UC Irvine Law hosted a celebration on Oct. 22 marking the official opening of the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality on campus. The program, attended by more than 150 people, featured remarks from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who delivered a keynote address; Prof. Robert S. Chang, the Center’s executive director; Dr. Karen Korematsu, founder and president of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute. Also attending and speaking at the event were over two dozen leaders from a wide range of public interest organizations and bar associations, including President Anna Mercado Clark and Incoming President Thy Bui of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

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UC Irvine Law Receives Gift to Install Prof. Robert S. Chang as the Sylvia Mendez Presidential Chair for Civil Rights 

During the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality opening celebration, the Law School announced the establishment of the Sylvia Mendez Presidential Chair for Civil Rights and installation of Prof. Robert S. Chang, as the inaugural chair holder. The creation of the chair was made possible through a generous gift from the Berwick Degel Family Foundation and a matching contribution from the University of California Presidential Match for Endowed Chairs program.

The chair’s namesake, Sylvia Mendez — a renowned civil rights advocate whose landmark case, Mendez v. Westminster School District of Orange County, played a crucial role in ending school segregation in California — was in attendance for the momentous occasion. 

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Program News: Graduate Tax Program to Offer at Least Five $20,000 Scholarships Annually to Admitted Students Who Have Served at Low-Income Tax Clinics

Beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, UC Irvine Law's Graduate Tax Program will offer a $20,000 tuition scholarship to qualified admitted students who have volunteered or worked with a Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC). The opportunity is among the first of its kind to provide support to LITC volunteers in this way.

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Clinic News: Bill on Access to Remote Vehicle Technology, Co-Sponsored by Domestic Violence Clinic, Is Signed Into Law

On Sept. 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 1394, which requires a vehicle manufacturer to terminate an abusive person’s access to remote vehicle technology upon a completed request from a driver who establishes proof of legal possession. Prof. Jane Stoever, director of the Domestic Violence Clinic which co-sponsored the bill on behalf of its clients, testified before the California State Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee on the bill on July 2.

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Alumni News: Tommy Du '15, Associate at Robins Kaplan LLP, Awarded the 2024 Sheila Sonenshine Associate Pro Bono Award

Tommy has partnered with public interest organizations including Bet Tzedek, Public Law Center and Public Counsel to make a meaningful impact in the community. Pictured here with Michael Ermer who presented the award.

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Alumni News: Labor and Employment Article by Ethan Smith '23 Published in NYU Review of Law & Social Change

Ethan's article, "Working at the Speed of Profit: Meatpacking Workers and the Century-Old Problem of Line Speed," was recently published in the NYU Review of Law & Social Change. Ethan was one of the first students in the Workers, Law and Organizing Clinic and wrote this law review article after working on a project with UFCW Local 770. Ethan currently practices as an associate at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP's employment and labor practice group.

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Faculty News: Fulbright Program Highlights Prof. David Kaye's Experience as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar

The Fulbright Program highlighted Prof. David Kaye's recent experience at Sweden’s Lund University as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, one of Europe’s most prominent centers for human rights law.

UC Irvine is one of 51 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) to be recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader for 2024 for its engagement with the Fulbright program.

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Faculty News: Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Co-Executive Producer of I, Daniel Blake, Participates in Post-Show Q&A

Prof. Carrie Menkel-Meadow participated in a Q&A at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles following a performance of I, Daniel Blake, a play for which Prof. Menkel-Meadow and Dr. Robert G. Meadow are executive producers. Adapted from an acclaimed film, the play is about a 59-year-old carpenter who, after surviving a heart-attack, must navigate labyrinthine bureaucratic forces to receive employment and support allowance.

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Faculty News: Prof. Alex Camacho Leads Legal Analysis of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 in Letter to U.S. House and Senate Leaders

Prof. Camacho and the group of environmental legal scholars provided analysis of the existing legal landscape for energy planning, permitting and development, and the EPRA.

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Center News: CLEANR Co-Authors Article on Environmental Injustice of Pesticide Use in California

Gregg Macey, director of the Center for Land, Environment and Natural Resources (CLEANR), and a coalition of environmental law groups co-authored an article on "Pesticide Use and Civil Rights in Central California: Slow Violence and the State." The group shared its findings in a follow-up letter to California state agencies, in a digital article chronicling the coalition's collaboration, and at a meeting with the Regional Administrator for EPA Region 9.

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Faculty Roundup: The Latest Highlights From UC Irvine Law's Faculty

UC Irvine Law faculty are top scholars, educators and active leaders in a vast array of fields. Read the latest about UC Irvine Law's faculty, including recent scholarship, conferences and influential leadership across the world.

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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.

Complete list of UC Irvine Law in the media

Irina Trasovan ’12 was promoted to Supervising Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice.

Betsy Bentler ’13 started a new position as Senior Staff Attorney at the State of California.

Desirae Hutchison ’14 was honored as Judge of the Year by the Orange County Women Lawyers Association.

Sheila Chen ’15 was elected partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP.

Emily McCorry ’22 started a new position as Associate at Snell & Wilmer.

Priscilla Perez ’22 was highlighted by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati for her pro bono work with the firm.

Anna Setyaeva ’23 was highlighted for her pro bono work by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Thank you to our alumni who joined our students for a Networking Skills Program: Marcel Budiono, Rutan & Tucker LLP ('19), Merve Kaner, Demler Armstrong & Rowland, LLP ('22 L.L.M.), Chris Lawrence, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP ('21), Robyn Lin, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP ('21), Divya Seth, UC Irvine Law ('23) and Maryam Zomorodian, UC Irvine Law ('20).

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>> Nov. 21 |12:00-1:00 p.m. | Student Loan Law Initiative Film Screening and Teach-In, "Shame on You!"

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>> Nov. 26 | 3:45-5:45 p.m. | Tax Law & Policy Colloquium Zoom with Prof. Ari Glogower, "Apportioned Direct Taxes"

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>> Nov. 22 |12:00-1:15 p.m. | Center in Law, Society and Culture Socio-Legal Studies Workshop: Prof. Keramet Reiter presents "Bounding Knowledge: The Role of Correctional Experts in Prison Reform Litigation"

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>> Dec. 6 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Winter Bar Swearing In Ceremony

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