The First Black Dean of Loyola Law School in California

Brietta Clark is the new Fritz B. Burns Dean of Loyola Marymount University Law School in California. Clark, who is the nineteenth dean of the law school, is the first woman to hold the position and also the first Black dean in the law school’s history. Dean Clark has served as interim dean since July 16, 2023.

Since joining the law school faculty in 2001, Clark has served in numerous leadership roles in addition to interim dean, including associate dean for faculty from 2015-20. Clark also served as the co-chair of the Law School Strategic Planning Committee. Her research and public service have focused on inequity in the U.S. healthcare delivery and financing system, and she has assisted legal organizations and providers working to preserve access to essential healthcare services.

“I chose Loyola Law School as my professional home because of its mission to advance academic excellence, promote social justice, and increase access to legal education,” said Clark. “Our faculty are thought-leaders who shape the law and move us toward a more just world. Our students get real-world training while transforming lives, including through the 20+ clinics housed in the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic. And our recent entering classes are among the most diverse we’ve welcomed. I am honored that LMU and the LLS community have entrusted me with this opportunity to further our mission and increase our impact.”

Before joining Loyola Law School, Clark practiced in the Los Angeles Office of Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood, specializing in health care transactions and regulatory compliance. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a juris doctorate from the Gould School of Law at the University of Southern California.

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