CHANGE STARTS HERE
Since 1911, Southwestern has led bold change in legal education—expanding access and redefining what a J.D. can be. We welcomed women and students of color long before it was common, pioneered the nation’s first accelerated two-year J.D., and built the PLEAS program so parents and caretakers could pursue law while balancing family responsibilities. Most recently, we created the only mainly asynchronous Online J.D., for full-time and part-time students. Each first widened the reach and impact of the law.
Today, Southwestern alumni carry that trailblazing legacy into practice. They win landmark verdicts for injured individuals, negotiate major entertainment deals, protect tenants from wrongful eviction, and ensure our criminal justice system works fairly.
The next generation of leadership begins with you: if you’re ready to advance justice, defend rights, and shape the future of legal practice, your path begins here.
ONE OF THE U.S. EXTERNSHIP PROGRAMS MORE PATHS TO THE J.D. THAN ANY OTHER LAW SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI
16,400+ AROUND THE WORLD
3 LARGEST U.S. LEGAL MARKET: L.A. RD 76% OF STUDENTS RECEIVE INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS APPROX.
INNOVATION LEADER LAW SCHOOL 2025-26
Chinonso Anokwute ’25 Federal Judicial Extern, Future Civil Litigator
LEARNING AT SW LAW
Southwestern delivers one of the most adaptable legal educations in the nation. No matter which path to the J.D. you choose, every option is ABA-approved and supported by the same foundation: rigorous coursework, real legal work, close faculty access, and built-in bar preparation. Choose the structure that fits your life, and graduate ready for the profession.
One Degree. Six Paths Career-Focused Concentrations Bar Preparation, Built In
Only Southwestern offers a breadth of options from 2 years to 4 years, on-campus and fully-online, full-time and part-time. Earn your J.D. in a format that matches your goals, location, and responsibilities without compromising quality. Same faculty, access to externships, extracurriculars, and support services. Whether on-campus or online, you will get a rigorous education built for real-world impact.
J.D. Program Options:
• Accelerated J.D. (SCALE) - 2 years
• Full-Time Day J.D. - 3 years
• Full-Time Online J.D. - 3 years
• Part-Time Day Caregiver J.D. (PLEAS) - 4 years
• Part-Time Day J.D. - 4 years
• Part-Time Online J.D. - 4 years
swlaw.edu/jd-programs
In addition to pursuing the J.D., you may also choose from seven guided paths, each weaving specialized courses, faculty mentorship, and targeted fieldwork into a clear pipeline to practice:
Available Concentrations:
• Civil Litigation & Advocacy*
• Criminal Law & Advocacy
• Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies
• Entertainment & Media Law*
• Labor & Employment Law
• Public Interest Law*
• Technology Law & Entrepreneurship*
*Also available in the Online J.D. Program.
From semester one, required courses in legal writing, reasoning, and application build the skills the bar exam actually tests. In your final year, the Bison Bar Pass Program adds a structured study plan, practice exams, and faculty coaching. It’s a focused, start-to-finish approach to licensure that supports you throughout law school and your barstudy period.
Nationally Renowned Faculty
At Southwestern, you will learn from nationally recognized scholars and teachers—experts like Meera E. Deo on race, equity, and wellness in legal education, Kevin J. Greene on entertainment and IP law, and Andrea Freeman on constitutional law and food law. They’re joined by a roster of practicing attorneys and judges who bring current, real-world insight to every class.
“Law school was my childhood dream, but with two daughters under four, it felt out of reach. Southwestern’s Online J.D. lets me study around bedtime stories—rigorous courses, responsive faculty, and a community that makes me feel I can thrive as a mom and a future lawyer.”
Tamar Bronstein ’27
Online J.D. & Dean’s Leadership Academy
Curriculum Charts
The charts below list required courses. Students can explore electives and practical training experiences during their 2L,3L, or 4L years. Students are required to complete 87 units to graduate. Courses are subject to change, and descriptions are available at swlaw.edu/courses
Residential J.D. Programs
Accelerated J.D. (2 years)
1L (46 units)
Quarter 1 (11 units)
Contracts I (3 units)
Foundations of Law & Practice* (1 unit)
LAWS I (3 units)
Torts (4 units)
Quarter 2 (11 units)
Civil Litigation (3 units)
Contracts II (2 units)
Criminal Law (3 units)
Legal Profession (3 units)
Quarter 3 (9 units)
Evidence Law & Practice I (3 units)
LAWS II*
Property (4 units)
Remedies (2 units)
Quarter 4 (14-15 units)
Criminal Procedure (3 units)
Elective (2-3 units)
Evidence Law & Practice II (3 units)
Jurisdiction (3 units)
LAWS II* (3 unit)
Lawyering Practicum*
Summer Session (6-8 units)
Required:
Lawyering Practicum* (2 units)
Options:
Summer-Abroad Program
Summer Elective Course(s), including Externship Course
2L (35-38 units)
Quarter 5 (9-11 units)
Bar Writing Skills & Strategies (3 units)
Community Property (2 units)
Constitutional Law I (3 units)
Elective(s) (1-3 units)
Quarter 6 (9-11 units)
Business Associations (4 units)
Constitutional Law II (3 units)
Elective(s) (2-4 units)
Quarter 7 (8-10 units)
Elective(s) (2-4 units)
Multiple Choice Skills and Strategies (2 units)
Wills and Trusts (4 units)
Quarter 8 (6 units)
Mandatory 8-week Externship (5 units)
Multiple Choice Skills and Strategies (1 unit)
*Multi-term course
**Includes Bar Skills and Strategies (3 units), Community Property (2 units), Remedies (2 units), and Wills and Trusts (4 units). Subject to change as we monitor changes to the bar exam. Opt-out option based on GPA. See Graduation Requirements Policy.
***Includes Bar Skills and Strategies (3 units), Family Law (3 units), Practical Lawyering Skills (2 units), and Wills and Trusts (4 units). Subject to change as we monitor changes to the bar exam. See Graduation Requirements Policy.
Full-Time J.D. (3 years)
1L (31 units)
Fall (15 units)
Civil Procedure I (2 units)
Contracts I (3 units)
Criminal Law (3 units)
Foundations of Law & Practice*
LAWS I (3 units)
Torts or Property (4 units)
Spring
Online J.D. Programs
Full-Time J.D. (3 years)
1L (32 units)
Fall (16 units)
Constitutional Law I (3 units)
Contracts I (3 units)
Criminal Law (3 units)
Foundations of Law & Practice*
LAWS I (3 units)
Torts or Property (4 units)
Spring (16 units)
Constitutional Law II (3 units)
Contracts II (2 units)
Elective (3 units)
Foundations of Law & Practice* (1 unit)
LAWS II (3 units)
Torts or Property (4 units)
2L (20-32 units)
Business Associations (4 units)
Civil Procedure I & II (5 units)
Electives (7-19 units)
Evidence (4 units)
Additional Requirements
Bar Readiness Curriculum*** (12 units)
Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3 units)
Experiential Requirement (6 units)
Legal Profession (3 units)
Upper-Division Writing Requirement (2-3 units)
PLEAS and Part-Time J.D. (4 years)
Part-Time J.D. (4 years)
1L (19 units)
Fall (9 units)
Contracts I (3 units)
Criminal Law (3 units)
Foundations of Law & Practice*
LAWS I (3 units)
Spring (10 units)
Contracts II (2 units)
Foundations of Law & Practice* (1 unit)
LAWS II (3 units)
Torts (4 units)
2L (17-22 units)
Civil Procedure I & II (5 units)
Constitutional Law I & II (6 units)
Electives (2-7 units)
Property (4 units)
3L (16-22 units)
Business Associations (4 units)
Electives (8-14 units)
Evidence (4 units)
Additional Requirements
Bar Readiness Curriculum*** (12 units)
Constitutional Criminal Procedure (3 units)
Experiential Requirement (6 units)
Legal Profession (3 units)
Upper-Division Writing Requirement (2-3 units)
Experiential Learning: Law in Action
Many law schools teach you to think like a lawyer; Southwestern also trains you to practice. From your first semester, you’ll have an option to apply legal theory in hands-on settings. And by graduation, you’ll have drafted motions, negotiated deals, and advocated for clients in a clinic or externship, stepping into the profession equipped to make an immediate difference.
Externships: Beyond the Books
Southwestern’s externship program, one of the nation’s largest, with placements throughout California and the nation puts you in courts, firms, nonprofits, and in-house legal teams as early as 2L year. You earn credit under a faculty mentor and graduate with a résumé of real casework and meaningful professional connections. Remote and in-person opportunities are available for online students.
Sample Placements:
• Amazon/Ring
• Bet Tzedek
• California Attorney General
• Hawaii Supreme Court
• Inner City Law Center
• Kids In Need of Defense
• L.A. County Counsel
• Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
• National Labor Relations Board
• Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP
• Paramount Global
• PBS
• Public Counsel
• Sacramento County Public Defender
• SAG-AFTRA
• State Farm Insurance
• TechStyle Fashion Group
• U.S. District Court
• Warner Music Group
Clinics: Real Clients, Real Impact
Guide asylum seekers, defend tenants facing eviction, or negotiate contracts for indie artists—earning credit while working with seasoned faculty advocates. You set strategy, draft pleadings, and often carry a case from intake to final order. By graduation, you hold finished case files that demonstrate your skill and your service to clients who need it most.
Clinic offerings include:
• Appellate Litigation Clinic
• Asylum Law Clinic
• Children’s Rights Clinic
• Community Lawyering Clinic
• Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic
• Eviction Defense Clinic
• Family Law Clinic
• Immigration Law Clinic
• Street Law Clinic
Public Service & Pro Bono
Southwestern trains lawyers who show up for their communities. Here, you take on urgent legal work in housing, immigration, and economic justice, often supported by scholarships that remove financial barriers. Complete 75 hours and graduate with distinction, carrying experience that reflects both your values and your readiness to practice.
Monetary Value of Pro Bono Hours Donated in 2024 $2.2M
9
Full-Time J.D. & Lewis Brisbois Post-Bar Clerk BEST SCHOOLS FOR PRACTICAL TRAINING
“After a successful summer associate position at Lewis Brisbois, an Am Law 100 firm, I was offered a post-bar role and will join the team as an associate after the exam. Southwestern gave me the skills, support, and network to launch my legal career—before I even took the bar.”
Edwin Giron-Montenegro ’25
LIFE AT SW LAW
Community drives success at Southwestern. As one of the nation’s most diverse law schools, we combine 40+ student organizations with peer mentors, bar-prep coaches, and wellness programs— backed by accessible faculty—so you can bring your full self and find holistic support at every turn.
swlaw.edu/student-life
Meet Your Classmates*
Identify as Racially or Ethnically Diverse Students
Undergraduate Majors Represented 130+ 70+ 42% 46%
First-Gen College Student
“Undergraduate Schools Represented
Graduated 2024 or earlier 85%
States in which Students Currently Reside 19
*Figures are for the 2025 entering class.
As a first-generation Latina daughter of immigrants, my parents’ sacrifices were in every tuition bill. The Wildman/Schumacher Scholarship turned possibility into reality: Southwestern invested in my story and freed me to serve immigrant communities without the fear of crushing debt.”
Cindy Berganza ‘25
Accelerated J.D., Clinical Legal Education Association Awardee & Dean’s Leadership Academy
Academic Support & Mentorship
• Peer Mentor and Dean’s Fellow assigned in week one
• Writing Center, Academic Success workshops, bar-prep coaching, and one-on-one advising
• Award-Winning Advocacy Honors Programs (Trial, Moot Court, Negotiation) and three distinguished law journals
Community & Leadership
• 50+ organizations, from Black Law Students Association and First-Gen Professionals to Parents Attending Law School and Entertainment Law Society, for every background and interest
• Bison Week and community events that connect cohorts & opportunities
• Programs like the Parris Academy for Excellence in Law & Leadership and 1L Professionalism and Civility Program that develop leadership, communication, and professional skills
Well-Being & Essential Resources
• 24/7 BisonCares counseling, Student Support & Emergency Team, affordable health insurance
• Accessibility Services, on-campus Food Pantry, and Professional Clothes Closet
• Mindfulness in Law Society plus wellness programming for oncampus and Online J.D. students
Career Access & Campus Life
• Nearly 400 annual panels, symposia, externship forums, and networking events
• Residences at 7th: furnished apartments steps from class, with study lounges and a courtyard hub
• Career and student-life services delivered in hybrid formats so Online J.D. students stay fully engaged
“I came to law school knowing I wanted to make a difference, but honestly, I didn’t know if I’d find my place. Then Dean Dickerson started mentoring me. I also got to learn from Professor Isabelle Gunning, who’s spent her whole career fighting for justice. I was trusted with real cases. I was supported every step. And I built friendships here that will stay with me for life. That made me feel like I belonged, not just at Southwestern, but in this profession.”
Donald Bullock ’25 (center)
Full-Time J.D., Woolverton Family Public Interest Awardee & Dean’s Leadership Academy
At the Center of L.A.’s Legal Network
Los Angeles is one of the most expansive and opportunity-rich legal markets in the country— with hundreds of courthouses, advocacy groups, government offices, and global industry hubs all within reach. Each purple icon on the map represents an example of a firm, agency, or organization where Southwestern has built active student and alumni connections.
The Nation’s Legal Pipeline to Hollywood
Southwestern is home to one of the nation’s top-ranked Entertainment and Music Law programs—recognized by Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety for launching legal careers at the center of film, television, music, and streaming.
Through the Biederman Institute, students stay at the forefront of the field with 40 specialized courses including influencer agreements, digital distribution, immersive media, and the legal implications of AI-generated content. These are paired with for-credit externships at major studios, labels, agencies, and game publishers.
Led by practicing attorneys and supported by a global alumni network, the program offers direct access to the legal core of the creative industries, right in the heart of Los Angeles.
“Moving from Beijing, I needed a school that embraced my international perspective and creative drive. Southwestern’s location in the heart of Hollywood’s entertainment industry, combined with hands-on classes and a powerful alumni network, gave me the tools and confidence to turn my global storytelling vision into a career.”
Laurence Carroll Brahm ’26 Full-Time J.D. & Music Law Society Vice President
Where Southwestern Takes You:
• California Department of Justice
• Conde Nast
• Gibson Dunn
• Holland & Knight
• Interscope Records
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
• Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
• Lionsgate
• MGM-Amazon Studios
• Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP
• PBS
• Seyfarth Shaw
• Sheppard Mullin
• Sony Pictures
• U.S. Department of Justice
• U.S. Federal Public Defender
• Ventura District Attorney
• Walt Disney Company
SUCCESS AFTER SW LAW
From your first semester to your first job, Southwestern prepares you to succeed in the profession, with real experience, personalized career strategy, and deep connections to Los Angeles’ legal and cultural economy. Whether you’re headed to a courtroom, boardroom, public agency, production studio, or startup, you’ll graduate with a résumé of legal work, mentorship from practicing professionals, and the confidence that comes from doing the job before applying for it.
Career Services: Your Partner from Day One
Southwestern’s Career Services Office offers one-on-one advising, structured job search plans, and targeted support every step of the way. You’ll get access to weekly job postings, employer pipelines, interview preparation, and customized outreach across practice areas. From recruitment events to programs like Lawyers for America that place you in a job in your third year, the focus is always on matching your goals with real opportunities, and helping you move toward them with purpose.
“I hired two Southwestern students for my music-transactions team, and both showed up with the mix of intellectual acumen and practical skill to hit the ground running. Southwestern is clearly minting battletested lawyers ready to serve clients at the highest level.”
Eric German Partner, Mitchell
Silberberg & Knupp
Powered by a Global Alumni Network
With more than 16,400 alumni working across practice areas and industries, Southwestern offers students a network shaped by action. From California’s first African-American woman judge, to the nation’s first Latina trial-court judge, to the trial attorney behind the largest personal injury verdict in U.S. history—our graduates set new precedents every day, across justice, business, and culture.
Alumni Making an Impact:
• Jahmy Graham ’14 — Helped win the $626 million Flint water-crisis settlement, securing long-term healthcare funding for thousands of affected residents.
• Andrés Holguin-Flores ’15 — Litigated national civil rights cases at MALDEF, defending immigrants and workers through impact litigation and reform.
• Brian Panish ’84 — Won the $4.9 billion Anderson v. GM verdict, transforming auto safety standards and setting a benchmark in product liability law.
• Melissa Hanna ’17 — Co-founded Mahmee, a maternal-health startup backed by Serena Williams and Mark Cuban, advancing equity in prenatal and postpartum care.
• Marisa Blackshire ’07 — Guides clean-energy policy as VP at Bloom Energy, leading environmental compliance and sustainability efforts nationwide.
• Courtney Collins ’13 — Shapes AI and cloud-service legal strategy as senior counsel at Microsoft, following legal roles at Amazon and Scopely.
• Bernetta M. Hardy ’14 — Leads scripted dealmaking at Disney Branded TV, building a portfolio of series that reach global audiences across platforms.
• Emily Turi ’22 — Supports global content and business deals at Condé Nast, helping define how a legacy media brand reaches new audiences.
• Grace Pak ’17 — Designs civil-rights strategies for 20 state attorneys general while elevating AAPI voices in law and policy.
Deputy District Attorneys & Public Defenders in L.A. County
“
Being able to immediately put my classroom knowledge into practice was a priority for me, and I am grateful for the invaluable support I received from Southwestern professors.”
Camille Vasquez ’10 Partner, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Current Courses
Alternative Dispute
Resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Negotiation & Dispute Resolution
Business Organization and Practice
Agency & Partnership
Antitrust Law
Bankruptcy
Business Associations
Corporate M&A
Cybersecurity Law
Drafting Business Contracts
Drafting Tech Agreements
Employment-Based Immigration Law
Entertainment Business Affairs Negotiation
Evolution of Cannabis Law
Externships (various)
Gambling Law
International Business
Transactions
Labor Law
Products Liability
Representing Entrepreneurs
Securities Regulation
Taxation of Business Entities
Civil Litigation and Advocacy
Admin Law Legal Research
Advanced Legal Research
Advanced Legal Writing
Alternative Dispute
Resolution
Amicus Project Practicum
Appellate Litigation Clinic
Appellate Process & Brief
Drafting
Art of Persuasion
Big & Medium Law Firm
Practice
CA Civil Discovery
Civil Litigation
Civil Pretrial Practice
Civil Procedure I & II
Conflict of Laws
Courtroom Procedure 101
Defamation, Privacy, Publicity
Employment
Discrimination Law
Employment Law
Employment Law Survey
Entertainment & Media Litigation
Evidence
Evidence Law & Practice I & II
Externships (various)
Family Law
Family Law Procedure & Practice
Foundations of Tort Law Seminar
Interviewing, Counseling & Negotiation
Jurisdiction
Jury Selection in Civil Cases
Legislation
Mass Tort Litigation
Medical Malpractice Litigation
Negotiation & Dispute Resolution
Practical Legal Research
Products Liability
Public International Law
Remedies
Small Law Practice
Management
Trial Advocacy
Workers Compensation Law & Practice
Constitutional Law
Constitutional Law I & II
Critical Race Theory Seminar
Defamation, Privacy, Publicity
Election Law
Employment-Based Immigration Law
Evolution of Cannabis Law
Gambling Law
Habeas Corpus Litigation
Law & Religious Inst. Seminar
Legislative Drafting & Process
Mass Media Law
National Security Law
Prison Law & Mass Incarceration
Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation
Discrimination
Special Education Law Seminar
State Constitutional Law
Transgender Law
Women & the Law Seminar
Wrongful Convictions
Contracts and Commercial Law
Antitrust Law
Bankruptcy
Contract Law & Social Justice
Contracts I & II
Corporate M&A
Drafting Business Contracts
Drafting Real Estate
Transactions
Drafting Tech Agreements
Gambling Law
Insurance Law
International Business
Transactions
Music Industry Contracts
Transactions Real Estate Transactions:
Housing Development
Sales
Securities Regulation
Criminal Law and Practice
Advanced Criminal Procedure
Antitrust Law
CA Evidence & Sentencing Law
Complex Criminal Litigation
Const & Immig Law
Constitutional Criminal Procedure
Criminal Law
Criminal Law in Action
Criminal Law Practice
Crim Law Seminar: Sex Crimes
Crim Law Seminar: Contemporary Issues
Criminal Litigation in Practice
Criminal Procedure
Crimmigration Law Seminar
DUI Prosecution & Defense
Evidence
Evidence Law & Practice I & II
Evolution of Cannabis Law
Externships (various)
Habeas Corpus Litigation
Holistic Advocacy
Immigration Law
Immigration Law & Crimes
Immigration Law Clinic
Law of War Legislation
Securities Regulation
System-Involved Youth
Trial Advocacy
White Collar Crime
Wrongful Convictions
Youth and Justice Seminar
Employment Law
AI and the Entertainment Industry
Employment Law
Employment
Discrimination Law
Employment Law Survey
Employment-Based
Immigration Law
Externships (various)
Immigration Law
International Labor & Employment Law Seminar
Labor Law
Wage Theft: Underground Econ
Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law
Advanced Entertainment Law Seminar
AI and the Entertainment Industry
Amateur Sports Law
Chain of Title
Comparative Media Law
Copyright Law
Defamation, Privacy, Publicity
Drafting Business
Contracts
Drafting Entertainment Contracts
Drafting Tech Agreements
Entertainment Business Affairs Negotiation
Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic I and II
Entertainment & Media Litigation
Entertainment Industry Guilds
Entertainment Law
Externships (various)
Fashion Law
Gambling Law
Generative AI for Lawyers
Influencer Law
Information Privacy Law
International & Comparative
Copyright Law
International Art Law
International Entertainment Law
International Music Law
IP Licensing: Law & Practice
Law & Literature Seminar
Mass Media Law
Motion Picture Production Law
Music for Film & Television
Music Industry Contracts
Music Publishing Industry
Music Touring Law
Neg & Drafting
International Entertainment Contracts
NFTS & the Metaverse Sports Law
Television Production Law
Trademark Law
Unscripted TV Production Law
Writers Guild: Agreements & Negotiation
Family and Juvenile Law
Children & the Law
Children’s Rights Clinic
Community Lawyering Clinic
Externships (various)
Family Law
Family Law Clinic
Family Law Procedure & Practice
Immigration Law
Immigration Law Clinic
Special Education Law
Seminar
Street Law Clinic
System-Involved Youth
Wills & Trusts
Youth and Justice Seminar
Health Law
Evolution of Cannabis Law
Medical Malpractice Litigation
Intellectual Property
Advanced Entertainment Law Seminar
AI and the Entertainment Industry
Copyright Law
Cybersecurity Law
Drafting Tech Agreements
Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic I and II
Entertainment & Media Litigation
Entertainment Law
Externships (various)
Fashion Law
Generative AI for Lawyers
Influencer Law
International & Comparative
Copyright Law
International Art Law
International Criminal Law
International Entertainment Law
IP Licensing: Law & Practice
Motion Picture Production Law
Music for Film & Television
Music Industry Contracts
Music Publishing Industry
NFTS & the Metaverse
Patent Law
Television Production Law
Trademark Law
International and Comparative Law
AI and the Entertainment Industry
Asylum Law Clinic
Externships (various)
Immigration Law
International & Comparative
Copyright Law
International Art Law
International Business
Transactions
Neg & Drafting
International Entertainment Contracts
Insurance Law
Net Neutrality
Real Estate Sales
Workers’ Comp Law & Practice
Writers Guild: Agreements & Negotiation
Community Property
Disability Law
Education Law: K-12
Students and Civil Rights
International Criminal Law
International Entertainment Law
International Labor & Employment Law Seminar
International Legal Research
Law of War
National Security Law
Neg & Drafting
International Entertainment
Contracts
Public International Law
Selected Topics in International and Comparative Law
Youth and Justice Seminar
Jurisprudence and Legal History
American Legal History
Election Law
Law & Emotions
Law & Religious Inst. Seminar
Law & Literature Seminar
Law & Social Change
Legal Arguments Moral & Policy Seminar
Trial of Jesus Seminar
Women & the Law Seminar
Professional Skills/ Lawyering Skills/ Simulation
Admin Law Legal Research
Advanced Legal Research
Advanced Legal Writing
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Amicus Project Practicum
Appellate Litigation Clinic
Art of Persuasion
Asylum Law Clinic
Bar Skills & Strategies
Big & Med. Law Firm Practice
Cal Bar Writing
CA Practical Legal Research
Children & the Law
Children’s Rights Clinic
Civil Pretrial Practice
Community Lawyering Clinic
““My
Complex Criminal Litigation
Constitutional Criminal Procedure
Construction Law Drafting & Negotiation
Courtroom Procedure 101
Criminal Law in Action
Criminal Law Practice
Drafting Entertainment Contracts
Drafting Business Contracts
Drafting Real Estate Transactions
Drafting Tech Agreements
DUI Prosecution & Defense
Entertainment Law Firm Externship
Entertainment Business Affairs Negotiation
Entertainment & the Arts Legal Clinic I and II
Entertainment & Media Litigation
Estate Planning & Drafting
Eviction Defense Clinic
Externships (various)
Family Law Clinic
Family Law Procedure & Practice
Financial Literacy
Foundations of Law & Practice
Gambling Law
Generative AI for Lawyers
Immigration Appeals Practicum
Imm Court Law & Practice
Immigration Law Clinic
International Legal Research
Interviewing, Counseling & Negotiating
IP Licensing: Law & Practice
Jury Selection in Civil Cases
Law Firm Externship
LAWS Legal Writing I
LAWS II Appellate
Advocacy
LAWS II Negotiation
LAWS II Trial Practice
Legal Profession
Legal Technology Literacy
Legislative Drafting & Process
MBE: Skills & Strategies
Music Industry Contracts
Negotiation & Dispute
Resolution
Practical Lawyering Skills
Practical Legal Research
Public Interest Law Practice
Remedies
Representing
Entrepreneurs
Small Law Practice
Management
Street Law Clinic
Television Production Law
Trial Advocacy
Wellness in Legal Education
Writers Guild: Agreements & Negotiation
Public Interest/Civil Rights/Civil Liberties
Animal Law
Appellate Litigation Clinic
Appellate Process & Brief
Drafting
Asian-American Civil Rights
Asylum Law Clinic
Beyond LBGTQ+ Marriage
Children’s Rights Clinic
Community Lawyering Clinic
Const & Immig Law
Constitutional Law I & II
Crimmigration Law
Seminar
Critical Race Theory
Seminar
Defamation, Privacy, Publicity
first two externships were at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Those experiences opened the door to invaluable mentorship and handson training in federal trial practice. Upon graduating, I had secured a post-bar federal clerkship at the Central District.”
Rocco
D. Basile ‘25
Full-Time J.D., Judicial Law Clerk & Dean’s Leadership Academy
Disability Law
Education Law: K-12
Students and Civil Rights
Election Law
Employment
Discrimination Law
Employment Law Survey
Environmental Law
Eviction Defense Clinic
Evidence Law & Practice I & II
Externships (various)
Family Law Clinic
Habeas Corpus Litigation
Holistic Advocacy
Immigration Appeals
Practicum
Imm Court Law & Practice
Immigration Law
Immigration Law & Crimes
Immigration Law Clinic
Information Privacy Law
Labor Law
Land Use Planning
Law & Social Change
Legal Profession
LBGTQ+ Immigration
LGBTQ+ Youth in Care Systems
Local Government Law
National Security Law
Prison Law & Mass
Incarceration
Public Interest Law Practice
Public Interest Law Survey
Public International Law
Race, Culture, and the Law
Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation
Discrimination
Real Estate Transactions: Housing Development
Reproductive Law & Surrogacy
Spanish for Lawyers
System-Involved Youth
Transgender Law
Wage Theft: Underground Economies
Wellness in Legal Education
Women & the Law Seminar
Wrongful Convictions
Youth and Justice Seminar
Real Property/ Environment Law/ Land Use
Community Property
Construction Law Drafting & Negotiation
Environmental Law
Eviction Defense Clinic
Externships (various)
Land Use Planning
Local Government Law
Property
Real Estate Sales Transactions
Real Estate Transactions: Housing Development
Taxation Law
Estate Planning & Drafting
Survey of Federal Income Tax
Taxation of Business Entities
Wills & Trusts
Torts and
Compensation Systems
Defamation, Privacy, Publicity
Foundations of Tort Law Seminar
Mass Tort Litigation
Medical Malpractice Litigation
Products Liability
Torts
Workers’ Comp Law & Practice
Financial Aid
Southwestern’s financial aid program is designed to expand access and reduce financial pressure throughout law school. Substantial, renewable scholarships—including the Wildman/Schumacher and awards for first-generation students—are available across all J.D. formats, including SCALE, Online, and PLEAS. Additional scholarships recognize excellence, leadership, and public service. Financial aid counselors work one-on-one with students to build plans that may include federal loans, work-study, and Yellow Ribbon benefits for veterans—so students can stay focused on their goals, not just their tuition.
’25-’26 Tuition for Full-Time and Part-Time (Residential and Online)
’25-’26 Tuition for Accelerated J.D. Program (SCALE)
Note: The above figures reflect tuition for the 2025-26 academic year. Tuition and fees are subject to change. Visit www.swlaw.edu/tuition for complete details and the most recent figures.
Southwestern Law School prohibits discrimination and harassment based on an individual’s race (including hairstyle and hair texture), ethnicity, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, reproductive health decision-making, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), sex stereotyping (including assumptions about a person’s appearance or behavior, gender roles, gender expression, or gender identity), sexual orientation, parental status, marital status, age, disability (mental or physical), medical condition, citizenship status, military status or service, veteran status, genetic information, any other classification protected by federal or California law, or any combination of any status protected by law in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services, or in the educational programs (including retention of students) or activities Southwestern operates. Please direct all inquiries regarding Southwestern’s nondiscrimination policies to: General Counsel, 3050 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010; (213) 738–6626.
Your Home in the Heart of L.A.
Experience the perfect blend of comfort and convenience in our student residences. Our fully furnished apartments offer easy access to classes, city life, and public transportation, making your academic journey seamless and enjoyable.
GRADUATING TRAILBLAZERS
SINCE 1915
“ Dream big, even if those dreams scare you. Southwestern has given me the tools to face any fear in the future and overcome it.”
Brenda Martinez Jaurrieta ’24 Full-Time J.D. & 2024 Commencement Student Speaker, Dean’s Leadership Academy & Texas Rural Legal Aid Attorney