Julia M. Dunlap

Law School
University of San Diego School of Law

Major Cases
Julia M. Dunlap, is the director of legal education for UC San Diego Extension. The legal education department at UCSD Extension includes the nationally recognized ABA Approved Paralegal Certificate and Intellectual Property Certificate programs, as well as the new Litigation Technology Management Certificate program. Dunlap has played an active role in the education of law students, paralegals and legal support staff for almost 20 years. As a strong proponent in the belief that students of the law learn best when they are taught the practical, day-to-day workings of the law in conjunction with legal theory, she has enlisted many active and prominent attorneys of the San Diego legal community as instructors for the UC San Diego Extension certificate programs.

Professional Background
Dunlap received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego, School of Law, and became an active member of the California State Bar in 1993. Prior to joining UC San Diego Extension, Dunlap was a family law practitioner representing clients in dissolution, custody, and support cases in San Diego and Orange counties. She currently specializes in estate planning preparing wills and trusts on a periodic basis. While overseeing the legal education department, Dunlap also teaches legal communications and legal research and analysis, and a preparation and review course for the Certified Paralegal Exam administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Professional Affiliations
I currently serve as the national Director of Certificate Programs for the American Association of Paralegal Education and I am the 2015 nominee for President of AAfPE. I present three to four times a year at legal education conferences, law firms, and professional associations, including the California State Bar Annual Convention, AAfPE national and regional conferences, California Alliance of Paralegal Associations, San Diego Paralegal Association, on legal education opportunities for students, career opportunities, professional ethics, and best practices for legal education professionals. At UC San Diego, I am a committee member for the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on gender identity and sexual orientation issues. The committee meets quarterly and is currently working on 10 initiatives to promote recognition of issues affecting the LGBT community at UC San Diego. I am currently assigned to the tax equalization of domestic partner employee benefits task force.