Alumni and Admitted Student Receptions Key to King Hall Recruitment
Law School recruitment is an increasingly competitive process. In addition to information about rankings, bar passage rates, and LSAT scores, prospective law students want to meet faculty and hear from alumni about what to expect when they choose a school. That's why UC Davis School of Law hosts a series of Admitted Students Receptions each spring, offering students the opportunity to hear first-hand from distinguished faculty and enthusiastic alumni about the benefits of joining the King Hall community.
"The Alumni and Admitted Student Receptions are one of the most powerful recruitment tools we have," said Kristen Mercado, Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid.
The receptions take place in cities around the state each year from March through May. Dean Kevin R. Johnson is typically on hand to speak with students. Also in attendance are alumni volunteers, many of whom are participants in the King Hall C.A.R.E.S. (Committed to Assist Recruitment & Enrollment of Students) program. Often, prospective students arrive at the receptions unsure about where they want to study law, but they leave determined to enroll at King Hall as a result of the glowing recommendations of alumni, Mercado said.
"King Hall is unique in the strength, accessibility, and diversity of its alumni network," said Mercado. "In this competitive time for law school admissions, the opportunity to interact informally with alums local to that area and in myriad areas of practice is extraordinarily influential to admitted students. Along with the C.A.R.E.S. program, the Alumni-Admitted Student Receptions are wonderful ways to showcase one part of our amazing King Hall community and to get admitted students excited about joining it."
The events are usually held at larger law firms with a strong King Hall connection. In recent years, receptions have been hosted at firms including Seyfarth Shaw and Greenburg Glusker in the Los Angeles area; Fenwick & West, Reed Smith, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in San Francisco; and Stoel Rives, Boutin Jones, and Best, Best & Krieger in Sacramento.
"The alumni and admitted student receptions provide a wonderful opportunity for alumni to both reconnect with King Hall and other alumni and to help recruit the next generation of law students," said Kara Ueda '00, a partner at Best Best & Krieger and member of the UC Davis School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. "Having both hosted and attended these receptions, it's always inspiring to meet the smart and talented students who are considering attending the law school and to share with them some of my memories and experiences. I highly encourage King Hall alumni to attend the admitted student reception in their area."
This year's receptions are taking place in Los Angeles on March 6 at Jones Day, in Sacramento on April 4 at Best Best & Krieger, and in San Francisco on May 1 at Hinshaw & Culbertson. Event details for the San Francisco reception will be available soon.