With warm smiles, the UCLA School of Law community gathered for the law school’s annual convocation ceremony on Aug. 21. There, on Dickson Court and surrounded by family and friends, members of a talented new class embarked on the latest step in their remarkable journeys: as UCLA Law students.

Tradition of service: Pro bono program makes a mark in the community

The Judge Rand Schrader Pro Bono Program is renowned for its impact across Southern California. Each year, students perform more than 10,000 hours of volunteer work through the program, which launched five years ago to carry forward UCLA Law’s rich history of community engagement.

Continuing public defender partnership helps people facing deportation

The Criminal Law and Policy Consortium is working with the L.A. public defender on an innovative fellowship that offers individuals facing deportation legal representation from a UCLA Law graduate. Victoria Calderón ’26 (pictured) is the program's newest fellow.

Careers in Focus: Michael Brown ’05 on advising L.A. tech companies

UCLA Law alum Michael Brown ’05 is a partner at Fenwick & West, where he guides technology companies through a wide range of corporate transactions.

Professor Sharon Dolovich is the faculty director of the Prison Law and Policy Program. Recently, she co-authored a study that shows how most deaths in the L.A. County Jail happen after a person has been in jail for several weeks. As discussed in the UCLA Newsroom, this new research goes against the prevailing understanding that jail deaths take place soon after people enter jail and follow recent overdoses or withdrawals from prescribed medications or illicit drugs. “Since the pandemic, many people have died well into their stays in the L.A. County Jail from drug overdoses, suicides, and other preventable causes, making the jail a site of countless deaths of despair,” Dolovich says.

We caught up with new students during orientation to ask what they’re most excited for this year at UCLA Law.

Ongoing - Strategic AI for Legal Professionals (Online course)

September 10-11 - 25 Years After 9/11: Reimagining Freedom, Justice, and Security

September 22 - Careers in Tech Law 2026

September 25 - LEAD Summit

January 29-30, 2027 - Biennial Conference on International Law and Social Science

Rick Hasen writes in Slate about the Supreme Court's ruling on voting by mail.

Kimberly Clausing contributes to a New York Times essay on the effects of Trump's zero-sum approach to trade.

Mark McKenna appears on NPR's 'All Things Considered' to discuss a lawsuit over who owns AI-generated characters.

Joanna Schwartz speaks with the Houston Chronicle about lawsuits over police conduct.

Andrew Verstein is quoted by the New York Times about prediction markets and insider trading.

Allan Marks is quoted in the LA Times about federal intervention in state environmental matters.

Ellen Aprill talks to CBS News about a proposed IRS requirement that nonprofits disclose whether their officers have been convicted of certain crimes.

Ahilan Arulanantham is quoted by the AP about federal surveillance targeting people for their beliefs.

Adam Winkler is quoted in the Houston Chronicle about the push for "permitless carry" of guns.

Eugene Volokh talks to LAist about laws that restrict recording people without their consent.

Stephen Bainbridge is quoted in an Atlantic article about how Trump is testing the definition of insider trading.

Stuart Banner speaks with the Tampa Bay Times about the history of jury duty and why some people want to avoid it.

Steve Bank is quoted by Time about the fallout from the scrapped plan to bring investors into the World Cup.

Ingrid Eagly is quoted in USA Today about a policy shift in how asylum claims are reviewed.

Mauricio Gaona LL.M. '11 was appointed Colombia's ambassador to the U.N.

Erik Von Zeipel ’02 joined the Ogletree Deakins Orange County office as counsel.

Daniel Payán ’13 joined the Ogletree Deakins Orange County office as an associate.

Dean Longfield ’17 joined the Snell & Wilmer San Diego office as counsel.

Alex Ji Hoon Jeong LL.M. ’26 joined Leech Tishman as an associate in the healthcare practice group.

UCLA School of Law
385 Charles E. Young Drive East
1242 Law Building
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Phone: 310.825.4841

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