34th Annual Alumni Awards Gala

Southwestern annually recognizes outstanding alumni and friends at its annual gala.

Outstanding Alumnus of the Year — J. Bernard Alexander III ’86

J. Bernard Alexander, III is a founding partner of Alexander Morrison + Fehr, LLP and a civil rights attorney who tries plaintiff employment and police excessive force cases, having tried 75+ cases to verdict, including the largest single plaintiff race harassment verdict in history in Diaz v. Tesla. As president of the California Employment Lawyer Association (2014), he created an annual employment trial college that has graduated over 450 attorneys. Bernard has been recognized as Trial Lawyer of the Year by CAALA (2022), the Langston Bar Association (2024), and the San Francisco Trial Lawyer’s Association (2024); as one of the Top 10 Attorneys in Southern California from 2019 to 2024; and as a Super Lawyer since 2009. Bernard serves on the Southwestern Law School Board of Trustees. 

Outstanding Judicial Officer — The Honorable Shelley Kaufman '81

Judge Shelley Kaufman was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in December 2013. She has been assigned to the Family Law Division since January 2014 and is currently the Supervising Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court Family Law Division. Before joining the bench, Judge Kaufman was a partner at Geragos & Geragos, specializing in civil rights litigation, catastrophic personal injuries, wrongful death, and class action cases. Judge Kaufman earned her Juris Doctor from Southwestern’s SCALE program.

Outstanding Firm — PARRIS Law Firm

With over $4.1 billion won for clients, PARRIS Law Firm has a long-standing reputation for success and remains dedicated to pursuing justice for vulnerable families. This commitment is mirrored in the firm’s expanding environmental law practice group, through which they have recovered billions for families damaged by corporate negligence. The firm’s attorneys strive to protect those affected by environmental disasters and hold accountable those responsible, just as they do for all of their clients, regardless of the damage caused to them. By investing heavily in ongoing education, technology, and compassionate client care, the firm helps its clients achieve peace of mind after a traumatic event. The firm has hosted student interns and mentored new Southwestern Law School alumni. They have partnered with Southwestern Law School to establish the Parris Academy for Excellence in Law and Leadership, a groundbreaking program designed to help students develop leadership skills and prepare them to be legal leaders. 

Outstanding Friend — Mexican American Bar Foundation

The mission of the Mexican American Bar Foundation is to enhance the diversity of the legal profession through education. The Foundation does this by supporting the dreams of young people of Latino heritage pursuing legal careers. Since 1991, MABF has awarded over $4.5 million in scholarships, bar study stipends, and related aid to students who have demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, community service, leadership experience, and the ability to overcome any hardship experienced in pursuing their legal education. Between 1991 and 2024, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 million to almost 200 Southwestern Law School students.