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April 16, 2024
Dear Berkeley Law Alumni,
As I write this quarterly message, Berkeley Law is much in the news in a way that I never could have imagined. Rather than use this message to discuss that, I will simply provide a link to what I posted on the Law School’s website that addresses these recent events: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/article/statement-from-dean-erwin-chemerinsky/
I would rather use this message to share with you many terrific developments in the Law School.
First-year experience
As long as anyone can remember, Berkeley Law has divided the first-year class into three supermods. Next year, and in the future, we will have four supermods. By moving to four supermods, each will be significantly smaller, as will the small mods and the Legal Research and Writing sections. Making this happen took an enormous amount of work from many faculty and staff. I am very grateful to them for making this happen. I think it will enhance the first-year education of all of our students.
Space
We are out of space for everything and there are no realistic ways to expand space within our existing buildings. I am pleased to report that the campus has signed a “letter of intent” for the Law School to rent the entire Bancroft Hotel, just across the street, for the next 10 years. It no longer operates as a hotel and we would convert the rooms to offices, as well as take over the many event and other spaces. Under the letter of intent, the building’s owner is required to complete seismic upgrades in compliance with UC standards, allowing occupancy no sooner than early 2025. This will provide us with substantial additional space that is very close to the Law School building and the Building Oversight Committee, in collaboration with others, will develop a plan for incorporating the new individual offices, shared workspaces, and event spaces created by the addition of the Bancroft Hotel. I am appreciative of the many people who brought this to fruition, especially Charles Cannon.
Job Placement Update
More than 94% of the J.D. Class of 2023 was employed as measured 10 months after graduation. A number of our graduates were impacted by the turbulent economy and periods of remote instruction due to COVID. Despite these challenges, the Class of 2023 had the highest number of judicial clerkship placements in three years, received the highest number of Equal Justice Works Fellowships (seven) in Berkeley Law’s history — also the greatest number of any law school nationwide — and we continued to see the percentage of students entering public interest, public service, or plaintiff-side firm work increase. No matter where our graduates begin their careers, they are doing impactful work and using their Berkeley Law education to blaze new trails in the legal profession.
Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations
On Feb. 13, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk joined our Human Rights Center to officially launch the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations, the world’s first international guidelines on how to use social media and content found online when investigating war crimes and human rights violations. Developed by the center and first released in December 2020, the Protocol has now been translated into all six languages of the U.N. and is increasingly used around the world to surface evidence of atrocities. The Berkeley Protocol launch also kicked off a year-long series of events and initiatives celebrating the center’s 30th anniversary.
Compelling Inaugural Events
A telling example of Berkeley Law’s intellectual vibrancy is the daily stream of dynamic events that bring high-profile guests, leading experts, and exceptional advocates to our school. Three recent inaugural events exemplify the breadth of these offerings. More than 500 people registered for our California Racial Justice Act Symposium, which examined the 2020 Act’s early implementation and implications. Our new Center for Indigenous Law & Justice probed the nexus of law and storytelling with renowned Yurok Tribe Chief Judge Abby Abinanti and award-winning New Yorker journalist Sarah Stillman. Our Berkeley Center for Private Law Theory hosted our first contract theory workshop, which welcomed an A-list of international scholars in the field.
Executive Education New Skills Series: Berkeley Boosts Skills Lab
This new, free webinar series, presented by Berkeley Law’s Executive Education and Clinical programs, offers vital executive skills and expert advice to advocates and other legal professionals. Topics include public speaking, legislative drafting, navigating bureaucracy, providing effective feedback, storytelling, and deposition tips, among others. Register here>>
Big Give 2024
Thank you to our amazing alumni community for making Big Give 2024 a terrific success. On March 14, UC Berkeley’s one-day annual fundraising campaign raised more than $400,000 for the Law School to help us recruit talented students from all financial backgrounds, retain top faculty, fuel our vital training programs, and more. Thank you for your wonderful support!
2024 Alumni Awards
I’m pleased to announce the recipients of our annual Alumni Awards. The awardees will be recognized at a celebration in June.
- Citation Award: Kenton J. King ’87, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Recognizes Berkeley Law graduates who have made exceptional contributions to the school, the bar, the bench, legal scholarship, the state, the nation, and the world.
- Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award: Eric Rakowski, Professor of Law
Honors the lifelong contributions and accomplishments of an exemplary Berkeley Law faculty member.
- Young Alumni Award: Tam M. Ma ’11, Associate Vice President, Health Policy & Regulatory Affairs, University of CA Health
Given to an alumnus/a who has graduated in the past 15 years and has made significant contributions to the community through professional, charitable, or other public service activities, extraordinary service to the law school, and other achievements.
- Judge D. Lowell and Barbara Jensen Public Service Award: Ann Brick ’75, ACLU of Northern California
Given to a prominent Berkeley Law graduate who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to public service in the legal profession.
New Berkeley Law Alumni Chapters
The cities of New York and Chicago christened new regional chapters by hosting successful kickoff events. Under the leadership of Joanna Goldenstein ’97 and Sarah Weiss ’10, respectively, we are delighted to have these two passionate communities join San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley in our regional chapter portfolio.
Alumni Reunion Weekend 2024
Please save the dates for this year’s Alumni Reunion Weekend, which will be held on September 20 and 21. Reconnect with classmates, renew law school friendships, and gain CLE credits in engaging programs. Class dinners for those who graduated in years ending 4 or 9 will take place on Saturday, September 21. We look forward to seeing you!
There are difficult times for any law school or, for that matter, any institution. But what is most important at those moments is to focus on what unites us: the desire that Berkeley Law be an outstanding law school, with terrific faculty and students and staff, great programs, and a strong public mission. This is my central focus as dean.
As always, you can reach me at echemerinsky@law.berkeley.edu, or (510) 642-6483.
Warmly,
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