Professor Scott Dodson Wins Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence
UC Law SF Professor Scott Dodson
Every 1L student in law school has to take a course on Civil Procedure. And many say it鈥檚 dense and complicated, and, for some students, even boring鈥攗nless it happens to be taught by UC Law SF Professor Scott Dodson.
Dodson, who was the 2022 winner of the Rutter Award for Excellence in Teaching at UC Law SF College of the Law, was praised by his students for making Civil Procedure and other classes he taught accessible and enjoyable. 鈥淗e taught us more than just the basics,鈥 said Jenny Bagger 鈥22, who spoke on Dodson鈥檚 behalf at the awards ceremony. 鈥淗e also cares about his students and is eager to help them in their endeavors.鈥
The Rutter Award is given out each year at Hastings to the professor who is chosen for teaching excellence by a committee that includes a student, alumni member, Provost & Academic Dean, and the faculty member who won the award previously.
Dodson, who joined the UC Law SF faculty in 2012, is the James Edgar Hervey Chair in Litigation and the Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr. Distinguished Professor. He also serves as the Director of the Center for Litigation and Courts and previously served as the law school鈥檚 research dean. He is widely published nationally and regularly has his scholarship published in top law journals.
Prof. Manoj Viswanathan, last year鈥檚 Rutter Award winner, said that Dodson cares deeply both about teaching and scholarship, 鈥淗e takes what I consider to be a dry subject and makes it fun and engaging.鈥
Provost Morris Ratner read out excerpts of Dodson鈥檚 student evaluations at the ceremony, 鈥淗e is incredibly responsive to students and enthusiastic teaching the material.鈥 Another said, 鈥淗e answers questions and makes sure the class understands.鈥 Also, 鈥淭he presentation and delivery of material is engaging.鈥 And finally, 鈥淚 always felt supported by Professor Dodson. I felt like he wants us all to succeed.鈥
Former student Jacob Hirsch 鈥18 recalled that when he was a first year student at Hastings, Dodson gave an open invitation to students to attend not just Shabbat dinner at his home, but to come to Thanksgiving dinner if their homes were far away or had no where else to go. 鈥淗e is dedicated to connecting with his students and making them feel seen,鈥 Hirsch said.
Dodson, who modestly accepted the teaching award, thanked the students and faculty and said he is committed to growing and adapting to become a better teacher. Addressing his students past and present, he said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 so fun to be in the classroom with you.鈥
Founded by law-guide publisher William Rutter in 1979, the award honors outstanding professors at California鈥檚 top law schools. The Rutter Endowment provides UC Law SF an annual award of $10,000 for its winner.