Dean of the School of Law, Donald J. Polden, is the chief administrative officer and official representative of the law school. In addition to overseeing administration of all operations of the law school, he is responsible for relationships with the University administration, with alumni, and with the bench and bar.
Associate Dean Mary Emery is director of the Heafey Law Library. She is chair of the Committee on Admissions and oversees all scholarship awards. She also chairs the Technology Committee and serves as liaison to various University committees.
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Cynthia A. Mertens is responsible for the oversight of the academic components of the curriculum. She also assists in the recruitment of faculty members; recruits, supports, and evaluates lecturers in law; assists in the preparation of course offerings and teaching schedules; and assists in the strategic planning process.
Senior Assistant Dean Susan Erwin is responsible for student services, including counseling on course selection, academic standards, rules and procedures including student discipline, and requirements for graduation. She is the liaison with student organizations, oversees student registration in classes, and plans orientation. She is also responsible for planning of future course offerings and the scheduling of classes. She supervises the Law Records Office and the Student Life Office.
Senior Assistant Dean Jacqueline Wender is responsible for financial operations, facilities planning, personnel issues, accrediting agency reporting and reporting to information-gathering agencies and publications. In consultation with Dean Polden, she is also responsible for supervision and evaluation of various academic programs, hiring of adjunct faculty, and availability of books and materials. She also supervises the Law Fiscal, Law Technology and Faculty Support Services departments.
Senior Assistant Dean Julia Yaffee is responsible for external affairs. She serves as the chief marketing professional for the law school and directs all marketing and communications activities. She is also responsible for developing and implementing a new student recruitment plan that integrates the use of technology with traditional recruiting methods. She also has oversight of the Law Career Services Office.
The Academic and Professional Development Department (APD) supports students’ academic and professional needs, from first year orientation through Bar passage. APD provides a wide range of resources, such as skills workshops, classroom instruction, study aids, and individual counseling.
APD’s Academic Success Program (ASP) fosters the integration of first-year students into the law school by helping them develop the academic and analytical skills necessary for success in law school. ASP complements the first-year curriculum by offering additional opportunities for eligible students to practice reading, analysis, and synthesis. These opportunities include classroom, group, and individual guidance by the ASP Director and trained upper division students. The eligibility of incoming first-year students is determined during the admissions process, and is reassessed after fall semester. APD/ASP also offers a wide range of programs and services to all students in the law school, including a series of skills workshops in the first year and essential practice examinations in first year subjects.
APD continues to offer skills workshops and academic counseling beyond the first year of study. APD oversees the Advanced Legal Writing: Analysis (373a) class for second-year students on Directed Study, and individually advises all second year Directed Study students on course selection. In the year preceding graduation, APD offers practical guidance on preparing for the Bar Exam, including fall informational programs on preparing for the Bar, and an intensive series of spring workshops to self-assess readiness for the testing methods used by the California Bar Examiners. We also individually counsel both first time and repeat students and graduates on resources to assist in Bar preparation.
Throughout students’ upper-division years, the Internship/Externship Program offers an opportunity to begin the transition from law school into the legal profession through real work experiences. Faculty-taught seminars amplify and complement legal jobs in civil, high technology, criminal, judicial, and policy/legislative arenas. Externships and Internships offer valuable skills training and opportunities to integrate learning across traditional course subjects. Course credit is available for students who work a minimum number of hours and enroll in the associated seminar.
APD/ASP maintains a resource room and study area in Loyola Hall, and posts study aids and materials on the Web via ClaraNet and The West Education Network (“TWEN”) pages.
For more information
- Academic & Professional Development (APD): law.scu.edu/law/apd/academic-success-program.cfm
- apd@scu.edu or 408-551-1609
- Academic Success Program (ASP) 408-554-4319
- Externship Programs 408-554-5015
This office assists all law school faculty with their daily teaching needs, and serves as liaison between students and faculty. The office manages reproduction and availability of course materials, including those materials sent to the bookstore to be sold; the posting of miscellaneous course and exam information; and processing of recommendation letters for Judicial Clerkships. At the end of each semester the office conducts examination returns and/or reviews for all law school students. The Faculty Support Services Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For more information
- Faculty Support Office: law.scu.edu/law/about/faculty-support-services.cfm
- lawschoolfacultysupport@scu.edu or 408-554-5564
The Law Admissions Office processes all applications for admission. In addition, the staff works closely with law student organization representatives who volunteer to review files of applicants seeking admission. Students who are interested in assisting the office by giving tours to prospective students or by acting as hosts for open house events are encouraged to contact the Law Admissions Office.
For more information
Law Admissions Office: law.scu.edu/admissions/
lawadmissions@scu.edu or 408-554-5048
Law Financial Aid Office
LawFinancialAid@scu.edu or 408-551-1719
This office acts as a liaison with the 9,000 alumni of the School of Law. The office is responsible for alumni publications, including Santa Clara Law Magazine, which is published twice a year. Alumni Relations staff organize reunions, receptions, and other events designed to maintain the connection between the law school and its alumni. The office also directs the law school’s fund-raising and development work, including the Annual Fund campaign.
For more information
Law Alumni Relations and Development: law.scu.edu/alumni/
408-551-1748
Law Career Services (LCS) assists in student career preparation by offering support, guidance, and resources as students embark on a new career direction. The mission statement reflects this commitment:
Law Career Services is dedicated to partnering with key constituencies such as student organizations, the alumni association and employers to provide timely, professional, and supportive services to Santa Clara Law students, alumni, and employers. Our goal is to help students and recent graduates find rewarding careers by providing them with the necessary skills to identify, explore, and successfully apply for legal career opportunities based upon their individual skills, interests, and values. Additionally, we strive to enhance employment opportunities for our students and alumni by communicating the unique benefits of a Santa Clara Law education to potential employers.
Develop Community ♦ Display Knowledge ♦ Deliver Quality
The office provides a number of services:
- Individual career advising
- Skill-based workshops on such topics as resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, networking, and job search strategies
- Networking events with alumni and local practitioners, including Law Career Day, Public Interest/Public Sector Day, Diversity Gala and the High Tech Legal Career Fair
- Job search assistance for academic year positions:, part-time clerk positions, summer clerkships, externships, temporary/contract work
- Job search assistance for permanent positions: entry-level associates, post-graduate judicial clerkships, temporary/contract work
- On-Campus and Off-Campus Interview programs, resume collections and extensive job listings
- Public Interest Law Career Services, with resources dedicated to promoting public interest opportunities and staffed entirely by law students
- Comprehensive career library and job search resources, including computers, printers, a copier, a fax machine, scanner, and a telephone dedicated for student use
- An interactive web site with up-to-date job listings, links to legal job sites and LCS handouts
For first-year students
Entering law students are first introduced to LCS during orientation. First-year students are invited to all LCS programs and workshops throughout the fall semester. During the fall, LCS covers topics such as resume writing, interview skills, self-assessment, networking, and professionalism, with special emphasis on the first-year job search beginning with programs scheduled in early November. From that point throughout the spring semester, LCS encourages students to make an appointment and visit one-on-one with a career advisor to talk about individual job search strategies.
During the spring semester, LCS holds a number of school-wide events that first-year students find enormously helpful in providing occasions to network with practitioners (many of whom are SCU alumni) and in broadening their understanding of opportunities within and outside of the legal profession. More popular events include Law Career Day in January, the High Tech Legal Career Fair in February and the Preview of Fall Recruitment event in April.
For more information
- Law Career Services: law.scu.edu/careers/
- lcs@scu.edu or 408-554-4350
This office is responsible for the accounts payable and receivable functions in the law school, with the exception of tuition and fee payments, which are made through the Bursar’s Office. This office is also responsible for budgeting and procurement. Any law school department, individual, or student organization with an authorized budget submits invoices for payment and income for deposit through this office in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
For more information
- Law Fiscal Operations: law.scu.edu/law/about/law-fiscal-operations.cfm
- 408-551-1984
This office processes course registration and maintains a file containing pertinent information about each student, including courses taken, grades received, cumulative grade point average, division transfers, and any special academic requirements. The office also provides a wide range of student services, including furnishing class rankings, letters of good standing, certification of graduation to state bar examiners, registration issues including adding and dropping classes, grading options, address changes, and exam scheduling. Students may obtain most necessary forms from this office and its Web site. Forms are also available in the Levy Student Lounge in Bannan Hall. To better serve students, the Law Records Office is open until 6:00 p.m. every Monday and Thursday while school is in session.
For more information
- Law Records Office: law.scu.edu/current/index.cfm
- lawrecords@scu.edu or 408-554-4766
Law Technology and Academic Computing is responsible for all technology needs of the law school. This office helps faculty, staff, and students with their computing needs. See Chapter 15 for details.
For more information
- Law Technology and Academic Computing: law.scu.edu/lcomp
- Heafey 200 (main offices) or Heafey 136 (Student Help Desk)
- 408-554-5508 (general Help Desk number)
- Customer support appointments: www.appointmentquest.com/provider/2010075725
- Recommended Laptop Program: law.scu.edu/lcomp/recommended-laptop-program.cfm
This office is responsible for budgeting, planning and executing law school events that are meant to advance the school’s mission and enhance the school’s reputation among all its constituencies (students, faculty, staff, alumni and the local, state and national legal communities). These events include AALS Annual Reception, Board of Visitor Meetings, 6th District Court Visit, Distinguished Advocate Visit, Parents & Partners Event, The Ingram Memorial Symposium, the Swearing-In Ceremony and Law School Commencement.
For more information
- Special Projects Office
- 408-554-5473