Dov A. Waisman
Professor of Law
A.B., magna cum laude, Philosophy, Harvard College, 1995
M.A., Philosophy, University of California, San Diego, 2000
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2003
Member, California State Bar
With two degrees in philosophy, Dov Waisman says he was drawn to that discipline and eventually law because he "loves to think analytically and loves to write." As a litigator, he devoted much of his time to writing memoranda, drafting motions and other pleadings, and extensive research.
Professor Waisman joined Southwestern in 2007 as a member of the LAWS faculty, where he taught in the Trial Practice Track and emphasized with his students the need to "state things as succinctly as possible, get to the point quickly and anticipate their opponents' objections." In 2013, he became an Associate Professor of Law, and in 2017 was promoted to Professor of Law, teaching in the areas of Contracts and Community Property. "In Contracts and other courses, I encourage students to ask not just what the law is in a given situation, but why the law is what it is."
Professor Waisman served as Vice Dean from 2018 to 2022, for both Susan Westerberg Prager and Darby Dickerson.
"I like to see students get in the habit of identifying the deep policies, principles and values the law is intended to serve. This is critical to both the accurate analysis of legal problems and the effective representation of clients, and I think this will ultimately make them better lawyers."
Before law school, Professor Waisman was a housing coordinator for Project Renewal in New York, managing a permanent housing program for over 80 formerly homeless individuals and as a research assistant for the Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation in Los Angeles. After completing his law degree, he served as a litigation associate representing corporate clients for the firm of Sidley Austin. He supervised a group of 15 contract attorneys in a large document-review project and served on the Pro Bono Committee. Just before joining the Southwestern faculty, he practiced family law as an associate with the firm of Harris - Ginsberg.
Professor Waisman was the recipient of the Harvard College Scholarship as an undergraduate and the University of California Regents Fellowship as a Master's student. In law school, he served on both the Moot Court Honors Program and the UCLA Journal of International Law & Foreign Affairs. He also worked as a judicial extern for Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Selected Achievements
Recipient of 2017 Excellence in Teaching Award
Certified Mediator with the Los Angeles County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services
Founding Member, the Advisory Board of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California
Criminal Justice Award, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California, 2005
Video - Equity Among Persons and Feasibility-Based Regulation
Faculty Research by Professor Dov Waisman