Essential academic news

All academic news

Advancing Justice and Equity

The Center for Civil Rights and Critical Justice builds on the law school's commitment to social justice.

November 13, 2024


2024 Gregoire Fellow brings diversity of experiences to law school

Laith Kewan '27, a first-year Seattle University School of Law student who possesses a variety of interests, life experiences, and future goals in the legal profession, has been named a 2024 Gregoire Fellow.

November 6, 2024 | Announcements


TILE event speaker warns of youth social media addiction

The Seattle University School of Law Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) Program’s Annual Celebration of Alumni featured an internationally prominent thought leader, Gaia Bernstein, who spoke about the increasing threat of social media overuse and abuse to youth in the modern era.

October 2, 2024 | Events


Alumna named inaugural director of Central Washington Hybrid Hub

Bree Black Horse ’13, an assistant U.S. attorney based in Yakima, has been named the inaugural director of Seattle University School of Law’s new Central Washington Hybrid Hub.

September 30, 2024 | Announcements


Nazune Menka announced as 2024-2025 Obama Foundation Leader

Nazune Menka, an assistant professor of law at Seattle University School of Law, announced that she is among 205 leaders selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program.

September 26, 2024 | Announcements


New certificate to help prepare law students for tech law practice

Seattle University School of Law’s Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) Program has developed a new TILE Certificate program to equip the next generation of legal professionals with the skills needed to lead in rapidly evolving legal practices rooted in technology and innovation.

September 13, 2024 | Announcements


Seattle U Law 'Hybrid Hub' to expand Central WA legal education access

Aspiring lawyers in central Washington will have a new way to earn a law degree while remaining in their communities thanks to a partnership between Seattle University School of Law and Heritage University to establish a “Hybrid Hub.”

September 6, 2024 | Announcements


New JD class embarks on transformative journey

A new class of 211 JD students entered Seattle University School of Law this week to begin a challenging yet rewarding journey to become lawyers.

August 30, 2024


Professor John Kirkwood recognized for teaching excellence

In recognition of his distinguished career as a dedicated and exemplary educator, Professor John Kirkwood has been named the 2024-2026 William C. Oltman Professor of Teaching Excellence at Seattle University School of Law.

August 29, 2024 | Announcements


Seattle U Law ranks among top law schools for scholarly impact

A recently published academic paper has named Seattle University School of Law as the top-ranked Pacific Northwest law school for faculty impact, and places it in the top third of all law schools nationally.

August 27, 2024 | Announcements


Legal Writing faculty impress at national conference

Faculty from Seattle University School of Law’s top-ranked Legal Writing Program attended the 2024 Biennial Conference of the Legal Writing Institute (LWI), held in July at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

August 13, 2024


Two students named Justice John Paul Stevens Fellows

Two Seattle University School of Law students have been awarded 2024 Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowships for demonstrating strong interest in public interest law and social justice, as well as high academic achievement.

June 26, 2024


Seattle U Law conference examines legal and policy issues around AI

Seattle University School of Law hosted some of the nation’s top technology law experts during its Seventh Annual Innovation and Technology Law Conference on the theme of “Generative AI: Infringement or Innovation?” as part of the Summer Institute for Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (SITIE).

June 4, 2024 | Events


First-ever graduates of innovative Flex JD program honored

Among the more than 200 graduates recognized at Seattle University School of Law’s Spring Commencement Ceremony include the first-ever cohort of students to earn their law degree through the law school’s innovative hybrid-online Flex JD program.

May 20, 2024


Seattle U Law, Alaska Pacific University launch JD/MBA program

A new dual degree program, offered in partnership between Seattle University School of Law and Alaska Pacific University (APU) in Anchorage, makes it possible for Alaskan students to remain in their home state, the only state without a law school, while earning law and business degrees.

May 9, 2024


Berle Symposium brings leading corporate law experts to Seattle U Law

Internationally renowned academics, scholars, legal practitioners, and other distinguished experts will convene at Seattle University School of Law this Friday and Saturday to attend the 16th Berle Symposium.

March 6, 2024 | Events


American Bar Association president to address Seattle U Law Commencement

American Bar Association President Mary Smith, a pathbreaking national leader in law and in STEM education and accessibility, will deliver the keynote address at Seattle University School of Law’s Spring Commencement on May 18.

February 29, 2024 | Announcements


From Advocacy to Action

Students in Seattle U Law's Workers' Rights Clinic score a victory against wage theft with passage of legislation.

November 16, 2023


Seattle U Law launches TILE Program

Seattle U Law celebrated the launch of the new Technology, Innovation, Law, and Ethics (TILE) Program with a speech from nationally-renowned tech evangelist Gigi Sohn.

October 26, 2023


Law school hosts preeminent constitutional law expert

Seattle University School of Law is hosting a renowned legal scholar and professor, Ronald J. Krotoszynski, as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Residence this summer.

July 10, 2023


Seattle U Law ranked among top schools for academic impact

Seattle University School of Law is the top law school in the Pacific Northwest for academic impact, according to a soon-to-be published article in the Florida State University Law Review.

July 7, 2023


Move fast and build things

Seattle U Law prepares lawyers for opportunities, challenges in technology sector. (From the spring 2023 issue of Lawyer magazine.)

May 9, 2023


New program prepares law students to confront future tech challenges

A new Seattle University School of Law program aims to prepare a cadre of diverse legal professionals to help guide the development and implementation of current and future technologies in lawful and ethical ways.

May 2, 2023 | Announcements


Seattle U Law recognized as top school for international law

Seattle University School of Law earned an “A” grade in international law from National Jurist’s preLaw magazine, as reported in the Winter 2023 issue.

February 9, 2023


Law school welcomes five new teacher-scholars to career faculty

The new professors, whose positions begin July 1, 2023, are Erin Carr (legal writing), Jeremiah Chin (constitutional law), Elizabeth Ford (law clinic), Kip Hustace (civil procedure), and Luke Maher (tax law).

February 6, 2023


Law school faculty share expertise, insight at U.S. law schools meeting

Seattle University School of Law faculty scholars and administrators provided valuable leadership and academic insight at the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) annual meeting in San Diego, California, last week.

January 10, 2023


Amazon GC emphasizes need for writing skills and pro bono engagement

Speaking at Seattle University School of Law as part of Dean Anthony E. Varona’s Luminaries in Law Lecture and Conversation Series, David Zapolsky said Amazon is notorious for banning PowerPoint presentations in its meetings.

October 24, 2022 | Events


A dynamic new dean: Anthony E. Varona

With abundant enthusiasm and a bold strategic vision, Anthony E. Varona looks to take Seattle U Law to new heights of achievement. (From fall 2022 Lawyer magazine)

October 11, 2022


Workshop promotes diverse leaders in legal education

The workshop assembles law school deans and executive university leaders from across the country to serve as presenters and panelists, providing a venue for them to share advice, wisdom, and mentorship with the attendees. Workshop attendees are primarily current law faculty members and assistant or associate deans who aspire to apply for deanship positions in the future.

September 16, 2022


Five Gregoire Fellows welcome chance to diversify legal profession

The program, named in honor of former Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, recognizes students for their academic and professional achievements, unique perspectives, and leadership potential to diversify the legal profession in Washington. Five first-year students at Seattle University School of Law were named Gregoire Fellows: Kali Clark, Gabriela Dionisio, Ania Kamkar, Kalina Spasovska, and Sarah Yoon.

September 15, 2022


Brooke Coleman named Fredric C. Tausend professor

This professorship is named for Dean Tausend, who led the law school from 1980 to 1986 and is widely credited with strengthening the school’s commitment to social justice, academic excellence, and access to legal education, as well as diversity in education and the profession.

September 7, 2022


Law school welcomes diverse class of entering first-year students

There are 224 students in the class, with 178 full-time students and 46 in the hybrid online Flex JD program for part-time students. Students of color comprise 37 percent of the entering class, an increase from 35 percent last year. Thirty-two percent were the first in their family to attend college.

August 17, 2022


Signing (off) on the dotted line

Professor Sidney DeLong retires after 37 years of teaching.

April 10, 2022 | Announcements


Law students help Ukrainian refugees start asylum applications

Seattle University School of Law has partnered with Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest to provide legal assistance to more than 30 Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war-torn home country. Thirteen student volunteers, overseen by professors and licensed attorneys, will help the refugees complete the initial paperwork required to seek asylum in the United States.

March 29, 2022 | Announcements


A tale of forks and torts: Janet Ainsworth reflects on her career

As Ainsworth prepares to retire after 34 years of teaching, first at University of Puget Sound School of Law and then at Seattle University School of Law when the law school moved north, she reflected on the forks in the road that led her to what she calls “the best job in the world.”

March 29, 2022 | Announcements


A student’s favorite tax master

Diane Lourdes Dick receives Oltman award for excellence in teaching.

February 24, 2022 | Announcements


Seattle University selects new dean to lead law school

Former Miami Law dean Anthony E. Varona brings strong legal background, leadership experience to position

February 17, 2022 | Announcements


New course connects students in Seattle and Morocco

A pioneering partnership between Seattle University School of Law and Moulay Ismail University in Morocco will teach law students about transitional justice, in which countries confront their own histories of human rights violations and move toward national healing.

April 7, 2021


Alum earns fellowship to help victims of elder abuse

Archie Roundtree, Jr. '18 has earned a spot in a new national program, launched by Equal Justice Works, to help victims of elder abuse and exploitation.

September 4, 2020


July Update for Alumni

Dean Clark: Help us spread the word about our new hybrid-online program for students with jobs and families to get a law degree.

July 14, 2020


Two 2020 grads receive Equal Justice Works fellowships

Vallen Solomon and Javiera Wood are two of 78 public interest lawyers across the country chosen to receive the 2020 fellowship, which allows them to pursue a project of their own design for two years following graduation.

May 21, 2020