Dr. Scott Westfahl

Professor

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Biography

Scott Westfahl is a Professor at Harvard Law School and the Practice Director for Executive Education. In his role, he teaches courses focused on leadership, design thinking, and innovation within the J.D. curriculum. He has been recognized for his contributions, including the Legal Innovation Design Thinking course which was celebrated by Bloomberg Law as a law school innovation. He plays a pivotal role in leading Harvard Law School's efforts to nurture lawyers and leaders throughout their careers, particularly in advancing leadership responsibilities. His work involves overseeing core global leadership programs and collaborating with colleagues to design custom programs for law firms, governmental agencies, and legal-related organizations. His academic interests extend to talent development strategies, organizational alignment, diversity, and inclusion within the legal profession. Prior to his appointment at HLS, Professor Westfahl held various positions including Director of Professional Development at Goodwin Procter LLP and spent six years at McKinsey & Company focusing on professional development. He has authored notable publications on lawyer development frameworks and talent management in law firms. Westfahl earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College, graduating summa cum laude.

Research Interests

Experience

Attorney

— Present

Foley & Lardner • Washington, District Columbia, United States

Practiced law with a focus on federal regulatory matters.

Manager of Professional Development

— Present

McKinsey & Company • Washington, District Columbia, United States

Led professional development initiatives.

Director of Professional Development

— Present

Goodwin Procter LLP • Washington, District Columbia, United States

Directed various professional development programs for attorneys.

Courses

Applying Adaptive Leadership Drive Change Leadership Fundamentals Legal Innovation Design Thinking

Requirements for Harvard Law School

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
J.D. from an ABA-approved U.S. law school or a first law degree (LL.B. or equivalent) from a foreign law school
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • CV/Résumé
  • Personal statements (Parts A and B)
  • At least two recommendations
  • Official transcripts and diplomas
  • Official TOEFL report (if applicable)
  • Application fee ($85)
Specialization Notes

Applied for under 'Department of Law', 'Department of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law', 'Department of Constitutional Law', 'Department of Japanese Legal Studies', and 'Department of Human Rights'.