William Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence
William Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence
The Rutter Award recognizes UC Law SF faculty for outstanding commitment to classroom teaching. Founded by philanthropist, lawyer, and legal education publisher William Rutter in 1979, the award honors professors at California’s top law schools.
Professor Emily Murphy wins 2024 Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence

UC Law SF Professor Emily Murphy received the Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence in a ceremony March 12, 2005.
The selection committee recognized Murphy’s commitment to pedagogical innovation, scholarly and rigorous approach to teaching and learning, and ability to inspire students to strive to achieve the highest standards of excellence.
“I take my students extremely seriously and I take my responsibility to them extremely seriously,” Murphy said. “I think that being taken seriously is a prerequisite for trust, which is a prerequisite for learning.”
Nomination & Selection
The 2024 selection committee included Provost & Academic Dean Morris Ratner, last year’s recipient Professor Stefano Moscato, UCLAS President Millie Wong, and UC Law SF alum Manpreet Bhandal (’24).
The Rutter Endowment provides UC Law SF with an annual award of $15,000 for the recipient.
2024
Emily Murphy, Professor of Law and Harry & Lillian Hastings Research Chair
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2023
Stefano Moscato, Professor of Practice and Bar Success Analyst and Strategist
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2022
Alina Ball, Professor and Affiliated Scholar
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2021
Scott Dodson, James Edgar Hervey Chair in Litigation, Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law, and Director of the Center for Litigation and the Courts
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2020
Manoj Viswanathan, Joseph W. Cotchett ’64 Professor of Law and Co-Director, UC Law SF Center on Tax Law
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2019
Carol Izumi, Emerita Professor of Law
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2018
Mai Linh Spencer, Clinical Professor
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2017
Dave Owen, Associate Dean for Research and Harry Sunderland ’61 Professor of Law
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2016
David Takacs, Emeritus Professor of Law
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2015
Morris Ratner, Provost & Academic Dean, Professor of Law
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2014
George Bisharat, Emeritus Professor of Law
2013
Roger C. Park, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Law and James Edgar Hervey Chair in Litigation
2012
Karen Musalo, Professor and Chair in International Law, Director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
2011
Kate Bloch, Emerita Professor of Law and Harry & Lillian Hastings Research Chair
2010
Hadar Aviram, Thomas Miller ’73 Professor of Law
2009
Robin Feldman, Arthur J. Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Law, Albert Abramson ’54 Distinguished Professor of Law Chair, and Director of the Center for Innovation
2008
Heather Field, Stephen A. Lind Professor of Law and Co-Director of Center on Tax Law
2007
Lois Weithorn, The Honorable Raymond L. Sullivan Professor of Law
2006
Donna Ryu (joined the Northern District of California bench as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in 2010)
2005
Brian E. Gray, Emeritus Professor of Law
2004
Evan Lee, Emeritus Professor of Law
2003
Ashutosh Bhagwat
2002
William S. Dodge
2001
John Diamond, The Honorable Raymond L. Sullivan Professor of Law
2000
Reuel Schiller, The Honorable Roger J. Traynor Chair and Professor of Law