Alumni Leadership

The Alumni Association is an active group with a hard-working board, several committees, and many access points for alumni to get involved with Southwestern.

Alumni Association Board of Directors

2022-2023

Alicia Matricardi Headshot

Alicia Matricardi '06, President
Attorney at Law
Matricardi Law 

Robert Glassman headshot

Robert Glassman '09, Past President
Attorney at Law
Panish Shea & Boyle

Daniel Kramer headshot

Daniel K. Kramer '08, President-Elect
Attorney at Law 
Kramer Trial Lawyers 

Lynda Sheridan headshot

Lynda Sheridan '94, Vice President
Attorney at Law 
Law Offices of Lynda Sheridan

Robert Brandt '76
Attorney at Law
Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein

Martin Carpenter '76
Attorney at Law
Carpenter Rothans & Dumont

Evan Clark '14
Attorney at Law

Mia Ellis '03
Assistant Chief Trial Counsel
State Bar of California

Rachel Gezerseh '07 
Attorney at Law
Panish Shea & Boyle

Art Gharibian '11
Attorney at Law
Gharibian Law, APC

Bernetta Hardy '10
Attorney at Law
Starz/Lionsgate

Erin Joyce '90
Attorney at Law 
Erin Joyce Law

Jody Klipple ‘11
Attorney at Law
SEIU

April Macaraeg '15
Attorney at Law
Macaraeg Law

Alan Romero '06
Attorney at Law
Romero Law, APC

Stephen Strauss '83
Attorney at Law
Buchalter

Jeannette L. Van Horst '93 
Attorney at Law 
Law + Brandmeyer

Shannon Wainright '12 
Deputy District Attorney 
Los Angeles County District Attorney

Anna Wassenberg '10 
Attorney at Law 
Law Office of Ana Wassenberg

Emeriti Board

Patrick Baghdaserians '07
Attorney at Law
Baghdaserians Law Group

Hon. Deborah S. Brazil '96
Judge
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Julianne DeMarco '87
Attorney at Law
Taylor DeMarco

Hon. J. Gary Hastings '72
Retired Justice
California Court of Appeal, Second District

Hon. H. Clay Jacke, II '82
Judge
Los Angeles County Superior Court

Gerard V. Kassabian '01
Attorney at Law 
Law Offices of Gerard V. Kassabian

Hon. Timothy Weiner '00
Judge
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

The Southwestern Alumni Association established the Nickel Club in 2008 to meet the specific needs of Southwestern alumni who have graduated within the past five years. For the 2020-21 academic year, that includes class years 2016-2020. 

Recently graduated alumni have different needs than attorneys who have been in practice for more than five years. As a result, the Nickel Club was created to help improve and ease the transition into the legal profession by providing support and resources to recent alumni. The group also fosters relationships between recent graduates and current students. There's no application process - alumni are automatically members, and no dues are required. And all are welcome and encouraged to join and participate in any Nickel Club events.

Applications for the Nickel Club Board of Directors and Committees go live every spring. The Board and Committee members plan events that focus on networking (both among Nickels and with older alumni), career development (CLE programming), and engagement with students. 

To learn more about joining the Nickel Club or about upcoming events and activities, please email alumni@swlaw.edu. 

Governing Board of Directors
2021-2022

Robert Ford '17, President
A3 Artists Agency

Yarden Fedida '17, Past President
Fedida Law Firm

Matthew French '19, Co-Vice President
Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman

Caitlyn Dillon '18, Co-Vice President
Lewitt Hackman

Julio Soto-Kim '19, Secretary
Plante Lebovic LLP

Blake Burtchaell '17
Burtchaell Law

Joya De Foor '18

Andrew Grassel '17
Solomon Saltsman & Jamieson

Daniel Reutskiy '18
Law Office of Daniel Reutskiy

Erica Zohar '17, Past President 
Levin Law Corp.

Sub-Committees

Nickel Focused Sub-Committee

This committee helps foster social interaction and professional development between its members. The committee will create opportunities for Nickel members to meet and network with one another, with the expectation to reconnect with former classmates and develop professional contacts with other recent Southwestern alumni. The Nickel Focused Committee will also work collaboratively with the other committees for the purpose of organizing and maintaining a Nickel Club contact network accessible to all members.

Student Focused Sub-Committee

This committee concentrates on the interaction between recent graduates and current students by developing programs, events, and activities to promote networking between these two groups. The committee works closely with current representatives of the various student body organizations. The committee's goals are to mentor and prepare students for their first few years in the legal profession and to encourage them to remain active in Southwestern as alumni. Fostering these types of relationships with current students will create pride in their alma mater to build a stronger alumni base for the future.

Career Related Sub-Committee

This committee is focused on career development and related activities aimed at improving the alumni community's legal practice. Events presented will include MCLE events and informational seminars, focused both generally and in specific practice areas, and will also include networking components for panelists and attendees. Future events include a judicial panel addressing common ethical pitfalls for young attorneys and the ABCs of court appearances. Seminars regarding attorney interactions, including how to develop a productive mentor/mentee relationship with the partners and senior associates in your firm, how to interact with co-counsel, and how to deal with difficult opposing counsel. Along with many great events to follow! Get MCLE credit and develop those important relationships with the Southwestern and Los Angeles legal communities.

Public Affairs Sub-Committee

This committee has two focuses. First, it will increase awareness among Nickel alumni about the law school's existing civic-minded efforts, including the Southwestern Children's Rights Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, and Street Law Clinic. Second, the committee will identify for Southwestern students and alumni pro bono and other civic-minded activities with varying commitment levels. These activities will include participation in programs like Habitat for Humanity, tutoring for youth in need, and exciting fundraising events.

Southwestern recognizes outstanding alumni and friends in the following categories:

Outstanding Alumni of the Year 

Presented to a Southwestern alumnus or alumna who represents the best ideals of Southwestern through their professional accomplishments and demonstrated service to the community, law school, and legal profession.

  1. Previous Awardees

Outstanding Judicial Officer

Presented to a Southwestern alumnus or alumna in recognition of their distinguished career as a member of the judiciary, service to the community, and commitment to the mission of the law school.

  1. Previous Awardees

Outstanding Friend Award

Presented to a non-alumni friend of Southwestern who, through their commitment and/or volunteer effort, has strongly supported the ideals and mission of the law school.

  1. Previous Awardees

Outstanding Law Firm

A law firm of any size that has demonstrated an enduring commitment to hiring, mentoring, and advancing Southwestern graduates.

  1. Previous Awardees

Oustanding Litigator

Presented to a Southwestern alumnus or alumna who, as a litigator, has demonstrated skill, accomplishment, or significant impact in his or her area of practice and/or the legal community; and embodies Southwestern’s highest ethical standards and traditions.
  1. Previous Awardees

There are a number of avenues for alumni to remain involved in the Southwestern community after graduation. Some of these opportunities are described below. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Institutional Advancement or the specific office listed.

Alumni Resource Network

Over 450 alumni participate in the program which provides students with an opportunity to contact and network with alumni in specific practices and/or geographic areas. Alumni offer advice on networking opportunities, career matters, and expertise in particular areas of practice.

Inn of St. Ives

This program is based on the Inns of Court model, where senior attorneys and judges meet with small groups of law students to discuss issues of law and practice.

Moot Court

A large contingent of alumni is recruited each year to serve as judges for a number of advocacy programs, most notably the annual Intramural Moot Court Competition. They are also called upon to preside over SCALE appellate arguments, mock trial, and trial advocacy practice rounds and finals, and occasionally to serve as advisors to Moot Court Honors Program teams competing in interscholastic competitions. For more information, please contact the Student Affairs Office.

Mock Interview Program

Prior to the fall recruiting season each year, alumni volunteers help prepare students by conducting videotaped mock interviews and providing evaluations and advice. For more information on participating as a mock interviewer, please contact the Career Services Office.

On-Campus Interviews

During the fall recruiting season, a number of alumni are among the firm and agency representatives who come to the campus to interview students for summer clerkship and full-time associate positions. For more information on how to get participate, please contact the Career Services Office.

Guest Speakers

Alumni are often invited to serve as panelists or lecturers for a variety of seminars, workshops, and roundtable discussions sponsored by the faculty, the Career Services Office, and student organizations. If you are interested in serving as a guest speaker, please contact Institutional Advancement and/or the Career Services Office.

Other Alumni Events

In addition, Southwestern regularly sponsors alumni events such as MCLE classes, regional receptions for alumni around the country, and reunions.

Contact Alumni for event ideas and sponsorship opportunities.

email  Alumni@swlaw.edu

 

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