Q&A with
Shirley Kim, UC Irvine Law '16
Shirley Kim is the Associate Director of Government Affairs for Sarepta Therapeutics. She manages state government affairs in the western region and engages policymakers on a range of issues, including newborn screening and improving patient access to genetic-based therapies for rare diseases.
Shirley started her career in public service working for legislators in the California State Assembly. Since then, she’s worked for a labor union, big and boutique law firms, publicly traded companies, and startups.
Q: How did UC Irvine Law prepare you for your legal practice?
At UC Irvine Law, I was encouraged to work collaboratively, think outside the box for solutions, and resist the urge to view all problems as binary. These practices have served me well in developing creative solutions to challenging problems across different organizations and industries.
Q: What do you like best about your work?
I love my job because I get to advocate for good, learn something new every day, and cultivate genuine relationships with policymakers, subject matter experts, and patients.
Q: What was the best part about being a student at UC Irvine Law?
I was nervous about being a “non-traditional” law student and going back to school nearly a decade after graduating from college. However, I felt at home at UCI because of the diversity of backgrounds and experiences among UCI Law faculty and students. My law school experience was further enriched by the wide range of perspectives and opinions shared by my classmates.
Q: How do you stay involved with the UC Irvine Law community?
I am a member of the UC Irvine Law Alumni Association Council, and I am fortunate to call many of my UC Irvine Law classmates lifelong friends.
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