Tracy L. Turner
Professor and Director of the Legal Analysis, Writing and Skills Program
B.A., summa cum laude, International Relations/Russian Studies, 1994, Tufts University; J.D., cum laude, 1997, Harvard University; Member, California State Bar
Email:
Phone: (213) 738-5736
Room: W524
Tracy Turner wants her students to appreciate that "excellent legal writing is essential in helping ensure the integrity and fairness of the legal process." Bringing several years of experience in civil and appellate practice to the classroom, she said, "Throughout my legal career, I have been impressed by the impact of quality legal writing on case outcomes. Judges rely on the papers submitted by counsel to help them do their job and make the right decision."
While pursuing both her undergraduate and law degrees, Professor Turner utilized her writing and editing skills as senior editor of Politica at Tufts and executive editor of the Harvard Women's Law Journal, and as a volunteer with the Harvard Battered Women's Advocacy Project, and the Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in protective custody in Boston. She also served as a legal clerk conducting research and drafting for the Connecticut State Attorney's Office and the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Following law school, Professor Turner moved to Los Angeles and began her career in civil and appellate practice at the firms of Proskauer Rose and Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison where she handled labor and employment law cases. There she gained extensive experience in state and federal court litigation, Equal Employment Opportunities Commission investigations, National Labor Relations Board and workers' compensation hearings, National Association of Securities Dealers arbitrations, and private mediation.
In 2001, Professor Turner joined the firm of Horvitz & Levy as an appellate law associate handling cases in state and federal appellate courts involving medical malpractice, commercial disputes, consumer litigation, and employment policies and practices. She joined Southwestern’s full-time legal research and writing faculty in 2004, and was appointed as director of the Legal Analysis, Writing and Skills program in 2007.
