Professor Mike Flynn has had the privilege of teaching and practicing in various areas of law, and holding several administrative roles to support student success. Originally from Iowa, he earned his B.A. in ancient history from Tufts University. He then moved to San Francisco to earn his J.D. from UC Hastings (UC Law SF). During that time, he coached and competed with several champion moot court teams. He was also the Co-Chair of Hastings Outlaw, which intervened in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez to defend the rights of LGBT students.

Following law school, Professor Flynn clerked for the Civil and Appellate Divisions of the San Francisco Superior Court, served as a Litigation Associate for a boutique firm in San Francisco, acted as General Counsel and Senior Vice-President of a social media marketing company, and then worked for a commercial bar prep company. From 2009-2020, he was appointed counsel for clients appealing felony convictions with the Sixth District Appellate Program and the California Appellate Project. He also created and hosted the podcast, Legal Lad’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Lawful Life.

He began teaching legal writing courses at UC Law SF in 2007, and joined the Santa Clara Law faculty in 2010. At Santa Clara Law, he has taught Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy, bar exam preparation classes, and The Skill of Ethical Lawyering. In the 2023-2024 academic year, he is also serving as a Visiting Professor at UC Law SF, teaching Constitutional Law.

Professor Flynn has served in various administrative roles. He directed Santa Clara’s moot court programs, served as the Coordinator of the Legal Writing Department, and later as the Director of the Office of Academic and Bar Success. From 2018-2022, Professor Flynn was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Recently, he was a member of the Content Scope Committee for the National Conference of Bar Examiners, focusing on criminal and constitutional law. He currently serves as a member of the Faculty Advisory Board of the Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Leavey School of Business. He has directed summer abroad programs in Singapore, Munich, and The Hague, and is now the Associate Dean for Global Engagement.

Professor Flynn lives in San Francisco with his wonderful husband and blue nose pit bull.