Associate Dean Flynn began the transition to his new role this summer. Commenting on his appointment, “I am thrilled to serve as the first Associate Dean for Global Engagement to expand upon our success in running international programs for almost 50 years.” Dean Flynn has previously served as a Clinical Professor of Law at Santa Clara Law since 2010 where he has taught constitutional law, criminal law, legal writing, appellate advocacy, bar exam preparation classes, and The Skill of Ethical Lawyering. He has also 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, Dean Flynn was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. His previous experience with law study abroad programs was directing summer abroad programs in Singapore, Munich, and The Hague.
Dean Flynn’s objective for this year is “to return our robust study abroad programming to its pre-pandemic levels—continuing to educate lawyers who lead with a global perspective.” He added, “we are also launching efforts to make study abroad more accessible to all, including our Flex J.D. students, by creating one-week abroad opportunities. We are excited to begin new programming such as the first Transpacific Negotiation Institute in April 2024, when we will host a group of Japanese attorneys to practice business negotiation skills with our students, faculty, and local tech companies.”
Originally from Iowa, Dean Flynn earned his B.A. in ancient history from Tufts University and then moved to San Francisco to earn his J.D. from UC Hastings (UC Law SF). Following law school, Dean 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, Dean Flynn was appointed counsel for clients appealing felony convictions with the Sixth District Appellate Program and the California Appellate Project. He currently serves as a member of the Faculty Advisory Board of the Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and can also be found as a Visiting Professor of Law at the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings).
For those interested in supporting study abroad programs at Santa Clara Law, Dean Flynn welcomes alumni involvement and encourages community support. “We remain dedicated to ensuring that all Santa Clara Law students have the opportunity to study abroad, and are exploring means of helping manage costs. I would be very pleased to speak with alumni who are interested in helping to support our programs.”
To learn more about global engagement visit: https://law.scu.edu/international/
To contact Dean Michael Flynn, email: mwflynn@scu.edu
