Employment at Southwestern

Founded in 1911, as an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian institution, Southwestern Law School has long been at the forefront of legal education. We offer a competitive salary along with comprehensive benefits for employees, spouses/domestic partners, and dependent children, including medical, dental, vision, Group Life/AD&D, LTD, flexible spending accounts, TIAA-CREF pension plan, vacation and sick leave.

Following is a list of current job openings. Unless otherwise indicated, applicants may apply for positions by sending a cover letter, resume and salary history to individuals or email addresses indicated in the position opening.

Southwestern is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer. Applications from women and minorities are encouraged.

Current Employment Opportunities (as of 3/5/10)


DIRECTOR OF THE DONALD E. BIEDERMAN ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA LAW INSTITUTE

Southwestern, which for many years has enjoyed a close association with the entertainment and media industries in the Los Angeles area and beyond, is currently inviting applications for the position of Director of its Donald E. Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute. The new Director will commence in Summer or Fall 2010.

Southwestern formally launched the Biederman Entertainment and Media Law Institute ten years ago to help expand its broad-based entertainment/media/intellectual property/sports law offerings for students, and to serve as a resource to practitioners. The Institute was named in memory of its first director, Donald E. Biederman, a highly respected veteran of the entertainment law community and former Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Warner/Chappell Music, the world’s largest music publisher. He was succeeded in 2003 by David C. Kohler, former Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CNN, who passed away in October 2009. Professor Robert Lind has agreed to serve as Director of the Institute until Fall 2010.

Under the auspices of the Institute, Southwestern offers a cutting-edge curriculum taught by an outstanding cadre of full-time professors with extensive industry experience and a roster of adjunct faculty that reads like a "Who's Who" of the entertainment and media law bar. A prominent Executive Board and network of alumni who occupy important corporate and law firm positions throughout the industry are also very active in Institute activities and serve as mentors to students.

The Director is responsible for administering all aspects of the Institute as well as developing new directions and initiatives. To accomplish this, the Director:

  • Works closely with all faculty teaching courses in entertainment, media, intellectual property and sports law and participates in identifying and hiring new adjunct, full-time and visiting faculty to teach in these areas
  • Reviews relevancy of the curriculum, proposes new courses where warranted, evaluates and expands externship and practicum offerings, and develops Institute-sponsored symposia and other public programming
  • Supervises administrative, curricular and extracurricular activities of the LL.M. program in Entertainment and Media Law, which is offered as a full- or part-time residential program or through the new online option that will be launched in Fall 2010
  • Sets research agenda for the Institute, and oversees content development of Institute publications and web pages
  • Communicates and meets regularly with members of the Institute's Executive Board, practitioners and other leaders in the entertainment and media industries, and solicits their involvement in programs, externships and placement activities
  • Oversees Southwestern's annual International Entertainment and Media Law Summer Program in London which features a variety of academic and social experiences led by American and British faculty
  • Reports to the Dean, works with the Dean in fundraising for the Institute, manages the Institute budget, and supervises Institute office staff (full-time Associate Director, staff assistant and student research assistants)
  • Serves on the full-time faculty, typically teaches a half-time course load, and participates in faculty committee and other assignments as determined by the Dean

Compensation and benefits are very competitive. The Southwestern campus is convenient to many major entertainment and media industry headquarters. The Institute office is located in the school's highly acclaimed art deco Bullocks Wilshire landmark.
Candidates should have extensive experience in entertainment or media corporations and/or law firms, or comparable experience in legal education; demonstrated scholarly interest and achievement; strong entrepreneurial, administrative, communication and leadership skills; creativity and vision. Interviews will begin immediately. The position will remain open until filled. Applicants should submit a current resume and any supporting materials to: 

Dean Bryant G. Garth
Southwestern Law School
3050 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Or via email to deansoffice@swlaw.edu


DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND BAR EXAM RELATED PROGRAMMING

Southwestern invites applications for the position of Director of Academic Support and Bar Exam Related Programming, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2010. This is a full-time administrative position.

Responsibilities include:

  • Designing and implementing innovative academic support programs;
  • Teaching workshops and/or classes for students who need academic support;
  • Working with students in individual and small group sessions;
  • Designing and assisting with the law school's bar exam preparation classes, workshops, and events.

The ideal candidate will be an energetic and knowledgeable professional exhibiting a high degree of organizational skills, sensitivity and integrity. Candidates must be willing to work some evenings, so as to be able to design programs and provide support for students in the school’s part-time evening program.

Requirements:

  • Juris Doctor and a solid academic record;
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to work collaboratively with faculty and senior administration; and
  • Excellent writing and speaking skills.

Experience in a law school academic support program or other relevant teaching experience is preferred. Salary is commensurate with experience.

For consideration email cover letter, curriculum vitae, and list of references to Austen Parrish, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@swlaw.edu.


CLINICAL TEACHING FELLOWSHIP - CHILDREN'S RIGHTS CLINIC

Southwestern invites applications for the clinical teaching fellowship in the Children's Rights Clinic (CRC) for a two-year term beginning on June 1, 2010. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a young lawyer or recent law school graduate to gain experience in both clinical teaching and litigation. The fellow will work closely with the Clinic Faculty, assisting in the representation of clients, the supervision of students and the development of course curriculum.

The CRC represents low-income youth and families in education-related matters, including direct representation of youth in the areas of special education and school discipline. Students in the CRC, working under the close supervision of the clinic director and the teaching fellow, have the opportunity to interview and counsel clients, engage in negotiation and mediation, and to try cases before administrative hearing bodies. More information about the CRC can be found online.

The fellow will work with the Clinic's director on supervising students and will participate in teaching the clinic seminar. The fellowship is an opportunity to develop a career in public interest law or clinical/skills teaching. The fellow will receive support for research and professional development.

Well-qualified applicants for the CRC fellowship will have practice experience (or experience as a student in a clinical program) providing direct representation to low-income or youth clients. Well-qualified applicants will also have demonstrated commitment to public interest lawyering and possess strong academic credentials.

This fellowship will allow a lawyer to spend time honing skills in public-interest lawyering and clinical teaching, with the expectation that at the end of the program, the fellow will be well-positioned to secure a position in one of those fields.

Admission or eligibility for admission to the California bar by December 2010 is required. The salary is competitive with other public interest fellowships and will be based on the number of years of legal experience. The fellow will also receive a generous benefits package provided by Southwestern.

Applicants should submit the following:

  • A one page statement describing (a) prior experience in providing legal services; (b) other relevant experience; (c) aspirations for future public interest and/or clinical legal education work; and (d) information relevant to the applicant's potential for clinical supervision and teaching.
  • A resume
  • A writing sample (10-15 pages)
  • Three letters of recommendation mailed directly from the author
  • A law school transcript

Applications must be received by April 1, 2010 and emailed directly to Julie Waterstone at crcfellow@swlaw.edu.


CLINICAL TEACHING FELLOWSHIP - IMMIGRATION LAW CLINIC

Southwestern invites applications for the clinical teaching fellowship in the Immigration Law Clinic (ILC) for a two-year term beginning on June 1, 2010. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity for a young lawyer or recent law school graduate to gain experience in both clinical teaching and immigration law. The fellow will work closely with the Clinic Faculty, assisting in the representation of clients, the supervision of students and the development of course curriculum.

The ILC represents low-income children and adults in immigration matters, including direct representation in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Violence Against Women Act and U Visa cases. Students in the ILC, working under the close supervision of the clinic director and the teaching fellow, have the opportunity to interview and counsel clients, develop case strategy, prepare immigration applications and present cases before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. More information about the ILC can be found online.

The fellow will work with the Clinic's director on supervising students and will participate in teaching the clinic seminar. The fellowship is an opportunity to develop a career in public interest law or clinical/skills teaching. The fellow will receive support for research and professional development.

Well-qualified applicants for the ILC fellowship will have practice experience (or experience as a student in a clinical program) providing direct representation to low-income or youth clients. Well-qualified applicants will also have demonstrated commitment to public interest lawyering and possess strong academic credentials.

This fellowship will allow a lawyer to spend time honing skills in public-interest lawyering and clinical teaching, with the expectation that at the end of the program, the fellow will be well-positioned to secure a position in one of those fields.

Admission or eligibility for admission to the California bar by December 2010 is required. The salary is competitive with other public interest fellowships and will be based on the number of years of legal experience. The fellow will also receive a generous benefits package provided by Southwestern.

Applicants should submit the following:

  • A one page statement describing (a) prior experience in providing legal services; (b) other relevant experience; (c) aspirations for future public interest and/or clinical legal education work; and (d) information relevant to the applicant's potential for clinical supervision and teaching.
  • A resume
  • A writing sample (10-15 pages)
  • Three letters of recommendation mailed directly from the author
  • A law school transcript

Applications must be received by April 1, 2010 and emailed directly to Andrea Ramos at ilcfellow@swlaw.edu.


SOS OFFICE ASSISTANT

Southwestern offers an excellent career opportunity for an individual interested in higher education and student or administrative services. The ideal candidate will be a versatile self-starter capable of working with minimal supervision and able to coordinate and manage multiple assignments and projects successfully while interacting with a variety of constituencies. The SOS Office Assistant position requires general administrative assistance including but not limited to: document processing and management, computer directory and database management, proofreading, telephone and reception management, event coordination, graphic design, and special projects. Ability to effectively manage a high volume of student, faculty or staff inquiries along with ongoing assignments needed.

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor's degree with two years' experience in student, academic or administrative services. The successful candidate will also possess excellent interpersonal, service, and verbal/written communication skills; good judgment; strong organizational and planning abilities; and proficiency in computer programs (MS Word, Excel, Access, Outlook).

For consideration, send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to jobs6@swlaw.edu.