ing how his supervisor got on his case,” Varela recalls. “But after we talked through what happened, it became clear that his supervisor was just giving pointed and realistic constructive criticism.” Varela mentors Berkeley Law students who work in his office, meet him through the Association of Latino Marin Attorneys, or contact him directly. He also speaks regularly at the school on how students can best cultivate productive mentoring relationships with attorneys. “For law students and young lawyers, it’s a big plus to have parents who were also lawyers or who come from professional networks,” he says. “That opens a lot of doors. But if you’re the first in your family to attend college or otherwise don’t have those networks, you’re at a disadvantage. It’s wonderful to help level that playing field.” Early in his legal career, an experienced co-worker at the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office told him,
“ IF WE DON’T GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE REALISTIC ASSESSMENTS ... WE DO THEM A DISSERVICE.” —JOSE VARELA ’86
“Sometimes you have to be twice as good to get half as far.” Varela began accepting more challenging cases, offering himself for more community volunteer work, and mentoring others. Now, nearly three decades later, he says mentoring “is critical to providing hope and support in an often cynical profession.”
POWER OF YES: Cara Sandberg offers practical advice to a wide range of Berkeley Law students.
CARA SANDBERG ’12
J. MICHAEL TUCKER
ALL-PURPOSE PROVIDER In baseball parlance, Cara Sandberg ’12 is a prized utility player. While Berkeley Law appreciates alums who can counsel people in specific areas, it also relishes grads like Sandberg, whose mentoring versatility helps a diverse lineup of students score confidence, interviews, and jobs. Soon after graduating, she became a go-to mentor for women of color, African-American students, and judicial clerkship applicants. Providing guidance and reassurance is a natural fit for Sandberg, who served as the dean of a Bronx high school before enrolling at Berkeley Law. “I remember how utterly confused I felt during my first year of law school,” she admits. “Without the guidance of some wonderful and motivated people at the Women of Color Collective, I would have been totally lost. When I reached the point where I had some knowledge that could help other students, it was exciting to return the favor.” As a student, Sandberg did that within formal mentoring programs through the Collective and the California Law Review. Now an impact litigation fellow at the Santa TRANSCRIPT SPRING 2016 23