June 17, 2024

Southwestern Law School Welcomes Faculty Experts in Juvenile Justice and Legal Writing

Los Angeles, CA – Southwestern Law School proudly announces that Professor Jyoti Nanda, an authority on juvenile justice, criminal law, and critical race studies, has joined its full-time faculty. Southwestern is also excited Professor Karin J. Graver, a veteran in legal analysis and writing, is returning to the full-time faculty. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Professor Jyoti Nanda to Southwestern Law School. Her groundbreaking work in juvenile justice and critical race studies will be a tremendous asset to our students and faculty," said President and Dean Darby Dickerson. "Karin Graver is also re-joining our full-time faculty. She brings great experience and expertise to our legal writing program." 

Jyoti Nanda: A Leading Voice in Juvenile Justice and Critical Race Studies 

 Jyoti Nanda joins Southwestern Law School as a tenured Professor of Law from Golden Gate University. At GGU, she focused on criminal and juvenile law, exploring how legal systems fail to protect marginalized communities. In 2022, she was awarded the Justice Jesse W. Carter Faculty Scholarship Award for her cutting-edge doctrinal contributions. 

"It's an honor to be part of a community that actively champions the intersection of law and social justice," Nanda said. "I am looking forward to expanding on my research and continuing to teach juvenile justice and critical race studies to contribute to Southwestern's academic excellence." 

Nanda began her career as a Skadden Fellow, advocating for civil rights with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.  She then spent 16 years on UCLA School of Law’s faculty, where she taught doctrinal and clinical courses and founded the law school's Youth and Justice Clinic. Her notable scholarship includes the 2012 article "Blind Discretion: Girls of Color in the Delinquency System," which has influenced juvenile justice reform across the United States. She has published in the UCLA Law Review, Columbia Journal of Race & Law, Lewis & Clark Law Review, and Nevada Law Journal.  She co-edits "Children and the Law," a leading textbook on juvenile law. In 2023, she was named a Salzburg Global Fellow and participated in international youth violence and safety conventions in Austria and the Netherlands. She has also taught at UC Davis Law, USC Gould School of Law, and UC Law, San Francisco.  

Nanda received her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Professor Karin J. Graver Returns to Southwestern’s Legal Writing Program 

Karin J. Graver returns to Southwestern Law School as a Professor of Law, bringing extensive experience in legal analysis, writing, and litigation. Graver previously taught at Southwestern from 2004 to 2020, where she was instrumental in developing the Legal Analysis, Writing, and Skills (LAWS) program. 

“Returning to Southwestern Law School feels like coming home,” Graver said. “I am excited to continue working with students to hone their legal writing and analysis skills, which are crucial for their success in legal practice.” 

Graver began her legal career as a litigation associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Los Angeles, focusing on business and employment litigation. She later joined Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan, where she represented clients in complex legal disputes. 

During her previous tenure at Southwestern, Graver was known for her innovative teaching methods and dedication to student success. She mentored students, preparing them for legal practice with an emphasis on clarity, precision, and persuasiveness in legal writing. 

Graver received her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and her B.A. in Political Science from UCLA.