Professor Poleynard began teaching legal writing in 2004 and joined the faculty full-time in 2005. Her classes have focused on a range of legal topics, including, juvenile justice, intellectual property, international law, criminal law, employment law and transactions. Professor Poleynard taught the specialized writing section in intellectual property in 2007-2008 and currently teaches the specialized section in international and comparative law in 2009-2010.

Prior to joining the faculty full-time in 2005, Professor Poleynard clerked for a federal district court judge and then practiced in both state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels, concentrating in real estate, business, and employment litigation. As a practitioner, she has had the opportunity to research and write about a variety of legal issues, such as professional ethics, sexual harassment, bad faith breach of contract, fraud, civil rights, and statutory interpretation.

Professor Poleynard enjoys incorporating her practical experience into her legal writing and professional skills classes to facilitate her students’ transition from law school to law practice.

• Co-presenter, “Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Using a Standardized Review Exercise as a Teaching Tool and Assessment Mechanism,” Western Regional Legal Writing Conference, Eugene, Oregon, August 10-11, 2012.

• Co-presenter, “From Big Macs to Online Shopping: A Collection of Useful Analogies for Legal Research and Writing Faculty,” Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference, Tempe, Arizona, March 23-24, 2012.

• Panelist, “Appeals (Civil): Winning Strategies from Start to Finish: Writs, Motions and Other Procedural Headaches Panel,” Pincus Professional Education, San Francisco, California, September 22, 2011.

• 1998 – Present – Active member, State Bar of California
• 2005 – Present – Member, Legal Writing Institute
• 2006 – Present – Member, American Bar Association
• 2006 – Present – Member, Orange County Bar Association
• 1998 – 2007 – Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association