Dr. Rebecca Szajna

Biography

Rebecca Myhr Szajna is the Director of the Externship Program and a Lecturer at the College of Law. She joined the College in 2011, where she also served as the Director of Career Planning and Professional Development, focusing on counseling students and alumni, particularly those interested in public interest and government careers. Szajna has experience as an adjunct professor, teaching courses such as 'The American Jury' and 'Fundamentals of Legal Practice'. She earned her Juris Doctor (JD) from Stanford Law School, a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science summa cum laude from Arizona State University. While at Stanford, she was the Lead Articles Editor for the Stanford Law and Policy Review. Szajna is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is admitted to the Northern District of Illinois. Prior to her current role, she worked as a trial consultant, served as the Assistant Appellate Defender for the State of Illinois, and litigated at major law firms in Chicago. Additionally, she is a member of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Pro Bono Committee, advocating for increased recognition of pro bono work in Illinois, and a Licensed Professional Counselor who provides guidance on matters related to professional well-being. She is also an MBTI Certified Practitioner, facilitating Myers-Briggs Self-Assessments.

Research Interests

Courses