Anahid Gharakhanian

Anahid Gharakhanian is a champion of experiential learning and legal writing and has played a key role in Southwestern’s innovative Legal Analysis, Writing, and Skills (LAWS) program, and in building one of the most extensive and highly regarded externship programs in California. Southwestern’s Board Chair, Charles Fairchild ’09, has established an endowment in Vice Dean Gharakhanian’s honor to recognize her contributions to his education and to Southwestern. The Anahid Gharakhanian Endowment supports three annual awards: Excellence in Teaching Award; Award for Outstanding Staff Service; and the Gharakhanian Scholarship.

Vice Dean Gharakhanian began her legal career with the firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP in Los Angeles where she was responsible for all phases of complex litigation in state and federal courts as well as arbitration proceedings, ranging from defense of class actions and shareholder derivative suits to prosecution and defense of insurance and reinsurance, employment, business transaction, high-profile family law, and various commercial matters.

She joined Southwestern’s full-time faculty in 2002, teaching legal writing. She was instrumental in the redevelopment of the law school’s groundbreaking three-track LAWS program, including bringing a professional focus to LAWS with such components as court visits. She is also the long-time director of the law school's Externship Program and has expanded the program to be one of the largest in the country. She served as Vice Dean from 2012 to 2016 and returned to the Vice Dean position in fall 2020.