Academy for Leadership in the Legal Profession
A Premier Leadership Development Initiative at Southwestern Law School
About the Academy for Leadership in the Legal Profession
The Academy for Leadership in the Legal Profession is a premier leadership development program designed to equip law students with the critical skills necessary to become transformational legal leaders.
Originally established through the generous support of Rex and Carrol Parris as the Parris Academy for Excellence in Law and Leadership, the Academy continues Southwestern Law School's commitment to developing ethical, innovative, and service-oriented legal leaders.
Through interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, experiential learning opportunities, and mentorship, students develop practical skills in leadership, decision-making, communication, professionalism, and ethical judgment that prepare them to lead in the legal profession and their communities.
Why Join the Academy for Leadership in the Legal Profession?
The Academy is structured into three distinct phases, each offering progressive skill-building opportunities for students committed to excellence in leadership:
Phase 1: Exploration – Students are introduced to core leadership competencies through lunchtime lectures and related programming.
Phase 2: Engagement – Students deepen their leadership development through lectures, workshops, Academy-selected book discussions, leadership-profile work, reflection, and professional-development programming.
Phase 3: Execution – Students hold a leadership role and design, implement, document, and defend a Capstone Leadership Project that addresses a real-world need in law, policy, or community leadership.
Students gain valuable insights from top legal minds, engage in exclusive networking opportunities, and develop practical skills applicable in the courtroom, boardroom, and beyond.
Leadership Competencies
The program’s leadership competencies emphasize skills-based learning.
Two foundational competencies—Lifelong Learning and Professionalism & Civility—are integrated throughout all three phases.
Phases 1 and 2 introduce and develop four core competencies: Interpersonal Awareness, Team Dynamics, Persuasion, and Technological Fluency.
Phase 3 adds two advanced execution competencies: Creative Problem-Solving and Project & Process Management.
"Though I still have much to learn from the Academy, it has already given me a renewed sense of confidence both academically and professionally. Hearing R. Rex Parris share his experiences in law school has encouraged me to prioritize my personal learning, identify areas for growth, and develop a deliberate plan for improvement. Professionally, I feel more assured in my abilities and potential for success. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from distinguished professionals and to continue growing in my journey." — Malina Manni, 2L Full-Time Day Program
"Through the Academy seminar, I've learned the importance of taking my time before speaking, which has significantly improved my confidence in public speaking settings. As my mandatory oral argument rounds approach, I plan to implement these techniques, focusing on pausing to thoughtfully answer difficult questions and using engaging hand movements and confident body language to persuade my audience." — Ryan Willoughby, 2L Full-Time Day Program