The Annual Fund was created at Southwestern to provide unrestricted support for the on-going needs of the law school. These funds help reduce tuition which students would otherwise have to carry alone. The Annual Fund supports such programs and activities as:
- Scholarships
- Moot Court, Negotiation and Trial Advocacy honors programs; Southwestern Law Review; and Southwestern Journal of International Law
- Professional development of the faculty
- One of the finest law libraries in Southern California
Important Facts about the Annual Fund
- Helps keep tuition down; were it not for the Annual Fund, tuition would be substantially higher.
- Helps make a Southwestern education available to many qualified students with major financial need who would otherwise be precluded from attending. Each year, the law school awards over $1 million in grants and loans (excluding federally-funded loans, grants and college work study funds) to deserving students.
- Supports the continued professional development and research efforts of our outstanding faculty. Over the past five academic years, Southwestern faculty produced 40 books or book chapters and over 50 law review articles and other scholarly publications, as well as a number of opinion pieces. In addition, faculty members have chaired the ABA Criminal Justice Sections, AALS Evidence Section, AALS International Law Section, and a number of other organizations.
- Supports one of the finest law libraries in Southern California. Southwestern has the second largest law library facility (83,000 sq. ft.) of all the American Bar Association approved law schools in California. It's collection has grown to more than 450,000 volumes and volume equivalents. In addition, Southwestern's state-of-the-art Taylor Library is the only academic law library in the country in a building listed on the National Register of Historic places.
The Need for Annual Funds
Income from tuition and fees covers only 85 percent of the annual cost of providing Southwestern students with an excellent legal education. Southwestern must therefore raise additional funds each year to bridge this shortfall. The Annual Fund is critical to the law school and its ability to provide students and faculty with the resources necessary for success in the pursuit of academic excellence.
The Importance of Your Annual Fund Gift
Your gift to the Annual Fund is extremely important. An investment in Southwestern is an investment in the leadership of our community. By participating in Southwestern's Annual Fund, you can take pride in knowing that you are supporting an outstanding legal education that has been and will be the genesis for these and other individuals' contributions to the profession and the community.
Donor Levels
Dean's Leadership Cabinet: $10,000
Dean's Advisory Council: $2,500
Dean's Circle: $1,000
Partners: $500
Counselors: $250
Themis Society: $150
Associates: $100
The Annual Fund campaign year runs from July 1 through June 30. If your Employer matches gifts to higher education, please check with your personnel office and mail the completed matching gift form with your check.
Additional Information
Dean Bryant Garth's 2010 Message (PDF)
For more information on giving opportunities, contact the Institutional Advancement Office.
