LARW Faculty
Washburn Law's Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing (LARW) professors have the same scholarship requirements as other members of the faculty. LARW professors are also encouraged to write in other areas.
All full-time LARW professors are members of the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD).
Permanent Full-Time Tenured and Tenure-Track LARW Professors
Aïda M. Alaka, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
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- J.D., Loyola University Chicago, 1993
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- Teaching Experience: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing; Employment Law; Intensive Trial Advocacy Program; Higher Education Law; Race and the Law
- Related Scholarly Interests: Legal Education; Acquisition of Writing Skills; Transfer of Learning in Legal Skills Development; Employment Law
- Related Service: Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD)/Legal Writing Institute (LWI) Scholarship Committee; Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Poster Committee
"Teachers of law have the opportunity to make long-lasting contributions to the legal profession by assisting students develop the skills, knowledge and perspective to be excellent members of the profession. This is particularly true in the legal analysis, research, and writing courses where students not only discover the power of language in the law but also skills that are the foundation of lawyering."
Ellen Byers
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- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1981
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- Teaching Experience: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing
Jeffrey D. Jackson
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- LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 2003; J.D., Washburn University School of Law, 1992
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- Teaching Experience: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing; Constitutional Law; Constitutional History; Legal History
- Related Scholarly Interests: History of Legal Analysis; Socratic Method; Constitutional Law
- Related Service: Associate Editor, Journal of the Association of Legal Writing Directors
"The professors at Washburn are truly committed to helping students become effective lawyers. The Legal Analysis, Research and Writing program reflects this commitment. By placing the proper emphasis on teaching students to analyze, research, and convey legal information, Washburn ensures that its graduates will be able to go anywhere in the country and be successful."
Tonya Kowalski
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- J.D., Duke University School of Law, 1995
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- Teaching Experience: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing; Tribal Court Clinic
- Related Scholarly Interests: Transfer of Learning in Legal Skills; Tribal Law and Government in the Law Curriculum
- Related Service: Co-chair, Legal Writing Institute Committee on Cooperation Among Clinical, Externship, and Legal Writing Faculty
"Legal reasoning and writing are the heart and soul of the law. One way to turn these difficult tasks into a powerful and satisfying experience is to tap into our students' tremendous personal creativity and desire to make a difference in the world. My goal is to work with students to demonstrate how much creative potential they can unleash through analysis and writing, so that they can find joy in their new profession while using their skills to solve human problems."
Joe Mastrosimone
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- J.D., George Washington University, 1998
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- Teaching Experience: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing
Visiting Professors
Emily Grant
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- J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 2000
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- Teaching Experience: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing
- Related Service: Board of Editors, Journal of the Kansas Bar Association
It is such a honor to work with first year law students – to welcome them into the legal academy, to help them understand the basic responsibilities and duties of the profession, and to watch them grow in their own abilities as a legal communicator. Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing is the foundation course (if I do say so myself!) for the practice of law; I enjoy and take very seriously the privilege of teaching it.
Joseph E. McKinney
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- J.D., Washburn University School of Law, 1986
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- Teaching Experience: Law and Accounting; Law and Finance; Taxation of Corporations & Shareholders
Curtis J. Waugh
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- J.D., Washburn University School of Law, 1987
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- Teaching Experience: Selected Topics in Torts; Writing for Law Practice; Washburn Law Clinic



