University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz recently led training sessions in conjunction with national conferences sponsored by four world-renowned organizations. Schwartz is a national leader in law school teaching and learning.

As part of the American Association of Law School’s Annual Workshop for New Law Teachers in June, Schwartz served as a co-presenter on the subject of course design. He has published two editions of a book on the subject. Schwartz also facilitated two small group sessions for the conference attendees. McGeorge Professor Larry Levine also presented at this conference.

Also in June, Schwartz also served on the planning committee for and as a co-presenter at the American Bar Association’s Annual New Deans Virtual Workshop. Schwartz and his co-presenters conducted three workshop sessions: Budget and Finance, Relationships with University Central Administration, and Finding Work-Life Balance. 

At the June Association of Legal Writing Directors Leadership Academy, Schwartz led a discussion on mentorship for law faculty in the field of legal writing who are interested in becoming law school leaders. During the session, he outlined best practices for finding mentors, being mentored, and being a mentor. The leadership academy was held in advance of the organization’s 2021 Biennial Conference.

In May, Schwartz was a panelist on a webinar hosted by the American Association of Law Schools, which is a nonprofit association of 178 U.S. law schools that aims to uphold and advance excellence in legal education. Schwartz and his fellow panelists spoke on "Ensuring Equality in Legal Academia: Strategies to Dismantle Caste." The webinar was sponsored by the association’s section for academic support, legal writing, and clinical education. The session had 549 registrants and 383 attendees.

Lastly, Schwartz, who serves as the co-chair of the EAC Subcommittee on Online Evaluation of Law Schools for the International Association of Law Schools, co-delivered a presentation entitled "Challenges, Experiences, and Insights: Tentative Vision for Evaluation of Online Legal Education." The presentation outlined the organization’s tentative ideas for modifying its evaluation of member law schools. Attendees included deans and faculty members at law schools on five different continents.

“It is incredibly gratifying to participate in these legal conferences and deliver these talks because, deep-down, I love to teach and share what I have learned,” said Schwartz, who was the only law school dean or faculty member in the country to participate in all of these training programs and panels. “The deans and law professors I get to work with are so smart and thoughtful that I relish the challenge of delivering value to them.”

Schwartz is the 10th Dean of McGeorge School of Law and has served in the role since July 1, 2017. He has delivered more than 200 professional presentations about law school teaching including conducting training programs for law professors at dozens of law schools throughout the U.S. and from Germany, the Republic of Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Chile. In the most recent ranking issued by National Jurist Magazine, Schwartz was named the ninth most influential person in legal education.

“Dean Schwartz is a prolific scholar and a proven leader in legal education,” said Mary-Beth Moylan, McGeorge's Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. “He is well-known for building collaborative relationships with law schools throughout the United States and in other countries, which is essential to strengthening the reputation of McGeorge. Faculty members at other schools regularly let me know how envious they are that he is my Dean.”

Located in Sacramento, California’s capital city, McGeorge is led by professors who have attained national and international renown in their fields, including retired U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the law school's longest continuously serving faculty member.

U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate School rankings recently placed McGeorge No. 8 nationally for trial advocacy and No. 21 in the nation, and second in California, in legal writing.

To learn more about McGeorge’s application process, please visit the J.D. Program Deadlines & Requirements page or contact the school's admissions team.