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Alumni Newsletter | March 2026


Steve Zieff ’78 and Elaine Leitner Fund ‘Premier’ Postgrad Public Interest Fellowship

The gift establishes the Zieff-Leitner Public Interest Fellowship, which will allow a graduating 3L student to spend their first year in practice with a nonprofit organization — at a starting salary of $80,000, significantly more than existing fellowships. Read more

Building a Ripple Effect: Novel Immigration Liberation Practicum Helps Immigrants in Federal Detention

Stood up on a quick timetable, the project fits perfectly into the Criminal Law & Justice Center’s work at the intersection of immigration detention and the criminal justice system. Read more

Big Help to Pursue Big Law: New Course Responds to Earlier Recruiting, Giving 1Ls Valuable Guidance

The pragmatic course illuminates the economics and structure of large law firms, the substance of their different practice areas, and how best to succeed in them. Read more

Pioneering Center for the Study of Law and Society Still Blazing New Trails to Show How Law Operates in the Real World

The first university-based center for sociolegal research marked its 65th anniversary with an engaging conference addressing criminal justice, inequality, democracy and civil society, and lessons for and from the legal profession. Read more

Legal Experts at Berkeley Law Event: Engaged Public, Judicial Courage Vital to American Democracy

Panelists addressed the growing personal and political threats facing judges, and how modern pressures from social media harassment to political tribalism threaten the independence necessary for a fair society. Read more

Big Give 2026

Big Give 2026: A Record-Breaking Day for Berkeley Law

Big Give was a BIG success for Berkeley Law, thanks to our incredible community of supporters. We finished strong, raising $540,542 from 483 donors, our highest dollar total since 2018. Special thanks to our three match donors, whose generous gifts totaling $220,000 helped inspire participation and drive this year’s outstanding results. Together, our community showed the power of Berkeley Law — coming together in one day to strengthen our students, faculty, and programs for the year ahead.

Alumni Events

Admitted Student and Alumni Receptions With the Dean - Register Now!

Registration is now open (all event times are 6-8 pm). Please contact alumni@law.berkeley.edu with any questions.

March 24: Washington, D.C. Register here

March 25: New York City Register here

March 26: Los Angeles Register here

March 31: San Francisco Register here


2026 Shakespeare Trial Featuring Dean Erwin Chemerinsky

Tuesday, April 7, 5:00 pm PT. Join us for the 2026 Shakespeare Trial at the Irvine Barclay Theater, featuring Dean Erwin Chemerinsky (Berkeley Law) and Professor Bernadette Meyler (Stanford Law), with the Honorable Andrew Guilford (UC Irvine Law) presiding. New Swan Shakespeare Festival actors will present scenes from their upcoming production, "The Merry Wives of Windsor Cove." You are the jury at this interactive theater event. Free and open to all. Learn more information and register for your free tickets or sign up for our live stream


2026 Berkeley Corporate + Climate Summit

Wednesday, April 8, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm PT, Spieker Forum, Chou Hall. We're pleased to announce that the third annual Berkeley Corporate + Climate Summit returns to Berkeley Law, in partnership with Berkeley Haas and the Center for Sustainable and Impact Finance. Join leaders from business, government, academia, and civil society to examine what credible climate governance actually requires in 2026 and beyond. CLE credit available. Register here


DC Chapter Happy Hour at Bar Charley 

Thursday, April 16, 5:00 - 6:30 pm ET, Washington, D.C. Join fellow D.C. alumni for a hosted, spring happy hour near Dupont Circle. Berkeley Law will provide a first round of drinks and appetizers. Cash bar afterward. Register here


2026 Ecology Law Quarterly Banquet

Thursday, April 16, 6:00 pm PT, UC Berkeley Faculty Club. Please join us for ELQ’s 55th anniversary celebration as we honor Environmental Law Clinic Founding Director Claudia Polsky J.D. '96 for her landmark leadership and impact. Proceeds from the evening directly fund student public interest fellowships and environmental law programs. Seats are limited! Register here


UC Night With the Washington Nationals

Friday, April 17, 6:45 pm ET, Nationals Park, Washington, D.C. Join fellow UC, Cal, and Berkeley Law alumni in D.C. for evening baseball vs. the San Francisco Giants. Tickets are limited. Register here


2026 Berkeley Spring Forum on M&A and the Boardroom

Thursday, April 23, Convene, San Francisco, 12:00 - 5:00 pm. We are pleased to announce the 12th Annual Berkeley Spring Forum on M&A and the Boardroom. This year's agenda will cover state corporate law developments with the Honorable Lori W. Will, Vice Chancellor at the Delaware Court of Chancery, the European Commission’s approach to Tech M&A from Hans Zenger, Head of Unit (Chief Economist Team) at the European Commission, and more. For further details and to register online, visit our website. For in-person attendance, please email us with a link to your professional profile.


Cal Night with the SF Giants 

Friday, April 24, 7:15 pm PT, Oracle Park, San Francisco. Join more than 5,000 fellow Cal alumni, students, staff, faculty, and friends for Cal Night as the Giants take on the Miami Marlins. Your purchase grants you seating in the designated Cal sections, along with a 40% discount on tickets. The special event items will sell out, so register early! Register here


Spring 2026 Applied AI Bootcamp for Lawyers

May 19 & 20, Bakar Labs, UC Berkeley, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm PT. This one-day bootcamp is designed for high-performing legal teams navigating the fast-moving world of AI. Learn practical skills in AI workflows, agentic tools, and governance frameworks alongside peers facing the same challenges. Sponsored by Harvey and Ironclad, the program includes sessions led by experts from two of the most influential legal AI platforms in practice today. Registration: Two identical sessions in Berkeley. Seats are limited to 45 students per cohort. Choose the date that works for you: May 19 or May 20.


2026 Berkeley Art, Law, and Finance Symposium

Thursday, June 4, SFMOMA, 1:00 - 7:00 pm PT. This year's big question: Who holds power over culture — and who should? A remarkable lineup spanning law, art, academia, and industry — featuring Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Professor Sonia Katyal, Judge Simon Frankel, artist Sarah Sense, Sharon Cohen Levin of Sullivan & Cromwell, and Anthropic's Daniel Etcovitch, among others — will tackle government authority over museums, Indigenous cultural property, and creativity in the age of AI. Cocktail reception to follow. CLE credit available. Register here


IABA Annual Reunion 2026 - Save the Date! 

Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27, Venice, Italy. IABA’s Annual Reunion (International Association of Berkeley Law Alumni in Europe) will be held in Venice in early fall this year. Registration and more information will be announced soon. Please contact alumni@law.berkeley.edu with any questions.


Alumni Reunion Weekend 2026 

Save the Dates: Friday, October 2 - Saturday, October 3! This year, we celebrate those who graduated in class years ending in ‘1’ and ‘6’, though all alumni are welcome to attend. Event registration and program details are expected in the early summer. Please email reunion@law.berkeley.edu with any questions.

Volunteer

Berkeley Law Alumni Admissions Outreach Volunteers Needed

We are seeking J.D. alumni, particularly those who graduated between 2015 and 2025, to help us with student recruitment so that we continue to enroll the most qualified and diverse class of 1L students. Demand is high! 770 admits are seeking alum connections. Your support is greatly needed. Graduates who are interested in volunteering can create an account and register here, returning volunteers can login here.

Media Highlights

Opinion: In Invading Iran, Trump Asserts the Power of a Tyrant

“President Donald Trump’s disdain for the Constitution is evident in his launching a war in Iran without any semblance of congressional approval,” writes Dean Erwin Chemerinsky. “Congress must act quickly to protect its role in a Constitution that was meant to prevent such unilateral action by the president.” Read more

Colleges Quietly Cut Ties With Organizations That Help People of Color

“The job of the Office for Civil Rights is to protect all people,” said Catherine Lhamon, who served as assistant secretary of education for civil rights during the Biden administration and now works at UC Berkeley School of Law. “This administration is picking and choosing who it will protect.” Read more

Visit the Media Highlights and News pages to view recent headlines and happenings, and read the latest issue of Berkeley Law's Transcript magazine.

Lifelong Learning

UC Berkeley Law Executive Education provides our alumni community with cutting-edge content, tangible value like MCLE-accredited certificate programs, and the opportunity to learn from the best. Alumni always receive a discount on all programs. Join our email list


Berkeley Boosts

Free Webinars

Conversations on Civil Justice welcomes Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and Drexel Law Professor Lisa Tucker on March 20 for Profiles in Legal Courage: Civic Education and the Constitution. The guests will discuss their vision for civic education on the Constitution and how deepening public awareness of Constitutional principles can help make American democracy stronger. Register (it’s free!)


General Counsel University

Lead Your Organization at the Strategic Level

Now in its fourth cohort, GC University is the premier online certificate program that provides legal professionals with the critical skills needed to become a general counsel (GC) or be hired and retained by GCs. Master strategic leadership, corporate governance, behavioral science, AI adoption, and more. Earn a certificate of completion and MCLEClimb the In-House Ladder


Connect

LinkedIn Alumni Group

If you'd like to continue networking with Berkeley Law alumni, please join our private alumni group on LinkedIn.

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