Amy Williams '05 to Receive Western Center on Law & Poverty ‘Rock Star' Award

Amy Williams '05, Managing Attorney of Legal Services of Northern California's LSNC-Health, will be honored with the Western Center on Law & Poverty's "Rock Star" award at the Center's Fair Shake event in Los Angeles on June 26. 

The annual event recognizes up-and-coming heroes who are working in conjunction with Western Center to fight for the rights of poor people in vital areas such as housing, health care and public benefits. Rock Stars are chosen for the talent and sensitivity they have demonstrated in combating the injustices suffered by disadvantaged people. Hundreds of attorneys, young professionals and advocates from throughout the region and the State come out to the Fair Shake event to celebrate the honorees and their work.

Williams began work with LSNC while still a student at King Hall, working as a summer law clerk in the Sacramento Office during 2003.  During law school, she also worked for the Prison Law Clinic, Sacramento County Public Defender's Office and the Federal Public Defender's Office. After graduating, she returned to LSNC as a contract attorney specializing in Social Security advocacy. In 2006, Williams transitioned to a staff attorney in the Sacramento county office focusing on public benefits and health and in 2008 she became the Managing Attorney LSNC-Health (formerly Health Rights Hotline). She continues to manage LSNC-Health focusing on Health Reform and litigation affecting low-income individuals without access to health care, and is involved with several clinics that offer free legal assistance in the community, including the LGBT Legal Clinic at the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center, Tommy Clinkenbeard Legal Clinic, and My Sister's House.

UC Davis School of Law has long had a close relationship with LSNC. Dean Kevin R. Johnson has been part of the LSNC Board of Directors since 1996, and since 2003 has served as President of the Board. Former King Hall Dean Rex Perschbacher was on the organization's Board of Directors from 1990-96. LSNC Executive Director Gary Smith has taught Public Interest Law and Public Benefits seminars at King Hall for more than 15 years. Numerous King Hall alumni work or have worked for LSNC, including Theo Cuison '11, Oliver Ehlinger '11, Margaret Engelhardt '03, Valerie Feldman '00, Emily Fisher '04, Deborah Gettleman '09, John Gianola '90, Jennifer Haffner '04, Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi '10, Arthur Lipscomb '02, David Lipschutz '99, Lynn Martinez '92, Rebecca Rabovsky '10, Gary Rhoades '93, Sarah Ropelato '07, Maryam Sayyed '10, Steliana Schmidel '08, Jennifer Smith '07, John Tan '10, Liza Thantranon '10, Wankanok Usaha '97, Rogelio Villagrana '02, Amy Williams '05, Kyanna Williams '06, Stacey Wittorf '05, and Tammi Wong '03.

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