Lara Pennington

Lara Pennington is a Professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, where she directs the Appellate Advocacy Program and the Eugene Gressman Competition. She has taught courses such as Introduction to Lawyering and Appellate Advocacy since 2004. Additionally, she instructed U.S. Legal Writing at the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s LLM Summer Program (2012-2015). Her professional background includes eight years in private practice at firms like Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, focusing on litigation and estate planning.

Education:

• J.D. (1996), Chicago-Kent College of Law, with High Honors and membership in the Order of the Coif
• B.A. in Psychology (1989), Lafayette College, magna cum laude

Research Interests: Pennington specializes in practical legal skills education, emphasizing legal writing, oral advocacy, and professionalism. She actively shapes the first- and second-year curricula at Seton Hall Law, fostering students' proficiency in legal analysis and communication.

Awards: In May 2023, she received the Excellence and Innovation in Teaching 21st-Century Skills Award. She was also nominated for the 2022-2023 Professor Paula Franzese Professor of the Year Award by the Seton Hall Law Student Bar Association.

Additional Roles: Pennington previously served as a legal writing consultant, offering seminars and individual counseling to attorneys in New Jersey, New York, and Washington D.C. Her work bridges academia and practice, reflecting her commitment to enhancing legal professionals' written and oral advocacy skills.