University of California, Irvine School of Law

In case you missed it: Watch UCI Law Profs. Sameer Ashar, Annie Lai, Jennifer Lee Koh and Stephen Lee discuss new horizons for immigration law at the final installment of the Law & Policy in the Biden-Harris Era series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q14hWskyO3k

A wonderful start to the UCI Law in NYC summer 2021 program, featuring bagels and good company in Central Park. Learn more about the program and check out upcoming events this summer on the UCI Law in NYC website: law.uci.edu/nyc #UCILawinNYC #UCILaw #UCIrvine #lawschool

We are UCI Law. In order of appearance: Interim Dean Bryant Garth, SBA President Jon Widjaja (3L), UCI Law alum Desiree Murray ’19 (Associate, Greenberg Gross, LLP), Elizabeth Schatz Cordero (2L), and Associate Dean for Equity Initiatives Sameer Ashar share what makes UCI Law special. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIJcEKa6U-U

UCI Law is delighted to welcome back Bryant Garth in his role as Interim Dean of UCI Law while UCI Law conducts its search for a new Dean of the Law School! Dean Garth retired from UCI Law in June 2019, but has remained affiliated with the law school as Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus and Co-Director of the UCI Law Center for Empirical Research on the Legal Profession. In this video, Dean Garth shares what he loves about UCI Law, and why he decided to return to the law school to serve in his new role. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIEKI9H9wGY

UCI Law Alumni Profile: Crystal Adams ’15 As a biracial Black woman, my passion for civil rights and equity started at a young age, said Crystal Adams, Attorney at the National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) and 2015 UCI Law graduate. As a child, Crystal learned about discrimination and bigotry her family broke barriers at the height of segregation in Mississippi, which inspired her to further civil rights in her own career. Based in NCYL’s Washington, D.C. office, she litig...ates systemic lawsuits that advance the rights of young people across the country. For example, she is currently advocating for the humane and dignified treatment of all youth in federal immigration custody. She also manages NCYL’s year-round internship program and enjoys recruiting and mentoring UCI Law students who contribute to NCYL’s work. What I loved about my college experience is that it provided a very student-centered experience. Students felt and were empowered we were able to invest in and create the environment we wanted. When I got to ASW at UCI Law, I was sold. It offered so much of what I loved about my college: a student-driven community where everyone knew each other. Within the first few minutes of stepping onto the UCI Law campus, I was enveloped in a genuinely warm welcome. As I spoke to the current students and professors, I realized that the community did not feel competitive or toxic like I had heard about other law schools everyone was supportive of my end goal of working in D.C. I knew that I could intern in D.C. and also spend a semester there through the UCDC program. UCI Law drove home everything I was looking for in a law school. Read more: https://www.law.uci.edu/alumni/profiles/crystal-adams.html

Registration is now open for UCI Law’s 11th Annual Supreme Court Term in Review, sponsored by LawWorks and TorkLaw. Featuring Emily Bazelon, Erwin Chemerinsky, Paul Clement, Stephen Lee and Melissa Murray. Moderated by Rick Hasen. Details/RSVP: https://calendar.law.uci.edu//11th_annual_supreme_court_te

For two years, students in the UCI Law International Justice Clinic have advocated for Los Angeles County to implement the United Nations Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Last month, the County Board of Supervisors approved a motion supporting CEDAW and laying the groundwork for a possible CEDAW ordinance. https://www.law.uci.edu/news/in-the-news/2021/ijc-cedaw.html

The UCI Law Civil Rights Litigation Clinic filed suit this week on behalf of local taxpayers against Orange County and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. The suit alleges that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is using taxpayer funds to coerce often indigent persons charged with misdemeanors into forfeiting their constitutional rights through the unlawful collection of DNA for the OCDA’s private DNA database. https://www.law.uci.edu//2021/clinic-oc-dna-collection.html

Join UCI Law and the UCI community in taking the pledge to build a culture where Black people thrive at UCI. https://uciadvance.wufoo.com/forms/moc3mqp1mfpl7c/ Learn more about the UCI Black Thriving Initiative here: https://inclusion.uci.edu/uci-black-thriving-initiative/

UCI Law is delighted to announce the creation of the Rutan & Tucker Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. The $100,000 endowed scholarship is generously being funded by Rutan & Tucker, LLP (Rutan & Tucker), a law firm located in Orange County, California. We are incredibly grateful for Rutan & Tucker’s important and generous gift, said L. Song Richardson, Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law at UCI Law. Rutan & Tucker has been a forward-looking partner of UCI Law and our ...students since the school’s earliest days. This new gift provides valuable resources that will help ensure access to a UCI Law education for the broadest possible group of students. Read more: https://www.law.uci.edu//rutan-tucker-endowed-scholarship.

WATCH: Frank Pasquale of Brooklyn Law presents on Data Informed Duties in AI Development at the second installment of the UCI Law AI & Law Colloquium Series. Introduction by Prof. Dan Burk. https://youtu.be/hZr-WDBAfYM

UCI Law is delighted to announce the creation of the Lord, Abbett & Co., LLC Diversity Scholarship at UCI Law. The generous gift is being funded and established by Lord, Abbett & Co., LLC (Lord Abbett) an independent, privately-held investment management company headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. I am so grateful and excited about our new and unique partnership with Lord Abbett, said L. Song Richardson, Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law at UCI Law. This outstanding opportunity with Lord Abbett not only provides financial assistance to one of our students, but also creates a multi-faceted relationship with the student recipient as well as with UCI Law. Read more: https://www.law.uci.edu//lord-abbett-endowed-scholarship.h

Congratulations to Dean Richardson, recipient of the Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award from NAPABA.

UCI Law is pleased to announce the generous creation of the Crowell & Moring LLP Diversity Scholarship in the amount of $200,000. This is the second endowed diversity scholarship donated by Crowell & Moring to UCI Law -- the first was established in 2014, and was UCI Law’s first endowed scholarship. More: http://law.uci.edu//crowell-moring-endowed-scholarship.html

UCI Law is delighted to announce that Distinguished Professor of Law Rachel F. Moran has been named a 2020-2021 Hagler Fellow by the Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University. https://www.law.uci.edu//in-/2020/moran-hagler-fellow.html

A video recording of yesterday's Supreme Court Preview is now available. Watch here: https://youtu.be/upfy0NQf5kw

Join UCI Law on Tuesday, Oct. 6, for our Supreme Court Preview, featuring Profs. Dan Burk, Michele Goodwin, Kaaryn Gustafson, Rick Hasen, Paul Hoffman, Jack Lerner, Rachel Moran, Mark Rosenbaum, and Henry Weinstein. This year, the program includes cases covering a broad range of issues, including the Affordable Care Act, intellectual property, the 8th Amendment, free speech, religious exemptions to anti-discrimination laws, and voting rights disputes related to the upcoming Presidential Election. Details/RSVP: https://calendar.law.uci.edu//guest_speaker_series_supreme

UCI Law Alumni Profile: Samrah Mahmoud ’12, Partner at Troutman Pepper During her time at UCI Law, Samrah Mahmoud was involved in many organizations and activities. She accomplished more than 150 pro bono hours and graduated with pro bono honors. She was part of the Women’s Law Society, Child Advocacy Program, and she did pro bono work with organizations like the Public Law Center, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), and the Alliance for Children’s Rights. She was also one of ...the founding members of the school’s Law Review, and eventually became a Senior Editor of the Law Review. She graduated summa cum laude from the law school in 2012. Even now as a full-time Partner at Troutman Pepper, she still devotes time to her alma mater, including teaching courses at UCI Law, speaking on panels at the law school regarding clerkships, and regularly volunteering for projects involving alumni. Samrah also has been part of the Alumni Association since graduating and serving as President in 2018. "The support from the community for UCI Law runs deep. And, that’s what I would highlight to admitted students who are considering coming to law school here. You will get irreplaceable hands on experience through pro bono work, clinics, and externships; you will learn from top faculty alongside diverse colleagues at the top of their game; and you will do all of this in a community that really wants to help the law school and its students thrive." Full profile: https://www.law.uci.edu/alumni/profiles/samrah-mahmoud.html

Join UCI Law’s Center for Empirical Research on the Legal Profession this Thursday, Oct. 1, for a discussion by Amanda Hollis-Brusky and Joshua C. Wilson on their new book Separate But Faithful. Details/RSVP: https://calendar.law.uci.edu//cerlp_amanda_hollis-brusky_j

Congratulations to Prof. Jane Stoever, named a 2020 Woman of the Year by Rep. Lou Correa. The honor recognizes exceptional women who live, work, or meaningfully impact the 46th Congressional District. https://www.law.uci.edu//20/stoever-woman-of-the-year.html

UCI Law Alumni Profile: Eric Fanchiang '17, Associate at Crowell & Moring LLP During his time at UCI Law, Eric Fanchiang ‘17 accomplished 50 pro bono hours as a 1L, and more than 120 hours in total, graduating with Pro Bono Honors. Doing pro bono was among the best parts of going to law school he explained, saying that it’s a privileged position to be in to have the legal power to help those who are underprivileged, and know you’re making a difference in people’s lives wh...o might otherwise not have access to legal services. He says having spent time on various pro bono projects, coupled with the emphasis on public service at UCI Law, trained him in key legal skills such as oral advocacy, research, and writing. Now as an Associate at Crowell & Moring LLP, a law firm that primarily services large corporations, he still sets time aside for pro bono work. In addition, he’s still involved at the law school. In 2017-18 he was the new alumni officer on the UCI Law Alumni Association Board, and currently serves on the governing council. Additionally, he is the recipient of a 2020 UCI Lauds & Laurels Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes UCI alumni whose personal or professional achievements bring honor and distinction to a particular school or discipline, UCI and/or the UCI Alumni Association. Full profile: https://www.law.uci.edu/alumni/profiles/eric-fanchiang.html

UCI Law Chancellor’s Professor of Law & Political Science Richard L. Hasen has received a grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies for work on a book project entitled, Cheap Speech: Saving American Elections in the Disinformation Age. The $45,000 gift will help cover Prof. Hasen’s Fall 2020 teaching leave as he completes research and writing on his manuscript. The book is under contract with Yale University Press. More: https://www.law.uci.edu//20/hasen-craig-newmark-grant.html

UCI Law is saddened by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a legal giant, trailblazer, brilliant mind, and champion for justice. Her legacy will not be forgotten. May she rest in peace.

UCI Law Alumni Profile: Anne Conley '15, Associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP As a student, Anne Conley quickly became involved in a variety of pro bono projects, such as assisting survivors of domestic violence with obtaining restraining orders, counseling workers about their rights, and helping immigrants navigate the naturalization process. Throughout law school, Anne completed over 200 hours of pro bono work in order to graduate with Pro Bono High Honors. Anne also got... involved with the UCI Law Review serving as Administrative Chair, the Global Justice Summit, the Appellate Law Clinic, and participated in and served on the board for UCI Law’s Moot Court Competition, winning the Best Brief award and placing second in the oral competition. The hands-on, practical learning components of the curriculum at UCI Law, Anne said, really prepared her to be a lawyer. Starting as a 1L, we were taught how to think and work as a lawyer, not a law student. That really stuck with me how to analyze legal issues and address them practically it really prepared me for the legal field. Full profile: https://www.law.uci.edu/alumni/profiles/anne-conley.html

WATCH: A recording of UCI Law's #ScholarStrike teach-in session,"Race Matters," featuring Dean Richardson and Profs. Baradaran, Burk, DiMento, and Jimenez is now available on YouTube, courtesy of Cincinnati Law: https://www.youtube.com/watch

UCI Law is a gold mine when it comes to empowered women Orange Coast magazine This month’s Orange Coast magazine cover story highlights UCI Law women leaders, including Dean L. Song Richardson, Prof. Mehrsa Baradaran, Prof. Michele Goodwin and the UC Irvine Law Review executive board. The story also includes UCI Law Board of Visitors Member Julie Hill. https://www.orangecoast.com/featur/35-kickass-women-in-o-c/