By Andrew Cohen
As the legal profession continues to demand greater readiness from new attorneys, law schools face growing pressure to provide their students with concrete, real-world experience. While Berkeley Law has long emphasized practical training, the latest Transcript magazine reveals how the school is expanding its offerings for valuable hands-on learning.
The annual publication showcases Berkeley Law’s achievements and new initiatives and spotlights the work of its faculty, students and graduates. The magazine has three feature spreads, a close-up look at news from the school community and a section on noteworthy research and public service.
In a candid Q&A cover story, Associate Dean for Experiential Education Ty Alper describes a dedicated push to craft a long-range plan that best prepares graduates to hit the ground running. That effort includes providing even more clinics, professional skills courses, field placements, innovative labs and first-year projects that assist clients in need.
A Transcript feature story spotlights five inspiring alumni who give their time, insight and expertise to help students navigate law school and beyond. These mentors provide vital assistance on numerous fronts, from shrewd tips on networking and interviewing to practical advice on applying for judicial clerkships and acclimating to law school culture.
Another feature examines the launch of Startup@BerkeleyLaw, which trains students to help new ventures take root—and take off. Formed last year, the initiative consolidates entrepreneurship-related offerings from classes to cross-disciplinary partnerships. Fueled by expert faculty, talented students and high-yield collaborations, Startup@BerkeleyLaw is making an immediate impact by providing key legal services to fledgling businesses.
The magazine’s In Brief section offers a close-up look at school news from the past year, including its addition of judicial externships to the school’s list of eligible summer fellowships. It also provides a snapshot of the remarkable first-year class, reviews the work of two Death Penalty Clinic attorneys who are leading the national fight against lethal injection, and introduces readers to a start-up that connects real estate developers and investors—founded by recent alum Nav Athwal ’10.
The magazine’s Forefront section delves into core scholarship and policy efforts. It describes how faculty members are using predictive analytics to harness unwieldy data and analyze possible outcomes and solutions to thorny legal and policy issues. Forefront also chronicles the inspiring efforts of two students who drafted a bill to automatically register California college students to vote, the arrival of incoming faculty member Tejas Narechania, and the growing influence of the law school’s Wheeler Water Institute in the wake of California’s historic drought.
In subsequent sections, Transcript profiles three alums who are making a name for themselves in the arts, and introduces readers to three extraordinary students—including U.S. Army Sergeant Hector Emilio Corea ’17.
The Advancement section includes a profile of incoming alumni association President John Kuo ’88, a piece on the reciprocal value of Berkeley Law’s Partners in Leadership campaign and a look at the school’s growing international presence. Finally, the Class Notes section provides updates from alumni and profiles six of the school’s remarkable graduates.
In her letter to the magazine’s readers, Interim Dean Melissa Murray writes, “Every year I’ve taught here has increased my level of appreciation for our faculty, our students, our staff, and our alumni … For this community, remarkable is the norm.”
The magazine has shipped to more than 17,000 graduates and friends across the United States and around the world.