J.D. Welcome Packet
Congratulations!
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Message from the President & Dean
Dean’s Welcome Welcome to Southwestern Law School and the legal profession! For 113 years, Southwestern has cultivated passionate, creative, client-focused attorneys and leaders. We chose you because we know you can continue this remarkable tradition of excellence. You are now a member of the legal profession. In law, a good reputation is a key to success. It can take years to build a positive reputation, but you can damage or lose it in seconds. Start building that positive professional reputation now by practicing excellence every day. Work hard. Treat everyone with respect.
Read closely. Listen carefully. Be accountable. Learn from your mistakes. Help each other. Promote civility. Be honest. Keep your word. And we’ll be here to help you. Southwestern’s entire community is invested in your success. Our talented and passionate faculty, knowledgeable and devoted staff, and your student colleagues will collectively guide you through law school, the bar exam, and beyond. I also look forward to working with you during your personal and professional journey. Let’s get started! Best always,
Darby Dickerson President & Dean
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Phase One Get Organized
Read your admissions offer carefully. The offer letter contains important information such as deadlines, start dates, and
more. Make sure you know what it says and keep it in a location you can find easily.
Review the documents included in the Welcome Folder pocket. These documents provide your Southwestern ID number, a username and
password for logging on to important resources, and a review of your contact information—please update us if it has changed.
Log on! As an admitted student, you have access to two online resources that contain a
wealth of information. Check these resources—and your new Southwestern email address—regularly, as details are added on a regular basis.
Welcome to Southwestern CANVAS Page - https://swlaw.instructure.com/ Event dates, RSVP links, and recordings Information on our summer prep programs Orientation information And more!
The Portal - https://www.swlaw.edu/portal Southwestern email account Self-Service student record and information system Financial aid information (Bonus item: Add swlaw.edu to your email safe senders. Email is our primary form of communication with admitted students, and we don’t want you to miss any messages!) 4
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Student Orgs
Phase Two Join the Herd
Attend on-campus and virtual events. Visit www.swlaw.edu/admissionscal for general audience
events, or RSVP for events open exclusively to admitted students through your Welcome to Southwestern Canvas page.
Submit your deposits.
Your seat deposit deadlines are included on the documents
provided in this Welcome Packet, and can also be found on your Online Status Check. Calendar these dates!
Complete your registration packet. In spring, you’ll receive access to the online registration packet.
Instructions on how to complete the packet will be sent via email. After you complete the packet, you’ll have access to your course schedule for the coming academic year.
(Bonus item: Find us on social media and the SW Law Blog for student features and Southwestern news.)
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Southwestern has given me the opportunity to engage in work to empower my community and assist those in need. Through the legal clinics, I had the opportunity to assist clients in navigating the complexity of the legal process. I’ve also had the chance to connect with supportive publicinterest peers and mentors who keep me motivated to continue the fight to ensure that underserved communities receive the representation they deserve.”
KAREN HERRERA
‘24, Full-Time Day Program Vice Chair, Public-Interest Law Committee
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Phase Three Start Bison Strong
Submit your final, official transcripts.
Your Online Status Check will indicate whether these are already on file for you. If it appears that your final
transcripts are not on file, submit them by August 1.
Register for and attend Bison Boot Camp for free and/or the Summer Introduction to Legal Writing. Information and registration links for Southwestern’s summer preparatory programs can be found on your
Welcome to Southwestern Canvas course.
Attend Mandatory Orientation. Please see your admissions offer letter for start dates. The dates indicated for each program are the dates
that our mandatory Orientation programs take place. Add Orientation to your calendar and plan your summer accordingly!
Additional Steps to Take Apply for Housing. Visit www.swlaw.edu/housing if you would
like to apply to live at the Residences at 7th, Southwestern’s on-campus student apartment building.
Secure Finacial Aid. If you plan to utilize federal student loans, ensure
that you have completed the FAFSA and review your offer letter. Our Financial Aid Office will email your Southwestern address when your offer letter is ready. They will also provide information on the steps you must take to secure your aid for the coming academic year.
Connect with Accessibility Services. Southwestern is committed to properly supporting
students in their academic endeavors. Contact Accessibility Services as soon as possible at 213.738.6888 or accessibility@swlaw.edu to discuss any accommodations you anticipate needing.
#GoBison
To-Do Checklist for admitted students: Read the contents of this packet Submit your deposits Complete your registration packet Submit official transcripts Apply for housing (if applicable) Secure financial aid (if applicable) Connect with Accessibility Services (if applicable)
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Why Southwestern? Supportive Community
Hands-On Learning
Alumni Success: Join the Legacy
Southwestern’s network of support propels students toward success with Peer Mentors, Dean’s Fellows, and accessible Faculty via regular office hours. The library provides dedicated law librarians (both on-campus and online) and extensive legal resources. Student Services offers comprehensive advising, while Career Services guides students through employment and career decisions. Southwestern prioritizes well-being with BisonCares, a 24/7 support and counseling service line.
Southwestern prepares students for a dynamic legal practice landscape through extensive hands-on training. Skills-based courses, clinical programs, the Public-Service Program, and our externship program—one of the largest in the country—allow students to explore a variety of legal fields and apply their classroom learning to real-life scenarios. Read more at www. swlaw.edu/experiential.
Our trailblazing alumni hold positions across the country and the world, working in multinational firms, boutique law practices, and corporate positions. They serve in political offices, civic organizations, public-interest firms, and government agencies. Notable alumni include L.A.’s first black mayor, Tom Bradley ‘56 (pictured above), litigator and legal analyst Camille Vasquez ‘10, entertainment attorney Shawn Holley ‘88, and high-profile personal injury lawyer Brian Panish ’84.
Visionary Faculty Southwestern Law School fosters a community of legal experts dedicated to advancing justice. Southwestern faculty appear regularly on national and international television broadcasts; their names are on textbooks, treatises, and articles cited in court opinions; their voices address juries, Presidential commissions, Senate hearings, foundation boards, and world forums. They are nationally recognized experts in their fields—from criminal law to civil procedure. They are are accessible to students, both oncampus and online, earning Southwestern a reputation for faculty and student interaction that is second to none.
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Professor Rachel E. VanLandingham, national security law expert and former U.S. Air Force judge advocate, speaking with the media about military justice.
Contact Information Academic Success and Bar Preparation 213.738.6813 / academicsuccess@swlaw.edu
Career Services 213.738.6794 / careerservices@swlaw.edu
Online J.D. Program 213.738.6868 / onlinejd@swlaw.edu
Accessibility Services 213.738.6888 / accessibility@swlaw.edu
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 213.738.6874 / dei@swlaw.edu
Registrar’s Office 213.738.6734 / registrar@swlaw.edu
Accounting 213.738.6818 / accounting@swlaw.edu
Externship Program 213.738.6802 / externoffice@swlaw.edu
SCALE Program 213.738.6690 / scale@swlaw.edu
Administrative Services, Parking, Security 213.738.6800 / administrativeservices@swlaw.edu
Financial Aid 213.738.6719 / finaid@swlaw.edu
Student Affairs 213.738.6716 / studentaffairs@swlaw.edu
Admissions 213.738.6834 / admissions@swlaw.edu
Information Technology 213.738.6762 / ithelp@swlaw.edu
Student Services 213.738.6871 / studentservices@swlaw.edu
Biederman Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law Institute 213.738.6602 / institute@swlaw.edu
Institutional Advancement/Alumni Relations 213.738.6814 / advancement@swlaw.edu
Information Technology 213.738.6762 / ithelp@swlaw.edu
Bookstore 213.738.6736 / bookstore@swlaw.edu
Legal Clinic 213.738.5710 / legalclinic@swlaw.edu
For a complete list of contacts by department, visit www.swlaw.edu/contact.
3050 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010
213.738.6834
admissions@swlaw.edu
www.swlaw.edu
Southwestern Law School prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race (including hairstyle and hair texture), ethnicity, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age (40 and over), disability (mental and physical), medical condition, citizenship status, military status or service, veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification 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 11 regarding Southwestern’s nondiscrimination policies to: General Counsel 3050 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (213) 738–6626.
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Let’s Connect! facebook.com/southwesternlawschool instagram.com/southwesternlawschool in swlaw.edu/linkedin twitter.com/southwesternlaw
Southwestern has far exceeded any of my expectations for law school. Beyond the classroom, Southwestern has given me the chance to compete in an honors program, make a difference in children’s lives through the Children’s Rights Clinic, and have an amicus brief filed with the United States Supreme Court. I cannot thank the Southwestern community enough for the impact they have had on my education and life.”
PHILIP SCHULER
‘24, Part-Time Program Dean’s Fellow and Peer Mentor