Advancing Clinical Legal Education

UC Hastings has always been a leader in clinical pedagogy, and our new strategic plan emphasizes the training of the next generation of advocates and counselors. As we begin a new academic year, I am pleased to make several announcements about skills education at the first law school of the American West.

To realize our vision, Professor Nancy Stuart will become the first Associate Dean for Experiential Education. Her portfolio will encompass not only oversight of all the clinical programs, both in-house and externship placements, but also the integration of similar problem-solving methods into the traditional, doctrinal curriculum. Associate Dean Stuart has proven herself a capable administrator in two different roles over the years here.

Says Stuart of her new role: "Long celebrated as a leader in clinical and experiential education, UC Hastings continues to lead through the implementation of its strategic plan, the newly launched clinics, and our new faculty. I am thrilled to join with my colleagues as we more fully integrate experiential learning across the curriculum."

Adding to the strength of our top-ten ranked Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (CNDR), Dana Curtis will join us as Adjunct and External Training Coordinator. With twenty years of experience as a neutral and more than ten years experience teaching at another Bay Area institution, Dana has been recognized through such honors as receiving the San Francisco Mediation Society's Award for Outstanding Contribution and being named a Daily Journal “Top Fifty” mediator. She will work closely with Sheila Rose Purcell, the recently named CNDR Director.

This news comes on top of four previously announced new clinical programs at UC Hastings:

Yvonne Troya joined the faculty this summer to head the new Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniors (MLPS). Alongside UCSF medical professionals, our students will serve the myriad needs of elderly patient-clients.

Professor Robin Feldman, an intellectual property expert, is joined by Visiting Professor Lucy Dilworth, an experienced Silicon Valley practitioner, in rolling out a trio of courses that will give students hands-on experience assisting entrepreneurs with real start-ups. The Innovation Clinics will be oriented toward biotechnology, technology more generally, and a new California form of social enterprise in which for-profit ventures embrace non-profit ideals.

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming all of these clinical faculty members.

Sincerely,

Frank H. Wu

Chancellor & Dean