preLaw Magazine has named Southwestern Law School one of the nation’s most innovative law schools for its structured admissions interview for waitlisted applicants, introduced in 2019. The project was established by Natalie Rodriguez, Vice Dean for Academics and Associate Professor of Law, and Anahid Gharakhanian, Vice Dean and Professor of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Skills, and Co-Director of the Externship Program. 

The 30-minute structured interview uses an empirical rubric to look beyond traditional metrics such as LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs. The rubric assesses competencies the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System has identified as critical for new attorneys, including resourcefulness, strong work ethic, and resilience. Interviewers are trained to conduct the interviews using a consistent protocol, including recognizing and controlling implicit bias. 

Between 2019 and 2024, more than 750 applicants participated in the interview process. preLaw reported early evidence supporting the interview’s validity and reliability, including inter-rater reliability, and noted that many interviewed applicants have gone on to thrive as Southwestern students and alumni. 

In October 2026, Southwestern was awarded funding and research support from AccessLex Institute® through its Admission Innovation Project (AIP) to study the law school’s structured admission interview pathway for waitlisted applicants. Working closely with AccessLex researchers, they will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the interview process, focusing on which factors and observed qualities best predict law school performance among students admitted through this route. 

“Our project is guided by the belief that law schools can and should reimagine how they assess law school readiness by defining merit more broadly, using measures that matter,” Rodriguez said. 

“This approach not only expands access to legal education and the profession but also benefits society as a whole,” Gharakhanian said. “We’re already seeing its impact through many inspiring, dedicated, and deserving individuals who have become part of the Southwestern community and the legal community as students and alumni,”