Southwestern Commentator

March 2008

This is the second installment of The Commentator’s 148-part series, “Better know a SW Professor.”  In honor of Women’s History month, we conducted a Q & A session with SW Professor Judy Sloan. Professor Sloan was a music theory major at the University of Chicago before receiving her J.D. from the University of Maryland in 1972. 

Q:  What were your experiences as a woman in law school? 

A:  I was one of a handful of women in class.  I had never been a minority before.  In law school, when I spoke, I represented all women.  What a burden!  If I messed up, it was because all women were dumb; if I answered well, all women were uselessly bookish.  The burden of being a token was daunting!  But it spurred me on.

Q:  What has been your experience as a female professor at SW? 

A:  Here at Southwestern, women are real members of the team.  I have so many wonderful women colleagues, that I can’t tell you the exact number!  When I started out, I always knew the exact number.  There was only one woman class room teacher when I started, and I was it!  Not knowing the actual number here at Southwestern means that we have reached “the critical mass!”

Q:  As it relates to women, what is your take on diversity of students, faculty, and administration at Southwestern? 

A:  I think that a little over 50% of the student body is female.  The Dean has a number of high ranking female administrators.  Women faculty are well represented.

Q:  Do you think SW is doing enough to recruit women students? 

A:  SW has been responsive to the needs of women students.  How I wish there had been a PLEAS program when I was a student.  Helping women balance career and family has been a goal for Southwestern. 

Q:  Are you currently working on any legal scholarship? 

A:  My current interests include bankruptcy and art law.  I am working on issues of ownership of looted art.  I am also considering questions of ownership of art that is the heritage of cultures.

Q:  What keeps you busy off-campus? 

A:  I have a wonderful family.  I treasure the time I spend with them.  You’ve probably seen my grandchildren buying treats in the Tea Room.  It is a joy to take my family to the L.A. County Museum of Art, where I am a docent.  They call it my museum!

Q:  What is your favorite item on the Tea Room menu? 

A:  The Tea Room makes great soups.  My favorite is their tomato soup.  Their salads are also outstanding.  But really, their coffee keeps me going for my night classes.

Q:  What is your favorite restaurant in the greater LA? 

A:  It would have to be the Bel Air Hotel (Beverly Hills).  I love sitting under that huge bougainvillea tree, looking at the swans, and eating their tortilla soup.

Q:  One piece of advice you have for 1Ls as their first summer of law school begins (work, relax, etc.)? 

A: Enjoy yourself!  I worked in a law firm my first summer.  I thought, especially as a woman, that I needed a law job for credibility. . . .  I got a permanent offer from the firm at the beginning of my second year. The lawyers I worked with helped me get a clerkship.  But the most important thing for me was that the lawyers were outstanding.  Every client’s work was treated with dignity and respect.  The main litigator went on to become the Chief Justice of the highest court in Maryland.

Q:  One piece of advice you have for 3Ls who are going to take the California Bar in July? 

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