This week the following students in the Class of 2024 were honored in a ceremony and presented with certificates for membership in the Order of Barristers:
Congratulations to all! I am looking forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 at commencement.
On May 14-15, the California Coalition Worker Power, CA Labor Federation, UC Merced Community Labor Center, and UC Davis Labor and Community Center will host worker organizations, advocates, and worker leaders from across California. Register for this event here.
On April 22, I had the pleasure of attending Professor Bill Dodge's International Litigation and Arbitration class. He is retiring after this semester and his students honored him with a special gift - a notebook with messages of appreciation from each student in the class.
It was wonderful to witness the gratitude the students expressed for all they learned. Professor Dodge's contributions to our community will be greatly missed, and I wish him all the best.
To the King Hall Community As 2023/24 concludes, we celebrate the achievements and enduring community spirit of our law school. Congratulations to the J.D. and LL.M. classes of 2024! In challenging times, our students let their voices be heard. We started the year by welcoming the remarkable J.D. Class of 2026. 61% are students of color, 63% are women, and 22% identify as LGBTQ+.
Give Day goes live tomorrow, April 19! I hope you will participate in this wonderful opportunity to support UC Davis School of Law. Each year, the excellence of King Hall carries us to new heights. Exceptional first-year classes, celebrated faculty and innovative programs bring national recognition for our diversity focus and record jobs success. It is because of our benefactors’ unwavering commitment that our status in the legal community crests higher each year.
The Latinx Law Students Association (LaLSA) held its annual dinner in Old Sacramento. As always, this year's event was festive and a wonderful celebration of our Latinx law students.
Fernando Torres '24, a native of Bakersfield and graduate of Yale University, was honored with the Lorenzo Patiño Award for community service. Fernando served on the UC Davis Law Review and was involved in many other activities. He also served as a research assistant. Fernando gave a touching acceptance speech that moved the audience.
On Thursday, April 18 from 12:15 - 1 p.m. there will be an informational session in Room 1303 on the Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court. This program is geared specifically for 2Ls who can apply for membership. The Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court is an esteemed organization of lawyers, judicial officers, professors and law students. It is a wonderful chance to network with a group of local members of the legal field, including Sacramento Superior Court Judges Julie Weng-Gutierrez and Shama Mesiwala ’98.
Earlier this week, the UC Davis Law Students Association held its annual Custodial Appreciation event. On a balmy spring evening in the King Hall Courtyard, the LSA President Brenda Quintanilla Lopez '24 recognized each custodian, including Maureen Dommer. Each custodian received a gift bag and certificate.
Once again, I was touched by the kindness of our students and the recognition of some of the hardest-working people at King Hall.
In our final talk in the 2023/24 Racial Justice Speaker Series, Project Director for Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples, Morning Star Gali, visited UC Davis School of Law. She fights for indigenous rights, treaties, traditional cultures, and sacred lands.
It is the season of banquets for UC Davis Law's amazing student organizations. Last Friday, the Filipinx Law Students Association held an amazing and elegant dinner at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity in Sacramento.
Last week, the Moot Court Honors Board held the final round of the 55th Annual Irving J. Neumiller Moot Court Competition. A great group of justices judged the competition: Associate Justices Ronald Robie and Louis Mauro of the 3rd Appellate District Court of Appeals in California, and Senior U.S. District Court Judges for the Eastern District of California William Shubb and John Mendez, along with U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley for the Eastern District of California.
The UC Davis Law Review held its annual Hopkins Reception celebrating the graduating members and celebrating the new leaders. It was a warm evening at the new and elegant Gorman Museum of Native American Art.
It's always busy over the lunch hour at UC Davis School of Law. On Thursday, I stopped by to hear Sofia Parino, our Career Services' Associate Director for Public Interest and Government, provide a workshop on a public interest fellowship, which can help kick off a successful career in public interest law.