Jesus Emilio Esparza
jesusesparza@SanDiego.edu
(619) 260-6840
Professor of Practice
- JD 1998, University of Colorado School of Law
- BA 1994, University of California at Irvine
Areas of Expertise
Experiential Advocacy Practicum I (Litigation), Experiential Advocacy Practicum II (Transactional), Products Liability
Professional Experience
Lane was a litigation partner with Morrison & Foerster LLP, where she specialized in product liability defense, aviation defense and advised clients on product safety issues. At Morrison & Foerster, Lane served as the head of Litigation Associate Training for the San Diego office and was a member of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee and Recruiting Committee. She was previously a litigation associate with Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich and Dorsey & Whitney. After law school, Lane served as law clerk to the Honorable Lewis T. Babcock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
Professor Lane is a certified faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy where she teaches practicing lawyers trial skills and deposition skills in public and private programs around the country. Lane has recently worked with a national civil litigation law firm to create and teach a Trial Academy where experienced trial attorneys learn and practice all phases of a jury trial.
Professor Lane is a full-time Professor of Practice. She is the creator and lead instructor for the Experiential Advocacy Practicum, a required 1L course where students learn litigation and transactional skills through practical exercises. EAP was recognized as one of Bloomberg Law’s 2023-2024 Law School Innovation Programs. Lane also teaches Products Liability to upper division law students and is the Faculty Director of USD School of Law’s Advocacy Competition Teams where she oversees all competition programs, including ADR Team, Mock Trial, Moot Court, Transactional Law Team and VICAM. She serves as the Faculty Advisor for the Christian Legal Society.
Honors and Affiliations
Lane is a Past President of the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego. Lane was named a Changemaker Faculty Fellow for the University of San Diego in 2020-2021. She was named a NITA, Next Generation Faculty Member in 2014. She was recommended by Legal 500 U.S. in the area of “Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Consumer Products” in 2012. Lane received the Wiley W. Manual Award for Pro Bono Legal Services from the State Bar of California in 2009. She is a former barrister member of the Louis M. Welsh Chapter of American Inns of Court.