California Western School of Law, Alumni Newsletter Spring 2024, Faculty and Staff

Dear Members of the California Western Alumni Community,

I am pleased to present to you the latest edition of our Alumni Magazine

As we celebrate California Western’s centennial this year, we are looking back with pride on a century of nurturing competent and compassionate lawyers. Looking forward, we are optimistic about the role the school has to play in shaping the future of the profession. Earlier this month, at our 118th Commencement ceremony, we graduated a cohort of 212 ambitious legal advocates. On campus, we are currently hosting the Smithsonian Institute’s “Bias Inside Us” exhibit, fostering critical conversations on the relationship between implicit bias and justice. In the coming months, we will be offering the Innocence Clinic for the first time during the summer term, and we will be welcoming Professor Amy Kimpel to campus as the new Executive Director of the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic. This fall, we will begin offering our newest concentration in Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Media Law, providing students with specialized training in these burgeoning fields. There is much to be excited about, and we welcome your continued support as we enter our next century.

Within these pages, you will find inspiring stories of our graduates, who have used their J.D. to uplift their families and communities. I am continually heartened by the consistency with which our alumni speak of the invaluable mentoring and support they received from faculty and staff at California Western—a tradition we intend to uphold.

In this issue, we also celebrate two of our faculty, Dean Emeritus Niels Schaumann and Professor Robert Bohrer, who are retiring this summer after decades of service to our school. We also showcase our distinguished faculty, whose work addresses the most pressing challenges of our time.

Our students continue to impress with their dedication to their studies and to community service. Featured in this edition is LeBrian Mays, who is an incredible example of our current students’ ambition for social and economic mobility. You will also find updates about our Competitive Advocacy Program’s recent successes, as well as our clinics’ continued service to a wide range of clients in San Diego and throughout the nation.

This magazine reflects our commitment to fostering a supportive and engaged alumni network. I encourage you to stay connected, share your news, and participate in the vibrant life of our law school.

All my best,

Sean M. Scott President and Dean California Western School of Law

CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW

Thousands of friends, family members, mentors, and other guests came to Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park to celebrate California Western School of Law (CWSL)’s Class of 2024 and witness their transformation from students to alumni. Two-hundred and twelve CWSL graduates earned their Juris Doctor degrees, taking the last law school step into careers as lawyers and advocates.

CWSL President and Dean Sean M. Scott opened the festivities by recognizing the faculty members who received this year’s Student Honors, in recognition of their excellent service to the law school: Jessica Fink received the Professor of the Year Award and the Outstanding Lecturer Award; Pooja Dadhania received the First-Year Professor of the Year, and Paul Parisi received the Adjunct Professor of the Year Award. Dean Scott also bid a fond farewell to Professors Bob Bohrer and Neils Schaumann as they entire retirement after decades of service to the CWSL community.

Graduating J.D. student Mona Moazzaz spoke thoughtfully about the unique historical moment this class is graduating into, “when the definition of community has widened to encompass the entire globe.” She commented that as lawyers, this class will be “central characters in contributing a share of what humanity needs today—driving new policies to prevent oppression, opening doors to truth-seeking, casting a light on accountability, giving a voice to the voiceless.” Mona ended by saying that with J.D.’s in hand, “our powers are truly limitless.”

This year’s commencement speaker, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, complimented California Western faculty “who have invested life and soul into growing this community” and to the family and friends in attendance for supporting the graduates through their long law school journey: “We all need someone who believes in us.”

District Attorney Stephan shared two moving stories about what drew her to legal work. First, she told the story of her grandmother Therese who was a refugee who ended up in this country that “she came to love deeply.” Reflecting on what she had experienced, Therese taught her granddaughter, “Someone can come and take your material riches, but they can never take away the richness of your soul—that stays with you.” The second story, which DA Stephan said was the core inspiration for her career of over 30 years in criminal prosecution, was picking up a National Geographic at the age of 12 and seeing an image of a girl living in Socotra, Yemen: “She looked to be about

my age, but she had a look of terror, fear, and hopelessness. At that moment, I knew that the rest of my life would be about taking away that look from people’s eyes.”

DA Stephen then offered her three C’s of success to the graduates: Character, Competence, and Courage. She implored the graduates to have strong character: to be trustworthy, “to stay on the side of clear right,” and to act with integrity. Regarding competence, she said that “being prepared beats everything else; it’s the great equalizer.” On courage, she said that “it is the secret ingredient;” quoting Maya Angelou, who said that “without courage, you cannot practice any other virtue consistently.”

To conclude her remarks, DA Stephan gave the message to the graduates that the work of justice is some of the most vital work that can done, because, she said, “Justice is a core craving of humankind. More than food and water, people want justice. For justice, people are willing to sacrifice everything.” With the seriousness of the profession in mind, DA Stephan said that the graduates should see their degrees as “a lifetime commission to do justice, which will make your practice of the law not just a profession but a calling.”

Professors William J. Aceves, Dan Yeager, and Hannah Brenner Johnson then read the names of the graduates, who eagerly crossed the stage before their cheering friends, family, and peers. When all the names had been read, Dean Scott asked the students to stand, officially conferred the title of Juris Doctor and asked them to turn their tassels—to which the graduates and the entire audience joyously applauded.

Before closing the ceremony, Dean Scott offered her final reflections for the students:

“I wish you a career that is long and fulfilling. I hope that when you are in practice that you will soften the hard edges of the law with compassion, for law without compassion is tyranny. I hope that you will honor the human dignity of your clients and will treat your colleagues with respect, even those, or especially those, who oppose you. I hope that you will remain civil in the face of incivility and principled in the face of expediency.

“I wish for you all a life of purpose, which includes, but is not limited to, the practice of law. As you enter the next stage of your career, you will carry with you the knowledge, skills, perspective, and values you developed during your years at California Western. We look forward to celebrating many future successes with you as you build rewarding careers in the law.”

Having completed law school, the graduates began their own celebrations, embracing family and peers, snapping group selfies, and expressing gratitude to their faculty mentors before heading off, fully equipped by their education and experiences at California Western School of Law.

H. Wayne Goodroe ’74

H. Wayne Goodroe ’74 is one of our esteemed alumni celebrating their 50th graduation anniversary this year. With a career of over 40 years behind him and six grandchildren to enjoy retirement with, Wayne looks back fondly on his time at California Western School of Law, where the groundwork was laid for him to succeed in the practice of law, to support his family and to ultimately give back to the communities that nurtured him. Taking us from his hometown of Oneida, NY to Vietnam, from San Diego to Oakland and back again, Wayne shared with us some of the wisdom he gained along the way and what fuels his continual gratitude for the school that made it all possible.

What were your early ambitions?

Well, back in 10th grade, in Oneida, New York—this would be 1959—I was taking a Civics class, and we had a unit called, “What I Want to Be When I Grow Up.” I was uncertain at the time, as I had always been interested in flying. As a youngster, I joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). This was in the days of the Cold War, so various organizations were encouraging citizens to volunteer in the CAP. In Oneida, a 50-foot tower was built, and the CAP members would stand “guard” in the tower, looking for unknown aircraft flying over central New York. We had a set of binoculars and a receiver that would pick up distant aircraft sounds. We would log observed aircraft and report the sightings. This was part of the National Defense System; we were 100 miles south of Canada, so we were supposed to be making sure no Russians were sneaking across the border.

Then I found out about the newly established Air Force Academy in Colorado and considered applying for an appointment. However, at that time, I hadn’t been much farther than New York City, so Colorado seemed a long way away. Therefore, in my Civics class, I wrote that I wanted to fly and be a lawyer. I thought those would be two perfect careers for me. I have said many times to many different people that I’ve been extremely fortunate to have careers in both fields that I wanted to pursue at that age. My flying ambition took me to the U.S. Naval Academy, from which I graduated and was commissioned in the Navy in 1965.

Can you share a bit about your time in the Navy?

I had always wanted to be a pilot, however, in my first year at Annapolis, I learned that I no longer had 20/20 vision, so I couldn’t become a pilot. By the time I graduated in 1965, the Navy had started a new program for officers with less than 20/20 vision but who could still perform other functions in naval aircraft, such as “Goose” in the movie Top Gun. It evolved into the Naval Flight Offer, or NFO, program. I served for six years on active duty as an NFO. I was in an aerial electronic reconnaissance squadron in Vietnam, and while flying, we searched to pinpoint North Vietnamese radar sites, missile sites, gun emplacements, and monitoring Mig launches.

My greatest achievement in the Navy was meeting my wife, Barbara. I was stationed in Japan at the time. Barbara was in Japan visiting her friend from nursing school, helping her prepare for the delivery of her first child. We met one night at a Christmas party in December 1968, ended up talking to each other all night and the rest is 55 years of history!

Incredible! What brought you back to your goal of becoming a lawyer?

Shortly before marriage, I received orders to Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego as a ground school instructor. While in San Diego, I decided to forego a career in the Navy and to apply to law school. I had served as my squadron’s “legal officer” while in Japan and so my appetite to pursue a legal career was reinvigorated. I applied to CWSL and shortly thereafter was notified that I had an interview with Dean Castetter for admission. During my interview, Dean Castetter asked if I had applied to any other law schools and before I could reply, he strongly suggested I save my money and not apply to any other schools. He knew what my LSAT score was! Shortly thereafter, I received notice of acceptance and was thrilled. My resignation from the U.S. Navy followed, although I decided to stay in the Naval Reserve.

You were at California Western in the early/mid 1970’s— which professors stand out to you as most influential from that time?

Dean Robert Castetter, of course. He was such a compassionate, understanding, and likable gentleman. In that first interview with him, he asked me, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” I replied that I wanted to be in a small practice and wanted to be engaged in community activities, because as much as lawyers “took” from the community, I believed (and still do) it was incumbent on us to give back to our community in some manner, such as volunteering in various activities, boards, commissions, and committees. And Dean Castetter encouraged me to pursue that goal.

I also think about Professor Jim Leahy, who taught Constitutional law. When I arrived at Cal Western, I had four years of the Naval Academy and six years of active duty behind me, so my vision was very “black and white.” Right or wrong. So, I wasn’t quite prepared for the Socratic method of teaching, where you never get an answer to the question that was asked, just another question. Early on, I remember Professor

Leahy asked a question and received one answer from one student. Then he asked the same question to someone else and got a completely different answer. Without saying which answer was correct, I sat there thinking, “It has to be one or the other.” And then out of his mouth came the phrase that I will always recall: “Reasonable men can differ reasonably.” I took that and used it as a guide throughout my years of practice and in all aspects of my life.

Other professors whose teachings have guided me over the years were Murray Galinson and Tom Coyne. And who could forget Professor Burby!

Can you talk about how you helped with the move from the Point Loma campus to the downtown campus?

Like a lot of us at that time, I was looking for work during the summer. I was able to perform a few weeks of active duty with the Naval Reserve but was unable to find other short-term work such as a busser or waiter. I ended up applying to be a cab driver. I was doing that in between

second and third years when I learned the school was offering a little bit of money to help in moving the entire law school from the Point Loma campus to the new downtown location. We moved old lockers, furniture, books, and other tangibles from the Point Loma campus. We had a lot of fun doing it, loading the items on a flatbed truck, driving them downtown and then taking them upstairs.

At the time, there were rumblings about the school’s financial situation. We knew the move had something to do with it. But to see what the school has become now—it’s remarkable the way it has persevered and grown. When I contributed to the school recently, I did itin memory of Dean Castetter and in honor of my classmate Roy Bell, who, along with others in our class, did so much for the school during those challenging years. Cal Western gave me the opportunity to learn the law and to practice for over 40 years, so I’ve felt a commitment to give back. I believe in giving back to the institutions responsible for teaching you so much.

About those 40 years—tell us about your practice. What was the most fulfilling part of your career?

Barbara really wanted to be in the Bay Area, so I started Barbara wanted to live in the Bay Area, so I looked for my first position up there. I was making cold calls to firms when a classmate mentioned that he had a friend working for a “labor-management” organization in San Franscisco, and that they were looking for someone to be counsel for the union’s trust funds’ administrative office. That was my first job, and I would not have gotten in the door without that help from my classmate.

A few years later, I joined a small “communications law firm” in Oakland. We were involved in a lot of cable television issues; I worked on a number of those cases, two of which were argued before the Supreme Court on First Amendment and antitrust issues. It was interesting and innovative work. I later moved to an insurance defense firm and started working as a business lawyer, in addition to some defense matters. I was with that firm until 1998, when I decided to go solo, which was the most fulfilling part of my career.

One of the things that encouraged me to be a lawyer was a TV show in the early 70’s called “Storefront Lawyers.” It was about a lawyer who left his corporate firm and set up

Wayne and Barbara’s son, Chris Goodroe, also a CWSL alum, with family.

a solo practice to help individuals. When I had my solo practice, I was only responsible to myself and my clients. I was happy because I always knew I was helping somebody who really could use my help, as opposed to the corporate entity. It still felt extremely rewarding.

You retired in 2014. What have you enjoyed most about retirement

Spending time with family. Our son, Christopher, who also went to Cal Western (2002) is in Oakland with two grandkids. Our daughter, Heather, is in San Diego with four more. Barbara and I are fortunate to be able to spend quality time with all six of the grandkids.

Our retirement was supposed to be spent traveling; our plans changed when Barbara had a bad surgical outcome in 2018 and became wheelchair bound. We’ve spent the last few years fighting her workers’ compensation insurance carrier on a claim so that we could remodel our home to meet Barbara’s needs. Finally, last summer, we received a large settlement offer that could not be ignored; we should be back in our home this year.

ALUMNA

BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

On December 1, 2023, Stacey A. Kartchner was sworn in as President of the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) for 2024. The SDCBA is the region’s largest law-related organization, whose mission is to connect lawyers and support their success and fulfillment.

On her election, Stacey remarked, “San Diego is fortunate to have a particularly collegial, vibrant, and diverse legal community. I am so honored to serve next year and work closely with a highly dedicated and diligent board of directors and internal team. As we collaborate closely to further the SDCBA’s mission, I am confident that our legal community will continue to grow and thrive. I look forward to all we will accomplish together.”

You have continued to stay connected to California Western and to contribute to support current students. Can you talk about what the school means to you?

First, my wife and I believe in education, and we believe in learning as much and going as far as you are capable of. California Western made it possible for me to go as far as I have and to have and enjoy an exceptionally good life, so I’ve felt a commitment to give back some of what I have been fortunate enough to achieve. The school, Dean Castetter, and the professors I had, gave me the tools to have a long and successful career in the law. And with that success, I was able to give back. I have served on the Board of Directors for the Red Cross of the East Bay, for Goodwill Industries of the East Bay, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and the Port of Oakland Board of Port Commissioners and my church at the time.

Last year, I celebrated my 80th birthday, so now I joke that I’m in the “Red Zone of Life,” an analogy that not everyone seems to appreciate. But I have no complaints about the life that I have been able to live. And I have benefited so much from what I have taken away from my education, so it is only right to contribute to the source from which I have benefited.

Stacey has over 20 years of experience in criminal law and extensive leadership experience throughout the San Diego legal community. Earlier this year, Stacey joined Klinedinst PC as Senior Counsel, representing individuals accused of criminal charges in both state and federal courts. She also represents material witnesses in federal court and Grand Jury proceedings, professionals in administrative and licensure hearings, and litigants involved in allegations of malpractice. Stacey also serves as Chairperson of the San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial Committee and is past president of both the Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Club and the Criminal Defense Bar Association.

Stacey A. Kartchner ’02 sworn in as president of the SDCBA on Friday, Dec. 1

This year, the San Diego Business Journal recognized Stacey as one of the county’s Women of Influence in Law. She was also named a Super Lawyer for the ninth year in a row.

Jeff D. Lewin, CWSL ALU M ’75

Jeff D. Lewin, CWSL alum ‘75, alum and Board of Trustees member, is humble when it comes to telling his own story. Jeff says that before he attended CWSL his life was “disorganized and unproductive”. His journey had taken him from Minneapolis, Minnesota (where, growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, he didn’t even know a lawyer or what a lawyer did) to the University of Pennsylvania (1963-1964, which he left after his freshman year) to Stanford (1964-1967, where he was rewarded for leading antiwar protests by being placed on nonacademic probation and inspiring an FBI file) to Massachusetts (1967-1968, where he studied at Harvard Graduate School of Education, taught junior high school in Boston, and herded sheep in Millis) to San Francisco (1968-1969, where he observed hippiedom up close and personal) to New Mexico and Big Sur (where he shot and edited a very amateurish documentary film titled Tierra o Muerte, about local cultural conflict) to the Western Mediterranean (1970-1971, where he restored and crewed a 1917 Dutch motor sailor), and finally to sunny San Diego (1972, where he enrolled in CWSL).

Jeff says that CWSL transformed him into an organized and productive lawyer able to help clients and others. After receiving his J.D. degree from CWSL, Jeff passed the California Bar, was employed as a Trial Attorney by the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division in Chicago, returned to San Diego to practice law as an associate in a private law firm, co-founded the San Diego law firm of Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel, tried, litigated, or managed thousands of lawsuits in California and other states for clients based throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and mentored future generations of Californian, German, Italian, French, and Colombian lawyers.

Jeff sat down with us to reminisce about his time at California Western— what the school meant to his career and how it continues to prepare practice-ready lawyers.

What made you want to become a lawyer?

Growing up, I did not know anything about law or lawyers, and I had no legal role models. One morning, in December of 1971, I woke in Gibraltar, newly married, but without a job or prospects. I asked my bride, “What am I going to do?” And she asked me, “Why don’t you become a lawyer?” All I knew about law school was that I had heard it was a grind, and I did not have a good answer to that question, so I decided to go to law school to study, and later practice, international law, not knowing anything about it except that it sounded good to me.

What brought you to California Western?

I returned to the United States from Gibraltar in January 1972 and, having been out of college for five years, having a wife, and not having much money, I was eager to get going. I went to a public library to research how to apply to law schools, learned that I needed to take a test called the LSAT, that the next LSAT would be in April, that very few law schools accepted the April LSAT for fall admission, and one of them was CWSL. I also read that CWSL Professor S. Houston Lay was a luminary in the field of International Law, and he was one of the reasons I applied.

Did you have one of Dean Castetter’s infamous interviews?

Yes! It was brief. My first impression of Dean Castetter was that he did not look like any of the academics that I had seen in the elite universities I had attended. I just did not know where the path that started with a guy who was wearing granny eyeglasses and a bolo tie would lead. But, at the end of my first year of law school, which was tough for me—I got one of the first C’s ever in my life—I said to Dean Castetter, I'm wondering if this is for me. He encouraged me to keep going, even when the future looked dark, and suggested I take a single summer course to focus and build my confidence. He was realistically optimistic and caring, and I still remember and parrot his sayings, including “Every day is a good day. Some days are better than others” and “There is not enough justice to go around.”

Can you talk about your time on the Law Review and how it shaped your career?

I did not qualify for the law review based on my grades, so I wrote my way onto it. The Law Review taught me rigorous analysis and attention to detail. And attention to detail never goes out of style.

The most career formative event during my time on the Law Review was meeting Richard Westbrook, who was an Editor. Richard took a liking to me and was very encouraging. He had been clerking for an antitrust law firm but was going to graduate and move on. When the firm asked Richard for the name of someone to replace him, he gave them mine. That introduction led to my entire career as a trial lawyer. Richard was one of many people at CWSL to whom I owe my career.

Were there certain professors who had a special influence on you?

Professor Lay was also a true patriot, having served in the armed forces and worked for the State Department. He and I were at opposite poles of the political spectrum. Later I was told that Professor Lay, who served on the Admissions Committee, was aware that I had been a radical antiwar activist, with a file, after organizing draft protests and a sit-in in the office of Wallace Sterling, President of Stanford University, and that he told Dean Castetter, “Don't let this guy in; he's trouble.” Professor Galinson apparently took a different view and won that argument. Nevertheless, Professor Lay became my most important mentor. He was in charge of the Jessup International Moot court teams, and he coached me for two years running. He taught me how to think, how to write a brief, and how to argue.

Professor Ralph Newman, who was probably older then than I am now, taught me how to read a case carefully and to find and understand the ratio decidendi, the reason for the ruling. Other important influences on my career were adjunct professor Ron Styn, who taught antitrust law and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Justice Clifford Wallace, who taught a course in federal Civil Procedure. So, CWSL had a number of professors in the first half of the 1970s who were really quite, quite impressive and very, very helpful in the way they challenged me.

Law school was very stressful for me. For three years I had a tight jaw, and, unlike some of my classmates, I cannot say I enjoyed it. But I am very grateful that CWSL took a chance on me, that it gave me a chance, and that it taught me practical aspects of lawyering.

You were a national moot court champion. Can you share some of your formative experiences on those teams?

I was on the Jessup International Law Moot Court team for two years, and we made it to the Regionals and to the Nationals twice, but never won the trophy. In my third year, I found another competition to enter—the Giles Sutherland Rich Patent Moot Court competition. I also found a talented partner in Tom Koester, who had all the characteristics I did not have—I was an academic and a strong writer; Tom was a singer in a rock band, and he had an impressive stage presence. CWSL did not offer a patent law course at the time, but we found a faculty advisor in Professor Gafford. He did not know much about patent law, but he loaned us his name and wished us good luck. Much to our delight and everyone’s surprise, we won the National Championship.

And you were self-taught essentially?

Yes, in terms of the substance of patent law. But all the appellate skills—how to analyze, how to think, how to write, and how to argue—that all came from CWSL.

What was the appeal of antitrust law? Was it your activist spirit?

No, it was opportunistic. I wanted to become an international lawyer and my antitrust and trial career was just happenstance. Which is one of the lessons I try to teach people who are going to law school who think they know what they want to do: You think you know what you want to do, but you don't know what doors are going to open for you that might be completely different from what you think you want to do. You just have to have open eyes and an open mind. In my case, Richard Westbrook had gotten me a clerkship beginning in my second year of law school with an antitrust firm. In the beginning, I did not know what antitrust meant and I was conducting a retail gasoline price study which was very boring work. I was preparing for the next big step in my career, which I wanted to be in international law, when I was offered a summer job at an international agency in Washington, DC. It was exactly what I wanted, and it was going to pay me 600 bucks for the summer. I said to my wife, “We can afford for me to go to DC, but we can't afford for both of us to go." And she said that we would be staying in San Diego together. So, I got a job that summer at the antitrust law firm where I had been clerking. As a result, Lyle Jones, a founder of that firm known as Mr. Antitrust of the West Coast, recommended me to the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, which is where I was hired as a

Trial Lawyer after graduating from CWSL So, my antitrust and trial career was a happy accident, but that’s how life can go.

You cofounded Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel in 1982 and have been part ofits ongoing evolution for 40 years. What changes have you seen in the legal landscape in that time?

One change is law firm consolidation. When I was with that law firm, we took great pride in its being locally owned and operated. We grew it from four lawyers to a couple of dozen lawyers, and we had great clients and great cases. That firm was recently acquired by a larger regional firm, and that merger represents the trend in consolidation of legal service providers.

A second change relates to collaborative drafting by lawyers in separate locations. In the early days of my legal practice, our relatively small San Diego firm had an antitrust case alleging price-fixing of uranium. Our firm was the San Diego member of a team of lawyers with other members in New York and in Seattle. We collaborated to write and edit briefs. We would draft our briefs on an IBM Selectric mag card typewriter, remove the mag card which held the typewritten characters, put it in an envelope and send it by airmail across the country or up the coast. Our team lawyers in those cities would stick the mag card into their IBM Selectric mag card typewriters, edit the briefs, and return them to us by airmail. This process would involve several rounds and finalizing the briefs would take weeks. Thanks to the Internet, lawyers in separate locations can edit documents collaboratively in real time.

A third change relates to document discovery. In the same antitrust case, our client fabricated fuel rods for nuclear reactors. We alleged that the company from which our client had purchased the raw uranium was a member of the international uranium cartel. We requested documents relating to many years of transactions in several countries on at least three continents. In response, we received hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pages of documents. Even large global energy companies were not prepared to efficiently review millions of pages of documents. We hired 35 paralegals whose job was to review these voluminous pages of documents and fill out forms which summarized each document in a uniform format, which could be computerized and searched. Now, thanks to computerization, voluminous documents can be automatically scanned and searched at a minuscule fraction of the cost and time.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

You’ve been on CWSL Board of Trustees since 1991 and served as Chairman from 2013 to 2017. Can you discuss any recent initiatives or projects you've been involved in and how yousee them benefiting students?

I will say that for many years CWSL was a victim of its own success because our revenue exceeded our expenses, and we were able to create a quasiendowment fund. But there is that old Biblical dream about the fat years and the lean years that we did not take to heart, and although we had some savings, until recently we have not had an effective fundraising department. So, I am very glad that Dean Scott has brought in great people to lead that function, first Dani Dawson (who helped obtain a multimillion dollar gift from local philanthropists Elaine Galinson and Herb Solomon for CWSL’s

Law, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs) and now Erin Scharnweber. Our Board Advancement Committee, of which I serve as Chair, works with our professional fundraising team to raise significant amounts of money from alums and others to enrich our programs and support our students.

One of the projects that I have been involved with and that I care about is creating opportunities for firstgeneration students, people who are the first in their family to graduate from college. CWSL is sensitive and welcoming to first-generation law students, and that is something that I will continue to support with money. CWSL creates opportunities for people who otherwise might not have them, and who can transform not only their lives but the lives of their families and their communities. And to me, that is huge.

From your perspective as an alum and Board member, can you comment on Dean Scott’s tenure at CWSL and how she's shaping the school to meet the needs of the moment?

Yes. Dean Scott has brought fresh eyes and meaningful professional and administrative experience, and she has helped CWSL grow up. When I attended, CWSL was run like a small and unsophisticated family business. But now, thanks to Dean Scott, CWSL is being run as a sophisticated forward-looking legal educational institution. Dean Scott is a strong leader who makes decisions based on data and what is in the best interest of the school and its students.

What gives you optimism about the future of the law?

Many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who work hard to become lawyers will ensure that our legal system and the law will fulfill its mission to protect our society, our country, and beyond through the peaceful resolution of disputes. For example, another lawyer and I am currently mentoring a young woman, a daughter of immigrants, who is interested in international law and justice as they relate to climate change. I have introduced her to CWSL’s Professor Aceves to get his perspective and advice, and my colleague and I will meet with her in person from time to time to serve as a resource. I think she will be a great lawyer with sincere socially conscious values. Young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds are likely to have empathy and the passion to use the law ethically and creatively to solve human and societal problems. Like so many CWSL alums.

From left to right: Jeff Lewin, Professor George Gafford, and Tom Koester.

Professor Emily Behzadi Cárdenas

Professor Behzadi Cárdenas: “My work looks for ways to protect cultural heritage.”

Professor Behzadi Cárdenas is only in her fourth year at California Western, but she has already proven what makes her such a vital member of our faculty. Her scholarly work challenges legal norms that put marginalized communities’ cultural heritages at risk. In the classroom, her student-centered approach gives students the skills and empowerment they are looking for.

This spring, Professor Behzadi Cárdenas has been actively publishing, with the release of an article and an essay. “National Security or National Origin? The Implications of Florida’s Alien Land Law Under the Federal Fair Housing Act” was published in the South Carolina Law Review, and Desettling Fixation was published in the North Carolina Law Review. In both works, In each of these works, Professor Behzadi Cárdenas employs her expertise in the intersections between property law, human rights, and social justice.

On May 22, Professor Behzadi Cárdenas was a featured panelist at CWSL’s “Critical Conversations: Breaking Barriers to Property Ownership.” The panel featured George Fatheree, and the two discussed the long-term impacts of bias and racial discrimination on property ownership and what can be done to shift the material conditions of historically marginalized communities.

Amidst her busy schedule, California Western’s 2022 Professor of the Year sat down with us to talk about what drew her to the legal academy, what drives her research, and what makes her such a beloved professor on campus.

What got you interested in the law in the first place?

As a child of immigrants, I was given two choices: either you become a lawyer or a doctor. I wasn’t good at math (which my students can attest) or science, so I chose the legal route. But the law is a family tradition as well. My great grandfather was a judge in Camagüey, Cuba. My grandfather studied law at the University of Havana. He was in his last semester when the Cuban Revolution broke out. He never finished his degree, as he fled to the United States with my mom. He always dreamt that his children and grandchildren would achieve his dream of becoming a lawyer. After much adversity, my mom eventually became a lawyer and later the first Cuban-American female law school Dean.

My dad came to the United States when he was 17 from Iran after the revolution. Both of my parents escaped oppressive governments with the hope of finding a new and better life in the United States. Through them I have learned the importance and impact that human rights and social justice have on the law. My family has been my source of inspiration and the reason I am the professor (and person) I am today.

You have an M.A. in Art History. How did that come about?

The first time I sat in an Art History class, I fell absolutely in love with it. It was writing; it was history; it was art; it was philosophy. In college, I called my parents and said I want to change my major to art history. They said, “As long as you go to law school!” So, I started looking for ways to

incorporate art history into the law. When I discovered -art and cultural heritage law, I knew that it was my calling. After law school, I went to New York University and predominately studied Latin American art.

What brought you to California Western?

Before coming to California Western, I was working as an art and entertainment lawyer, teaching as an adjunct professor and working on scholarly articles in order to obtain a position in academia. One of the 11 institutions I interviewed with was California Western, which was my top choice. I found great value in the extraordinarily diverse student body of California Western, the harmonious faculty-student relationship, and I felt instantly at home in San Diego. It was crucial that I locate a city with a large Latino population, as well as a diverse community, exactly as I did here. When I received the offer, I immediately accepted (which apparently is not something you’re supposed to do!). After five years, I am extremely pleased with my decision.

Your work explores cultural heritage as a means of both expression and marginalization. Can you talk about the importance of understanding those different dynamics?

In the context of my research, I want people to understand the notion that cultural heritage possesses the potential to yield both power and privilege, while simultaneously serving as a mechanism of oppression. Throughout history, legal frameworks pertaining to cultural heritage have demonstrated preferential treatment towards specific groups, resulting in the systematic marginalization of certain communities. This has often led to the misappropriation, disregard, or destruction of cultural heritage of oppressed communities. In addressing these ongoing injustices, it is important to acknowledge that these communities have these unique cultural expressions that are central to their identity. The focus of my work predominantly revolves around an equity and social justice framework. I explore strategies to safeguard cultural heritage and mitigate the marginalization of disadvantaged communities. Additionally, I investigate the potential of utilizing our respective heritages as means of fostering cultural diplomacy and cultural exchange.

Your recent piece on Florida’s new Alien Land Law took you outside the realms of art and cultural heritage law—what drew you to the topic?

This law prohibits immigrants from seven countries— Cuba and Iran among them—from being able to purchase

property within a certain number of miles from a government facility in Florida. As a Cuban-Iranian woman, I obviously felt appalled by this. I felt that the best way for me to channel my anger would be to write an essay about it. This essay criticizes the act as a blatant violation of the Federal Fair Housing Act. I also criticize Governor DeSantis’ harmful rhetoric targeted at immigrants. The law is currently being litigated in Florida, and I hope my academic contributions can help in its eventual invalidation. My article will be published in the South Carolina Law Review in January.

Q: Q:

California Western students named you Professor of the Year in 2022. What’s your approach to teaching? What do you think resonates with students? My approach to teaching is twofold. First, I try to make my classroom environment very welcoming, inclusive, and safe. While I have high standards, I’m not needlessly hard on my students. I also bring myself into the classroom–my students know my dogs, my love of reggaeton, and housewives, and my overall self-deprecating humor. I also use a lot of cultural references—they know I’m a big pop culture fan. I teach Property, which can be dry at times, so I try to make it bearable with fun fact patterns.

Second, my approach is very much assessment oriented. I work very hard to give students as many resources as possible to practice the material. I also give them a lot of formative assessments in the classroom, so they know how to approach these types of difficult questions when they eventually encounter them on the exam. I hope these approaches continue to resonate with my students. However, I am constantly trying to improve and work hard to give my students the best education possible.

What are you looking forward to exploring in your work in the coming years?

Next trimester, I am looking forward to being on sabbatical, where I will be spending a great deal of time traveling and researching. Recently, I was invited to contribute to the Encyclopedia of Art and Cultural Heritage Law in Colombia. I will be spending a month in Colombia researching for this contribution. I also will be spending two months in Mexico, researching for my book proposal on cultural heritage law in Mexico. I am excited to dive deep into my research on Latin American cultural heritage and get to know locals that are directly impacted by the laws I write and research about.

DEAN EMERITUS

NI ELS B. SCHAUMANN

In many ways, former Dean Niels B. Schaumann’s life story parallels that of many California Western students’—a child of immigrants who saw the United States as “the land of freedom and opportunity,” only to find that “things weren’t always the way they should be,” inculcating an early belief in their son that he had a responsibility to try to uplift the community and improve others’ lives. This instinct ultimately led Dean Schaumann to a long career in service within the walls of the legal academy, as a Professor and Vice Dean at William Mitchell College of Law for over 20 years, as the President and Dean of California Western from 2012 to 2020, and most recently back in the classroom teaching Business Organizations and Copyright Law at CWSL.

California Western is deeply indebted to Dean Schaumann for all that he has given to his students and colleagues, and to the institution as a whole. As he approaches his

retirement this summer, Dean Schaumann looks back with fondness on a career that has taken him on an unlikely journey from drumming in rock bands in the 70’s to practicing corporate law in the 80’s to keeping a humble law school afloat through the 2010’s, all of which has given him the opportunity to learn and contribute so much.

Arriving from an economically devastated Germany in the late 1940’s, Dean Schaumann’s parents “had a very idealized view of America.” They ultimately settled on Long Island, New York, in the small town of Wyandanch, which was then (and still is) a majority African American community. Realizing quickly that the country’s promises of opportunity did not extend equally to all of its citizens, Niels’s parents (and extended family) became staunch civil rights advocates—his aunt became a Freedom Rider and his parents participated in the March on Washington

in 1963. “They transmitted that to me,” says Dean Schaumann, whose parents entered the labor class, trying to provide him with avenues to economic uplift. His father took odd jobs around the country, eventually finding some stability selling hearing aids at a department store in Brooklyn. Niels’s mother, an avid student of anthropology, became a teacher, providing the inspiration for his future career. Before the law, though, there was music. Taking advantage of the freedom his parents had made possible for him, Niels started his career as a drummer, majoring in Music at SUNY College at Plattsburg, and playing professionally in New York City in the late 70’s. “We ate a lot of beans and rice,” says Dean Schaumann. “But it was all in service to this ideal that I had” of trying to make good music and help others who were trying to share their art with the world. With an ironic smile, he recalls the night when Cindy Lauper opened for his band, and everyone backstage agreed that this woman with “the funny voice wasn’t going anywhere.” Ultimately, though, Niels realized that for him to go anywhere in music, he would have to make peace with a chaotic scene where people were “unhappy and drug addicted.” Recently married, and looking for the stability to build a family, Dean Schaumann decided to look for a new opportunity.

As it happened, one night, Niels found himself sitting in a truck with a roadie, who had a copy of the LSAT study guide in his backseat. When Niels started thumbing through it, the roadie offered it to him, having already taken the test. By the time Niels got home that night, he had already decided he was going to take the test and try to go to law school. He got into Fordham that summer and continued drumming at night, helping an aspiring band record their album. But

when the check he received for his work on the album bounced during his first semester at law school, he thought, “Well, that’s a sign.” That was the end of Dean Schaumann’s professional music career but the beginning of an illustrious legal one.

Beginning at Fordham in 1981, Niels found a new passion ignited. And like so many California Western students, he found himself at home among peers who also had come to the law as a second career, including a number of musicians who had joined Fordham after attending Juilliard across the street. Though law school was very challenging at first—“as it is for all first-year students,”—Dean Schaumann found the law to be “fascinating and absorbing.” He was especially grateful to get a spot on the Law Review, which he says was “a great developmental experience, learning how legal arguments are put together.” He later became the Managing Editor of the Review, which helped him get his foot in the door as a clerk with the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York City for his first job out of law school.

With an impressive resume beginning to build, Dean Schaumann began receiving recruiting letters from major firms in the city. He joined Cravath, Swaine & Moore in 1985 and dove headfirst into the hundred-hour work weeks at the corporate firm, which represented Fortune 500 companies, large banks, and securities underwriters. “These lawyers were at the top of their profession,” says Dean Schaumann about his colleagues at the firm. “The standard of practice was nothing less than perfection.” Niels comments that this time of his life

was exciting— ”the stakes were very high,” “a misstatement on a transaction document could send people to jail,” “one would work on these projects and read about them in the paper the next day.” He also often found himself thrown into the deep end of this “very high level” work, with partners calling last minute to say they couldn’t make a client meeting and learning on the fly that he “was ready to handle the responsibility, even if I didn’t think I was.” This calm under pressure would serve Dean Schaumann and California Western well when he stewarded the school through financial turmoil in the 2010’s.

Amidst the excitement of his flourishing career, however, Niels realized that he was sacrificing more time with his family, which now included his first son, Karl, than he was willing to give up—“half the time I felt like my boy didn’t recognize me.” Seeking a more balanced life, Dean Schaumann started interviewing for teaching positions and quickly found one at William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamlin) in 1989, where, for the next 23 years, he would dedicate himself to nurturing young lawyers and trying to “remove some of the fear” that he had experienced during law school. Teaching Securities, Business Organizations, and Copyright, Dean Schaumann says that his approach was always to try to create a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom and to make things as simple as possible: “as lawyers, we tend to overcomplicate things. But this isn’t rocket science.” To make that kind of clarity possible for his students, Dean Schaumann

brought “Wall Street rigor” to his own preparation for class and made himself available to work with students outside of class as often as possible. “I have loved working with students,” he says. “I was always happy to sit with them and give them as much time as they thought they needed.”

Alongside his teaching, Dean Schaumann has been a prolific scholar and sought-after speaker on securities regulation and copyright law. Connecting back to his roots, Dean Schaumann has written on copyright issues in the genre of appropriation art and the impact of new technology on music distribution. He has also shed light on how perspectives shift on copyright depending on who gains from copyright enforcement, citing Mark Twain, who, early in his career, frequently stole from marginalized communities and disparaged the importance of copyright, but later, once he had become financially successful, “put on his white suit and testified eloquently before Congress” about copyright’s inviolability.

“It changes everything when the buck stops with you,” says Dean Schaumann, who after serving as Vice Dean for Faculty at William Mitchell for five years, took the position of President and Dean of California Western in 2012. Dean Schaumann admits that after 23 years in Minnesota, the palm trees and sunshine of San Diego “sounded like a dream,” but that he was drawn to California Western primarily by its students, who he says he relates to, having come from an immigrant family and gone to public schools through college. Dean Schaumann says he admires California Western students for their spirit: “A lot of them have had to struggle for everything they have, and they lead these incredible lives, managing all of their responsibilities and still pursuing their dreams.”

When Dean Schaumann assumed the role of President and Dean, law schools across the country were closing their doors. Post-recession, enrollments were down, and the New York Times was running editorials claiming that many law schools were de facto Ponzi schemes. “I was determined that we were not going to be one of those,” says Dean Schaumann. “My approach was to sacrifice as little as possible, but to keep the school going at all costs.” He notes that during this same time rival schools like

I admire California Western students for their spirit: “A lot of them have had to struggle for everything they have, and they lead these incredible lives, managing all of their responsibilities and still pursuing their dreams.”

Whittier Law School closed and Thomas Jefferson lost its ABA accreditation, while California Western persevered, as it has so often when the odds were against it.

Part of the Dean’s job is fundraising, a difficult task when the law school’s most likely donors hadn’t heard from the school in many years. So, Dean Schaumann was often on the road, rebuilding relationships and cultivating potential donors. Today, some of those people have become important donors to the law school. Dean Schaumann is also proud of having hired some of the school’s newer faculty who are still on campus today, providing renewed energy as the school enters its second century.

Looking forward to retirement, Dean Schaumann ends where he began—with family. He and [his wife] are planning to move back to Minnesota this year to spend more time with their family-- his oldest son teaches French in Minnesota, and his second son is finishing a postdoc at Northwestern University. He says he will greatly miss his students and his colleagues, but he is confident that California Western is in good hands. And if he were ever called upon to teach a class, he would be more than willing to contribute his time.

California Western School of Law is deeply indebted to Dean Niels B. Schaumann for his dedicated service on behalf of the institution. His expertise, passion, and mentorship have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on countless lives. We congratulate him on a welldeserved retirement!

LeBrian Mays ’25

In many ways, rising 3L, LeBrian Mays is just like every California Western student—his journey to and through law school is entirely unique. LeBrian grew up picturing himself as an attorney, carrying his briefcase into the courtroom to advocate for justice. But when it came to school, he says, “I was never really the best student. People told me I was smart, but that cuts against effort, because you rely on it and then it can become a detriment.” It’s clear that LeBrian’s interest in the law has never wavered— he graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice—but LeBrian ultimately found himself engaged more in practical responsibilities and the real-world complexities of insurance, working in claims at GEICO for over a decade, eventually becoming a manager and then a Senior Business Analyst. But LeBrian’s story wouldn’t be a California Western story if his circuitous path didn’t lead him to his true calling.

During his tenure at GEICO, LeBrian had firsthand exposure to the legal profession, working closely with attorneys on personal injury claims. “I got to see the type of work they handled, how they attacked it, and I could really see myself doing what they were doing,” he reflects. “I was always

drawn in by the complexity of the work.” Getting first-hand experience with the fulfilling challenges that the legal practice offered, LeBrian made the decision in 2021 to transition from claims handling to courtroom advocacy.

Choosing to attend California Western School of Law was a deliberate decision rooted in LeBrian’s deep ties to San Diego, his hometown. LeBrian’s fiancée is also a local, and the couple now have a two-year-old daughter.“ We definitely wanted to be in San Diego,” LeBrian explains, emphasizing the importance of attending a law school with strong connections to the local legal community. But what sealed the deal was seeing his former GEICO coworker graduate from California Western with no debt—being able to work part time and receiving ample scholarship assistance. LeBrian also noted that his coworker had secured a judicial clerkship in the District Court while in school and had received a job offer from a Top 100 firm upon graduation— “that was really impressive and made me seek the school out.”

As soon as he stepped on campus, LeBrian found the same kind of opportunity and flexibility that his former coworker had. As he says, “Cal Western

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

really caters to a wide variety of people from all walks of life, whether they’re in their second or third careers, or straight out of college, whether they’re interested in litigation, transactions, criminal, or international and human rights work.”

LeBrian has also found valuable mentorship on campus, particularly in Professor Padilla, who brings “so much energy and passion into the classroom, even when we’re discussing archaic legal concepts,” and who is providing guidance and support in helping LeBrian find internships and employment opportunities and mapping out alternatives outside of litigation, as he considers following in her footsteps into real estate law.

Lest we give the impression that LeBrian’s law school experience has been a breeze, he is quick to admit that “it was a steep learning curve. I had to learn how to do my assignments, how to study—all of these things that I never really had to do in the past. All while learning this new language of the law.” Despite the initial hurdles, LeBrian quickly adapted, and in his second year is now an Associate Writer for the International Law Journal, President of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and a Judicial Extern in the U.S. District Court, on top of classes and coursework, and managing his responsibilities at home as a partner and father. “It just forces you to be intentional when you’re planning and to be diligent in your execution,” says LeBrian. “Really, you’re building a good foundation to make sure that you’re able to do all of these things when it comes time to take the bar and, ultimately, when it comes time to practice law.”

Learning from his past school experience, LeBrian is making the very most of his time at California Western. Since he was working part time while in undergrad,

he wasn’t able to make many meaningful connections with his peers. LeBrian says he was adamant about doing law school differently, seeking out community. Which is why, early on, he reached out to BLSA and found its members to be warm and welcoming: “They made me feel like I belonged in the organization, but more importantly that I belonged in law school.” Given

his other responsibilities, LeBrian was reluctant to throw his name in the hat for President of BLSA, but ultimately the opportunity to give back to others what he’d received in his first year was too good to pass up. As President, LeBrian has put his managerial experience to work, helping to “build a solid foundation that future boards can work off of,” giving BLSA members the chance to

enhance their skill sets, interact with the local legal community, and ultimately turn those relationships into internships and employment opportunities. As a result of his intentional leadership, CWSL’s BLSA was named Chapter of the Year in the Western Region for the second year in a row.

“What’s good about the law is that it’s like a Swiss Army knife—your skills and your experiences are highly transferable,” says LeBrian, who exemplifies his own adage in the diversity of interests he is pursuing. He is currently at work on an article for the International Law Journal, researching ways to better protect children online by seeking out global legislation that could be implemented in the U.S. LeBrian is also externing with Judge James E. Simmons in the U.S. District Court, learning “to advocate in a new and profound way—not for a plaintiff or defendant, but for justice.” Given his history in business, LeBrian is also passionate about exploring the burgeoning intersection between business, technology, and law—an area that holds immense potential for innovation: “I don’t think it’s

possible to change the world in isolation. San Diego is home to a diverse assortment of companies and institutions, it’s really exciting to think how they can all collaborate and have a positive impact on the world.” Last summer, as Jones Day’s Qualcomm Scholar, LeBrian split his time between the firm’s San Diego office and Qualcomm’s headquarters, where he was able to work on technology transfer transactions and see firsthand how the law and lawyers will have to evolve to support the latest innovations.

Amidst his successes and his challenges, LeBrian remains humble and determined. He says he likes to keep in mind the Rule of Thirds, an axiom made famous by, Olympic runner, Alexi Pappas, who said, “When you’re chasing a big dream, you’re supposed to feel good a third of the time, okay a third of the time, and crappy a third of the time… and if the ratio is roughly in that range, then you’re doing just fine.”

California Western is lucky to have a dreamer like LeBrian Mays in our midst.

CALIFORNIA WESTERN’S

NEW MEDIA RIGHTS

New Media Rights’ Executive Director Art Neill, Assistant Director Erika Lee, and James Thomas, a current student at CWSL, were offered publication by the University of Texas Intellectual Property Journal for its June 2024 issue for an article they recently coauthored. Professor Neill and Professor Lee also recently spoke at the 21st Annual

Media and Entertainment Law Conference at Southwestern Law School. Cohosted by the Media Law Resource Center, the conference brought together renowned experts to discuss current issues in the entertainment and media law fields. Neill and Lee moderated a breakout discussion panel about the public domain.

Read more about the REC Innovation Lab presentation here.

New Media Rights (NMR) is a leader in intellectual property, privacy, and media law. NMR support creatives and entrepreneurs, providing information about this fast-changing and complex digital field that crosses culture, industry, and law. Each trimester, NMR student interns work under the supervision of experienced staff attorneys, learning critical legal skills such as contract drafting, intellectual property analysis, and policy analysis, while making a real difference in a complex and highly impactful space.

Professor Lee and student Deanna Mayaa gave a talk to the REC innovation lab incubator at Mira Mesa College.

California Western School of Law (CWSL) will offer its first-ever summer session innocence clinic under a new name effective June 1.

COMMUNITY LAW PROJECT

CLP meets clients where they are, and sometimes that provides us with additional opportunities to learn about diverse groups in our community.

On February 23, during CLP’s regular clinic at Rosa Parks Elementary School, CLP staff, students, and interpreters were able to take part in the school’s Lunar New Year celebration, enjoying traditional Vietnamese food, music, and performances.

Additionally, CLP’s very own Assistant Director, Ted Janowsky, wrote an article for a recent issue of San Diego Lawyer Magazine on the important role CLP plays in training students to be both empathetic and strong advocates for their community. You can read the article here.

The California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic (IJC) will continue a 25-year history of CWSL providing its students the chance to work with experienced attorneys to free wrongly convicted people while earning academic credit. Since its founding in 1999, the IJC, formerly known as the California Innocence Project, has exonerated and freed 40 people who were wrongly convicted and serving prison terms.

The IJC clinic has enrolled 11 students to study and work with Professor Megan Baca and Professor Arianna Price at California Innocence Advocates (Cal-IA). Cal-IA also provided volunteer opportunities for students during the last academic term.

Additionally, Professor Amy Kimpel will officially join CWSL on July 1 as Associate Professor and Executive Director of the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic. She is currently Associate Professor of Clinical Legal Instruction and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Alabama. There, in addition to managing a robust trial practice, Professor Kimpel’s clinic worked on postconviction cases resulting in the release of four clients from state and federal prison.

The California Western Community Law Project (CLP) is a legal clinic open to people in some of San Diego’s most vulnerable communities. The CLP Clinic allows volunteer law students to experience the benefits of helping those in need while learning essential lawyering skills from experienced practitioners.

COMPETITIVE ADVOCACY PROGRAM

Over the past academic year, students in California Western’s Competitive Advocacy Program (CAP) competed throughout the Southern California region and the nation, continuing a tradition of excellence.

Here are the recent exciting accomplishments and results that our CAP teams achieved:

SPRING, 2024

3rd Best Brief in the World (out of roughly 700 law schools in 100 countries)!

Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Appellate)

Best Overall Advocate and 2nd Place Team

UC Davis Asylum & Refugee Law National Moot Court Competition (Appellate)

Finalist

Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) Regional Competition (Trial)

FALL, 2023

6th Place overall as a Program in the ABA Practical Skills Competitions National Rankings for 2022-2023

1st Place, National Champions

ABA Negotiation National Competition (Alternative Dispute Resolution - ADR)

1st Place, Regional Winner

ABA Mediation Regional Competition (Alternative Dispute Resolution - ADR)

2nd Best Oral Advocates Award

UCLA Cybersecurity National Competition (Appellate)

2nd Place for Best Brief in Regional Competition

Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Appellate)

Advanced to Octo-Finals

South Texas College of Law Mock Trial Challenge (Trial)

1st Place, Regional Winner

ABA Mediation Regional Competition (Alternative Dispute Resolution - ADR)

Regional Finalist / Semi-Finalist at Nationals

Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition (Appellate)

Quarter Finalists

USD Crim Pro Moot Court Competition (Appellate)

Quarter Finalists

Pepperdine National Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition (Appellate)

Best Overall Advocate, Best Opening Statement, and Best Direct Exam Awards

San Diego Defense Lawyers (SDDL) Competition (Trial)

3rd Place

The UCLA National Premiere Competition (Trial)

CALIFORNIA WESTERN

Additionally, two new intraschool competitions were created this past spring to give students more opportunities to learn these important real-life advocacy skills.

The Conte Cup 1L Opening Statement Competition, named after former Program Director and Professor Mario Conte, whose dedication and tireless efforts were responsible for structuring, expanding, and growing the Advocacy Program from 2005-2019.

The Bobbie Thyfault Appellate Competition, named for the beloved Professor Emerita Roberta “Bobbie” Thyfault, who has been a huge part of the school’s appellate success for 20 years, as Director of LegalSkills and as a coach of the Jessup International Law Moot Court team.

For each of the competitions, students receive mentoring from students on CWSL’s National Championship teams, from alumni and other local attorneys and judges. The competitions are also judged by attorneys and judges, giving students real-world experience in trial advocacy and the chance to receive critical feedback from seasoned legal professionals.

CAP’s commitment to excellence has propelled the program to national recognition by consistently winning awards and doing so by defeating opponents from top-tier law schools. In addition to the accomplishments above, CWSL teams have been on a long streak of accumulating trophies in regional and national arenas over the past several years. For more information about The Advocacy Program or to learn how you can help support our teams, please reach out to our Program Director, Professor Paul Parisi at Pparisi@cwsl.edu

2024 Jessup Team

Professor Robert Bohrer

For over 40 years, the California Western School of Law community has been the beneficiary of Professor Robert Bohrer’s insatiable curiosity and dedication to his students and colleagues—not to mention his easy Midwestern smile and old school Chicago charm. As he transitions to emeritus status this June, we offer our heartfelt appreciation for all that Professor Bohrer has given to CWSL and wish him the very best in his well-deserved years of retirement. Having just turned 75 and looking back on a career in which, among much else, he published two books and scores of articles, helped shape U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical policy, and nurtured multiple generations of lawyers and advocates, Professor Bohrer comments simply, “It has been an extraordinary privilege to be able to do what I love to do for as long as I have, and I will miss it.”

If there is one quality that might account for Professor Bohrer’s accomplished career it would likely be his broad

and bottomless curiosity. Hailing from Chicago, and the first in his family to attend a four-year university, Bob Bohrer started out at Haverford College, “having no idea” what he wanted to do but became enamored of academic life—studying biology, then philosophy, and ending up as a psychology major. At the beginning of his senior year of college when a friend asked if he was going to take the LSATs, he said he hadn’t really given it any thought and asked, “When are they?” The friend replied, “October at Villanova,” (seven miles down the road from Haverford). Bob asked his friend, “Are you driving?” When his friend said yes, Bob signed up. Professor Bohrer notes that he has always been good at standardized tests, but “I wouldn’t consider that among my virtues.” Suffice it to say that when his scores came back he applied to the University of Illinois College of Law downstate in Champaign-Urbana, got in, and, since tuition was only $300 a semester in 1971, he decided to give it a try.

How many future colleagues and students can feel grateful that when Professor Bohrer got to law school to “give it a try” he was, as he says, “stunned by how interesting it was. I hadn’t expected it, but the law was endlessly fascinating. And I looked at my law professors and thought, ‘What a great job.’ And that set me on the path I’ve been on for 53 years.”

Professor Bohrer looks back with particular fondness on his time at the University of Illinois Law Review, where he was able to gain “invaluable training in research, writing, and thinking,” and to connect his interests in psychology and law, writing a paper on the use of IQ testing in public schools and its relationship to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Professor Bohrer also notes— with a wink to current students considering joining the Law Review—that the experience was “extraordinarily beneficial” and made him “attractive to large law firms.”

When sign-up sheets began popping up on the corkboard outside the Career Services office, Professor Bohrer’s curiosity was captured again: “What’s going on?” he asked. “The big firms are coming down from Chicago to interview,” was the reply from fellow students. “And they pay a lot.” When they told him how much, Bob was again signing up, giving it a try. That summer, he began as a summer associate at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd. The partners offered him a job at the beginning of his third year, which Bob accepted because “they seemed like the people I would enjoy being with the most—extraordinarily nice.”

This would not be the last time that a gut instinct for being around good people would serve Bob well. Professor Bohrer comments further that when he joined Bell, Boyd & Lloyd in 1974, before law firms were ranked based on profits per partner, it was “a very different era in the American legal profession—but even then the Bell, Boyd & Lloyd partners were an outlier in how kind they were.” They also, of course, did “incredibly interesting work,” offering Bob the opportunity to work in antitrust and securities

litigation and later in real estate, allowing him to do what he does best—“figure out solutions to problems for which the solutions aren’t obvious.”

After several years, however, the desire for more constant intellectual stimulation pushed Bob to ask for a leave of absence from the firm to attend a new Master of Laws (LL.M.) program at Harvard Law School for students looking to become law professors. Once back within the walls of the academy, Professor Bohrer admits he felt like he “was being set loose in an intellectual candy store.” In just his first semester, he took Comparative Law of Japan, Medieval European Legal History, Neo-Marxist Legal History from 1860 to 1960, and Jurisprudence with Charles Fried, who later served as Solicitor General in the Reagan Administration. Bob also found himself making a bit of history when the paper that he produced at Harvard on the boundaries and appropriate uses of affirmative action was quoted by Sandra Day O’Connor in her Supreme Court opinion in City of Richmond v. Croson (1989). He had begun work on the topic at Bell, Boyd & Lloyd when they were representing the National Merit Scholarship Foundation and then decided to turn it into his master’s thesis at Harvard.

With his trademark smile, Professor Bohrer notes that Justice O’Connor later reversed her approach to the issue, ending his brief chance to have an “enduring influence on the course of American constitutional law.” But for Professor Bohrer what was most enduring about that paper was that when he dropped a copy off at Dean Albert Sacks’ office, he received a call a week later saying that the Dean would like to see him about it. When Bob showed up—“a relative nobody” in his own eyes—the Dean of Harvard Law School sat with him and went through his paper page by page, giving him comments. “That was one of the hallmarks of being a great Dean and a great person—that he would take that time with me,” says Professor Bohrer, who was just then setting out on a career of providing that same kind of nurturing to his students for over four decades.

At California Western, we don’t just say we’re student-focused,” says Professor Bohrer. “We are student-focused. I have students from my very first years of teaching that I am still in touch with and still feel close to, and that has continued to be a priority for us.”

If there is anyone who would know what has remained constant at CWSL, it is Professor Bohrer, who joined the faculty in 1982 because—no surprise here—“I really liked the people. I was attracted to the energy of the place.”

Enamored with the diversity of the student body, the ambitiousness of the faculty, and the “paradise” of San Diego, Bob began his California Western tenure, where he has now spent more than half of his life. In that time, he has continually evolved as a teacher, but says that he has always wanted to emphasize “the necessity for students to find a new way of looking at what is in front of them. People talk about making both sides of an argument. That’s fine. But is there, in fact, a completely different way to look at the problem?” Professor Bohrer says that he has always found it most rewarding to be able to mentor his students in this way. And it is unsurprising that in his own scholarship and in his long career as a board member and consultant for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and related not-for-profit organizations, Professor Bohrer has been challenging himself to find answers to the difficult questions that arise at the intersection of law and science. He began his career as a

scholar by focusing on the important role that agencies and courts play in assessing and managing risk and ultimately focusing on the intersection of molecular biology and law in the context of pharmaceutical policy.

Professor Bohrer readily admits that helping to define the fields of biotechnology law and pharmaceutical policy “is probably the most important thing that I’ve done.” In 1984, he and the late Clifford Grobstein, a developmental biologist and the former Dean of the School of Medicine at UCSD, set out to create an interdisciplinary conference that could address the legal, scientific, and financial intersections of the burgeoning field of biotechnology. Everything from genetically modified organisms and gene therapies to venture capital was discussed— and forecast—at the conference, mapping out the legal and regulatory environment that would either support or stifle the development of biotech and pharmaceuticals. “We were the only show in the country that had taken this broader multidisciplinary approach to talking about issues in biotech,” says Professor Bohrer, who later expanded the conference into monthly meetings that would pair experts for sharing knowledge across industry and academia.

His continued fascination with these intersections has driven Professor Bohrer’s prolific scholarship,

on everything from healthcare patents to gene therapy and to pharmaceutical marketing. In other words, Professor Bohrer has sought to answer and shape how law impacts the development of treatments that prevent diseases and save lives. In addition to a deep catalogue of articles and essays on these topics, Professor Bohrer has also published two books: Research to Revolution: Scientific, Business, and Legal Perspectives on the New Biotechnology (1987) and A Guide to Biotechnology Law and Business (2007), which was the first single-authored treatise on biotech law.

Professor Bohrer has also parlayed his expertise into prominent leadership positions, locally and nationally, in public and private service. For ten years he served on the board of the La Jolla Institute for Molecular Medicine; for seven years he was the Director of Biotechnology Programs at the UCSD Center for Molecular Genetics; and, he continues to be a member of the Rees Stealy Research Foundation Board. He has also consulted with companies developing cancer antibodies, drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, proteomics platforms, drug discovery technology, and genetic diagnostic technology. He notes that his goal in these roles has been to steer drug development so that “we get much more benefit out of all that we’re spending” and so that the development process is steered by science. Here Professor Bohrer

THE CALIFORNIA WESTERN COMMUNITY WISHES TO EXTEND

OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS

TO PROFESSOR ROBERT BOHRER FOR HIS DECADES OF SERVICE

TO THE SCHOOL, ITS FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS.

harkens back to his early college days as a biology major saying that “if you’re going to develop a drug, you ought to understand the mechanism of the disease.” Whether it is the immune response that triggers Multiple Sclerosis or the gene mutation that causes Stargardt disease, Professor Bohrer has wrestled with the scientific literature and sought a deep understanding of biomedical science so that he could help responsibly shape pharmaceutical policy, ultimately seeking to reduce waste and inefficiency in a “badly designed and fractured healthcare system.”

You might think that after four decades in this field, Professor Bohrer might have tired, but he says, “I’m still reading scientific literature as though my life depended on it. And because it is just so interesting.” Professor Bohrer’s excited curiosity has now turned to the subjects of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and further advancements in molecular biology that he expects will create “revolutionary changes in human healthcare in the next two decades.” And his productive pen doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon, as he plans this year to finish an article on how AI in molecular biology will challenge patent doctrine and another on the rise of biosimilar drugs. He also hopes to write a book on pharmaceutical policy and is considering updating his 2007 Guide to Biotechnology Law and Business. It may come as no surprise that Professor Bohrer says he chose to retire now because he feels confident that he is still good at the job.

Looking forward, Professor Bohrer is also confident about California Western: “My younger colleagues are just extraordinary. And when I say ‘younger colleagues,’ that’s everybody.” He is particularly proud of the fact that

the faculty has a “unified vision” of “what legal education is supposed to be and what we want the Law School to be,” all under the careful and ambitious guidance of Dean Sean Scott, during whose tenure he sees much progress for the school. Professor Bohrer is heartened by the fact that there is “consensus among the faculty that we want more respect for the school.” He notes that his colleagues are eagerly charging forward—in their research, at conferences, in public appearances—in seeking to continue to elevate the reputation of the school to the level that it truly deserves. Professor Bohrer says without a doubt, “Our students are just as brilliant and capable as anyone, and they deserve the chance to get their foot in the door and be recognized.”

With his retirement starting this summer, Professor Bohrer’s curiosity and kindness continue to guide him. He intends to relax and travel, but also intends to put his emeritus faculty office space to good use, finishing his article on AI and continuing to consult with colleagues and to mentor and stay in touch with alumni. And when he isn’t walking the campus that he has helped define, Professor Bohrer says he also wants to sign up to be a cuddler in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or a volunteer reader at a public library, sharing his warmth with yet another generation. Whatever it is, he knows it will certainly be endlessly fascinating.

The California Western community wishes to extend our deepest gratitude and a hearty congratulations to Professor Robert Bohrer for his decades of service to the school, its faculty, staff, and students. He has left an indelible mark on the institution’s legacy, and he is an inspiration for its future.

Fellow Alumni,

It has been a great year for the CWSL Alumni Association! We brought back the Distinguished Alumni Awards this year and were able to honor some of our remarkable alumni. We encouraged pro bono service by partnering with San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Association to put on free MCLEs for alumni, and we have paved the way for some significant new initiatives.

With great things on the horizon, this would be a great time to the join the Alumni Association Board of Directors. We are looking for 10 new Board members and applications are open. I hope you will consider joining us as we work to promote the professional interest of all CWSL Alumni.

I am excited that the school will soon be announcing a major alumni event that will occur in September. In addition to providing a great experience for alumni, this event will raise money for a significant new initiative by the CWSL Alumni Association, the CWSL Community Leadership Academy. The Community Leadership Academy will provide current CWSL students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a positive impact as leaders in our community. The Alumni Association believes that providing leadership training to current CWSL students will pay significant dividends to the quality of our legal community in the future. I hope you can join us in September and help support this important initiative and please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to contribute.

Finally, I want to say thank you to my fellow Alumni Association Board members for all the great work this year, thank you to the CWSL staff for supporting us this year, and thank you to my fellow alumni for all that you do to support CWSL. In ºJuly, Jordan Enright will be starting her term as Board President and I am confident that she will do a great job for the Alumni Association.

Thank you, David Finn

2023-2024 Alumni Board President

CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW ALUMNI BOARD / 2024

The Honorable Larry Winthrop (1977)

Todd Haas (1997) Hawkins Parnell & Young

Marivel M. Zialcita (2002) MMZ LAW APC

Chris Ann Maxwell (1975)

Agustin Peña (2012) San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

David Finn (2006)

U.S. Attorney’s Office - Southern District of California

Devon Roepcke (2009) Law Offices of Devon K. Roepcke

Erik Weber (2015)

Cheryl Kozdrey (2018)

Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.

Hana Maazaoui Willard (2019) United States District Court

Leah Gonzales (2016) San Diego County Primary Public Defender

Jordan J. Enright (2016) Enright Law APC

Clayton Carr (2013) San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

Joseph Kagan (2015) Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians

Rio Schwarting (2018) Wellpath

Michael Hernandez (2013) Hepburn, Hernandez & Jung Trial Attorney

Bobbie Thyfault (1984)

Professor Emerita, California Western School of Law

Rachel James (2005) Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP

Taylor Morrison (2017) San Diego County District Attorney’s Office

Thomas Matthews (1992) Law Office of Thomas P. Matthews

Timothy McNutt (2009) Cornell University

Tyler Reddy (2019) Dunn DeSantis Walt & Kendrick LLP

Leslie Mackay (2007) California Department of Social Services

Bill Gersten (1990) Office of the City Attorney

Michael Pontrelli (1993) Consilio LLC

Liz Brown (1999) Cage & Miles, LLP

Zachary Freire-Avina (2018) The Pride Law Firm

Julie Molteni (2009) Fifth Third Bank, National Association

Gary Rudolph (1981) Fennemore

CALIFORNIA WESTERN’S EVENTS

California Western School of Law hosted a robust line up of events recently. Thank you for joining us if you attended in person or virtually. Here are some of the top events:

Smithsonian Exhibit

The Bias Inside Us opening reception.

CWSL continues to honor our commitment to our community and further fulfill our mission by hosting The Bias Inside Us: an exhibition and community engagement project from the Smithsonian in the 350 building, May 4 – June 2.

May 4 – June 2

CALIFORNIA WESTERN’S EVENTS

CWSL inducted students into its Pro Bono and Public Service Honors Society

47 Students were inducted into the Public Service Honors Society having accrued 8,939 hours of pro bono work, and 64 students were inducted into the Pro Bono Honors Society, having done 10,800 hours of volunteer service. The evening’s keynote speaker, the Honorable Danna Nicholas ’00, pointed out that these hours equate to $6 million dollars, based on the average rate of $300 an hour for an associate attorney.

Accountable AI: The Responsible Governance of AI and Emerging Technologies

CWSL’s the Law Review and and International Law Journal cohosted their annual symposium, bringing together experts across the fields of law and technology to discuss this year’s topic: “Accountable AI: The Responsible Governance of AI and Emerging Technologies.”The symposium was intended to address the nexus of law, technology, and evolving global regulations on artificial intelligence.

The symposium featured two keynote speakers. First, Scott Colesanti, professor at Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, discussed his most recent research into the possible impact of AI on securities law and insider trading cases. And Fernando Garibay, a renowned executive producer and artist at Interscope Records, who has collaborated with iconic artists such as Lady Gaga and U2, discussed the ways AI can encourage and support creative problem-solving.

64 students

8,939 hours of pro bono work hours = $6 million *

10,800 hours of volunteer service

*based on the average rate of $300 an hour for an associate attorney.

As part of its Law, Justice, and Technology Initiative, CWSL partnered with the International Association of Privacy Professionals to cohost a panel on the diverse career options within the privacy field. The event was part of the IAPP San Diego Chapter’s Knowledgenet.

The panel featured Aaron Hirsch, head of Commercial Contracting at Clickup; Logan Burwell, Legal Counsel for Precision Diagnostics; Melissa Burwell, Privacy Engineering and Operations Manager at Verily; and Kimberly Dang, Managing Consultant for Privacy and Data Protection at the Berkeley Research Group; and was moderated by Salma Debar, Privacy Manager at Deloitte; and Christy Hsu, Attorney at IAPP.

CALIFORNIA WESTERN’S EVENTS

Professor Louis Menand

CWSL hosted Pulitzer-Prize winning author and essayist Professor Louis Menand for “Bakke, Roots and Branches,” his highly engaging lecture on the legacy of Regents of the University of California v Bakke, the seminal 1978 case that upheld race-based affirmative action programs in education and was recently overturned by SFFA v Harvard.

Menand is the Lee Simpkins Family Professor and Arts and Sciences and the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of English at Harvard. His books include The Metaphysical Club, which won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2002. He has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2001, which he began writing for in 1991. In 2016, President Barack Obama awarded Menand with the National Humanities Medal.

Faculty Publications

William J. Aceves, Critical Constitutional Law, 27 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law (forthcoming 2025)

William J. Aceves, Abortion Costs and the Language of Torture, 72 UCLA Law Review Discourse (forthcoming 2024)

Emily Behzadi Cárdenas, Progressive Copyright Theory, 84 Maryland Law Review (forthcoming 2025)

Kristen van de Biezenbos, Climate Proof Electricity, 2025 Utah Law Review (forthcoming)

Professor James Cooper, Everybody Wants to Rule the World: Central Bank Digital Currencies in the Era of Decoupling the World’s Two Largest Economies, 42 Washington Journal of Law, Technology, & Arts 119 (forthcoming 2024)

Hannah Brenner Johnson and Kathleen Darcy, Prison Rape: An Endless Epidemic, 55 Memphis Law Review (forthcoming 2024)

FACULTY UPDATES

Shawn E. Fields, (Non)police Brutality, 110 Cornell Law Review (forthcoming 2025)

Shawn E. Fields, Rights Without Cops: Public Safety & Civil Liberties in a Post-Police World (University of California Press, forthcoming 2025)

Art Neill, Erika Lee, & James Thomas (’24), A Framework for Applying Copyright Law to Textual Generative Artificial Intelligence, 32 Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal (forthcoming 2024)

Erin Sheley, Prosecutorial Discretion and Digital Democracy, 113 Kentucky Law Journal (forthcoming 2024)

Jessica Fink & Kelley King, Gender Sidelining in Schools and the Scourge of Single-Sex School Leadership, 98 St. John’s Law Review (forthcoming 2024)

Joanna K. Sax and Neal Doran, COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccine Authorization, FDA Authority, and Individual Misperception of Risk, 11 Journal of Law & the Biosciences 1 (2024)

Brenda M. Simon, Artificial Intelligence and the Self-Represented Inventor, 58 Loyola (Los Angeles) Law Review (forthcoming 2025)

Daniel Yeager, Two Cases in Complicity, 99 New York University Law Review (Online) (forthcoming 2024)

New Jurists: Four Highly Accomplished Alumni Named to Judgeships in California,

Illinois and Neveda

The Honorable M. Danna Nicholas, ’00

Danna was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as a judge in the San Diego County Superior Court, filling the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Julia K. Kelety. Starting in 2017, Danna served as lead deputy city attorney in the General Litigation section of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office and had served as a deputy city attorney there since 2004. She also served as an assistant public defender at the Alaska Public Defender Agency from 2000 to 2002.

The Honorable Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III ’02

Max was selected to be United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Nevada. Max assumed the position on January 8, 2024, with a term of appointment of eight years. He was a founding partner of Kennedy & Couvillier, PLLC, a personal injury law firm. Prior to establishing Kennedy & Couvillier, PLLC, he was a partner at Lionel Sawyer & Collins and managing partner at Black & LoBello. Max served as the general counsel of The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (2011-2013) and then as president of the Board of Directors (2014-2023). He was also president of the Nevada Latino Bar Association and Chair of the State Bar of Nevada Litigation Section.

The Honorable Loveleen K. Ahuja ’05

Loveleen was appointed to the Eighth Subcircuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. Her appointment became effective on February 2, 2024, and will conclude December 2, 2024, following the November 2024 general election. Loveleen is running unopposed in the November election to fill the judgeship for a six-year term. Judge Ahuja previously served in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office since 2005 and has been a homicide attorney since 2019, representing indigent defendants charged with murder. She previously served in the felony trial, domestic violence, first municipal, and child protection divisions of the office and has litigated hundreds of juries, bench trials, and motions. She is a member of the South Asian Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association. She also serves on the Committee Against Anti-Semitism and Hate for the Decalogue Society.

The Honorable Alissa L. Bjerkhoel ’08

Alissa was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve as a Judge in the Nevada County Superior Court. Prior to her appointment, Alissa was the Interim Director of the California Innocence Project at California Western. From 2016 to 2023, she was CIP’s litigation coordinator and was one of the program’s first full-time staff attorneys starting in 2008, eventually becoming the program’s in-house DNA expert. In her time at CIP, she participated in ten successful exonerations. Alissa served as a panel attorney for the Sixth District Appellate Program from 2012 and for Appellate Defenders Inc. from 2010.

To include your professional or personal news in a future online newsletter, please email alumni@cwsl.edu.

1971

Jan E. Ronis ’71

Jan was recognized by Forbes Advisor as one of 2023’s Top Ten DUI Attorneys in San Diego. Jan and his father have run the Law Offices of Ronis & Ronis since 1972, and Jan has been a Certified Specialist in criminal law since 1977. Forbes noted that Jan has participated in over 300 jury trials and was recently honored by the California Bar Association for 30 years of specialization in criminal defense. He has worked extensively in federal district courts as well as in California. Jan is a member of the California Attorneys of Criminal Justice and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is the former President of the South Bay Bar Association. He has also been featured as a guest commentator on criminal cases on CNN, Court TV, ABC, and Fox News Network.

Thomas M. Huguenor ’71

Thomas was named one of the Top Ten Divorce Attorneys in San Diego for 2024. He has over 50 years of experience in divorce and family law matters, having run his own firm for 49 years, and currently also serving as special counsel at Antonyan Miranda, LLP. Thomas is a Certified Family Law Specialist and has served as pro tem judge in the San Diego Superior Court. His work includes cases of child custody endangerment and parental alienation, often resulting in child custody modification orders. Thomas has been named a Top Family Lawyer by San Diego Magazine.

1973

William M. Benjamin ’73

William was named by Forbes Advisor as one of the Top Ten Divorce Lawyers in San Diego for 2024. He has been in practice for over 50 years and operates his own family law firm out of downtown

San Diego, covering a broad spectrum of family-related legal issues, including divorce, legal separation, child custody, and spousal support. William is a Certified Family Law Specialist and serves as a minor’s counsel, appointed by Superior Court Judges to represent children in custody battles stemming from divorce and paternity cases. He is also a previous recipient of the San Diego Family Law Bar’s Norby Award, given each year to one attorney for “dedicated and meritorious service to the Family Law bench and bar.”

Beatrice L. Snider ’73

Beatrice was named by Forbes Advisor as one of the Top Ten Divorce Attorneys in San Diego for 2024. She has over 50 years of experience in law, having started her own firm in 1974, focusing on personal injury, criminal defense and family law. Beatrice is a Certified Family Law Specialist and has served as judge pro tem in the San Diego Superior Court. She is also an author and speaker on family law and business valuations in divorce and has helped shape San Diego’s local rules regarding business valuations in divorce cases. Beatrice has previously been named oneof San Diego’s Top Attorneys by San Diego Daily Transcript and recognized as a Top 10 Divorce Attorney by California Lawyer Magazine.

Julia M. Garwood ’79

Julia was named by Forbes Advisor as one of the Top Ten Divorce Attorneys in San Diego for 2024. She brings over four decades of experience in the law and over 30 years in family law to her shareholder position at Garwood Reeves. Julia is a Certified Family Law Specialist, serves as an acting settlement judge and mediator, and is frequently chosen by courts to represent minors. She is also a former professor, previously teaching at Grossmont College and Thomas

Jefferson School of Law. Julia is a member of the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys and an executive committee member of Family Law Specialists.

1981

Gary B. Rudolph ’81

Gary became the director of the financial restructuring practice group at Fennemore after the firm’s merger with Sullivan Hill, where Gary has practiced since 2010 and is partner and shareholder. Gary has over 30 years of experience practicing in the area of bankruptcy, insolvency, business consultation, commercial litigation, corporate restructure, and mediation representing distressed businesses, trustees, creditors, creditor committees, receivers, and debtors. Gary is currently chair of the bankruptcy law section of the San Diego County Bar Association and co-chair of the national rules committee for the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees. He is also a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, having previously served as their president.

Robert J. Vecchio ’81

Forbes Advisor named Robert as one of 2023’s Best Car Accident Lawyers in Cleveland, OH. With over 40 years of experience, Robert dedicates his services to individuals and small businesses in personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, social security disability, family law, business formation and representation, and basic estate planning cases. His firm’s noteworthy case results include numerous five- and six-figure recoveries for those injured in motor vehicle accidents, including a recent $285,000 settlement. He has been rated as a Personal Injury Super Lawyer from 2019-2024.

1983

David Moynihan ’83

David is a partner in the 110 New Englandbased regional law firm, McLane Middleton Professional Association, has been elected Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate Law), 2018 – present, Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers of 2021 and 2022 (Real Estate), and Massachusetts Go To Lawyer: Commercial Real Estate, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2021. David has served on the Board of Directors of The Real Estate Bar Association of Massachusetts, the state’s third largest bar association, with approximately 3,000 members where he chaired the continuing legal execution section and is a member of the leasing and condominium sections. David is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

1991

Darren Pirozzi ’91

Darren was recognized by Forbes Advisor as one of 2023’s Top Ten Personal Injury Attorneys in Santa Ana, CA. Darren is a trial attorney at Rizio Lipinsky, specializing in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death cases. Forbes noted that Darren has made

several six- and seven-figure recoveries, including serving as co-counsel on a case that resulted in a record-setting jury verdict of $57.9 million, the highest-ever personal injury recovery in Riverside County. Darren is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, serves on the board of governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), and was a previous recipient of CAOC’s Trial Lawyer of the Year for the entire state of California.

Gregory G. Rizio ’91

Forbes Advisor named Gregory one of the ten best personal injury lawyers in Riverside, CA. Gregory brings over 30 years of litigation experience to his position as senior partner at Rizio Lipinsky, a personal injury and employment law firm serving clients throughout California. Forbes noted that Gregory has obtained record-breaking verdicts and recoveries for clients, including a verdict of $57.9 million in Riverside Superior Court. This recovery was the highest plaintiff’s verdict ever in Riverside County, the largest in California

and the tenth in the U.S. in 2014. He was also named by Forbes Advisor as a Top Ten Car Accident Lawyer in Riverside, CA.

1992

Ms. Angela J. Soldner, Esq. ’92

Angela joined Quanta Services, Inc. to serve as California regional counsel, providing legal counsel to multiple subsidiaries who perform public and private energy and fuel-related construction projects for clients such as utilities, airports, and government facilities throughout California and Hawaii. As part of the position, Angela serves as inhouse counsel to Underground Construction Co., Inc. Prior to this position, Angela was general counsel to Coffman Specialties, Inc., a San Diego family-owned general contracting company that specializes in heavy civil concrete paving projects such as highway and airport work – a position she held for over 17 years.

1994

Jerry V. Davino, II ’94

Jerry became managing partner at the new Connecticut office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, a Florida-based firm specializing in employer rights, workers’ compensation defense, subrogation rights, and general liability. Jerry is spearheading the development of the new office, bringing with him nearly 30 years of experience in workers’ compensation. Jerry was previously managing partner at Testan Law, a California-based firm, where he worked in civil litigation for over 18 years. In 2012, he received the prestigious designation of certified litigation management professional from the CLM’s Litigation Management Institute held at Columbia University Law School. Jerry is an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association and Workers’ Compensation Section.

Geraldine G. Ly, Esq. ’94

Forbes Advisor recognized Geraldine as one of 2023’s Top Ten Personal Injury Attorneys in Santa Ana, CA. Geraldine runs her own firm out of Orange County, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and

other civil matters, for which she has 30 years of experience. Forbes noted that Geraldine Ly has represented thousands of injured plaintiffs and has obtained numerous six-, seven-, and eight-figure judgments and settlements. Forbes said Geraldine also made the list because she is a sought-after speaker on legal matters for various media outlets, including KOCE’s Inside OC, KTLA’s Real Orange and The Doctors television show. Geraldine has been a Super Lawyer every year since 2016 and one of AVVO and Orange Coast Magazine’s Top Attorneys since 2015. She has served as the President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association since 2018 and is a Board member of Consumer Attorneys of California.

1995

Joshua W. Glotzer ’95

Joshua was named by Forbes Advisor as one of 2023’s Best Car Accident Lawyers in Anaheim. Joshua is a managing partner at Glotzer & Leib LLP, where he brings to bear nearly 30 years of experience in premises liability, wrongful death, and motor vehicle accident cases. As a leader, Joshua limits the number of clients the firm takes on in order to provide them with personalized attention. Consequently, he recently obtained a $1.6 million recovery for a client who had been involved in a car accident. Joshua is also a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice.

Randy S. Grossman ’95

Randy joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, bringing nearly three decades of experience in prosecution and private practice to the firm’s trial, white collar, and investigations practice. He is leading the firm’s new San Diego office, representing corporations and individuals in high-stakes government

and internal investigations, criminal and civil litigation, and corporate compliance counseling. Randy most recently served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, during which time he successfully prosecuted a wide variety of federal crimes committed throughout San Diego and Imperial counties and represented the United States in civil litigation. Prior to his service as a U.S. Attorney, Randy represented clients in private practice as lead counsel in a wide range of high-stakes government investigations and complex civil and white-collar litigation. Earlier in his career, he served as a deputy district attorney for the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. This fall, Randy was recognized with California Western’s Distinguished Alumni Award for his service to the community and achievement of excellence in the profession.

1997

Anne S.P. Bautista ’97

Anne was inducted into the prestigious San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame for her lifelong commitment to

advocacy, legal service, and academic contribution that benefits the community. The San Diego County WHOF recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of diverse women whose documented professional or volunteer history has made exceptional contributions to the San Diego region and beyond. Anne is currently the director of legal support and strategy at Casa Cornelia Law Center. She also serves as an adjunct professor at California Western, teaching Women and Immigration Law and the Immigration Seminar and Clinical Field Placement course: Helping Victims of Domestic Violence. Anne previously served as the Legal Program Director of Access, Inc., from 1998 to 2021, representing victims of domestic violence and sexual assault under the Violence Against Women Act and directing Access’s FIRE Women’s Leadership Program. Anne is also currently the past president of Silayan Filipina, a Filipina-American Women’s service organization dedicated to educational outreach and community service.

2000

Jason D. Mills ’00

Jason was elected to serve as president of the Nevada Justice Association (NJA) for the 2023-2024 term. In his role as president, Jason leads the NJA in its mission “to improve the civil justice system and ensure that the people of Nevada have undiminished access to the courts.” Jason currently serves as strategic development partner at the personal injury firm of GGRM, based in Las Vegas and serving clients throughout Nevada. He focuses his practice on workers’ compensation claims, having acted as lead counsel on several thousand such claims in his 20-plus years in practice. In 2018, the State Bar of Nevada selected Jason to serve as a co-founding member of the State Bar of Nevada Board of Workers’ Compensation Legal Specialization in order to create and administer a state bar certification and testing process for attorney specialization in the field of Nevada workers’ compensation law.

2002

Stacey A. Kartchner ’02

Stacey became president of the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) for 2024. The SDCBA is the region’s largest law-related organization. Stacey has over 20 years of experience in criminal law and extensive leadership experience throughout the San Diego legal community. Earlier this year, Stacey joined Klinedinst PC as senior counsel, representing individuals accused of criminal charges in both state and federal courts. She also represents material witnesses in federal court and grand jury proceedings, professionals in administrative and licensure hearings, and litigants involved in allegations of malpractice. Stacey also serves as chairperson of the San Diego Criminal Justice Memorial Committee and is past president of both the Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Club and the Criminal Defense Bar Association. This year, the San Diego Business Journal recognized Stacey as one of the county’s Women of Influencein Law. She was also named a Super Lawyer for the ninth year in a row.

2002

Christian M. Ham ’02

Christian was recognized by Forbes Advisor as one of 2023’s Top Ten DUI Attorneys in San Diego. Christian runs his own firm and has over 20 years of experience in federal and state criminal defense, having represented clients who faced kidnap for ransom charges, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to commit murder, as well as clients who faced extended sentences and prison without the possibility of parole. Christian has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2018, as one of The National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 40 Under 40, and by the San Diego Daily Transcript as one of the city’s “Top Attorneys in Criminal Law”. He is a member of the National Association of Trial Lawyers and of the San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association.

2004

Chauncey R. Hiestand ’04

Chauncey was named by Forbes Advisor as one of the Ten Best Truck Accident Lawyers in Louisville, KY for 2023. Chauncey brings over 20 years of civil litigation experience to his role as managing partner and the head of Trial and Litigation at Winton & Hiestand Law Group PLLC, where he serves clients in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. Among his recent trial victories, Forbes listed a wrongful death suit against a trucking company, for which Chauncey obtained over $2 million. He has previously been named a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers, recognized as a Premier 100 Civil Attorney by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers, and has been honored as a Super Lawyer for 2023 and 2024.

2005

Carree K. Nahama ’05

Carree was honored with Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD)’s 2023 Street Fighter Award. She earned the designation for her zealous advocacy on behalf of a 10-year-old boy with severe disabilities, who had his leg broken by his teacher. Carree tried the case twice, eventually recouping over $100,000 for the boy’s family. Caree is the CEO and principal attorney at Nahama Law, her San Diego-based firm specializing in personal injury law. She is also a CASD Board Member and co-chair of the CASD Women’s Caucus. In 2021, Carree was named one of San Diego Business Journal’s Women of Influence in Law.

2006

Amanda L. Cortese-Kolasz’ 06

Amanda Cortese-Kolasz was appointed county attorney for Oneida County, NY. She has been employed with Oneida County since 2011, having most recently served as commissioner of personnel. Previously, she served as deputy county attorneyadministration and as an assistant county attorney. She assumed her new position on January 17, 2024. Before joining the Oneida County Law Department, Amanda was in private practice in Oneida and Onondaga counties, working in matrimonial and family law. She is a member of the board of directors for the New York State Public Employer Labor Relations Association and is a member of the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association; the New York State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law and Local and State Government Law sections; the Oneida County Bar Association and the County Attorneys Association of the State of New York.

Charisma X. Howell ’06

Charisma recently returned to Georgetown as a visiting Associate Professor and Director of the Georgetown Street Law program, which provides professional development for law students while actively engaging with the D.C. community by teaching law to high school students. Professor Howell had previously served as a visiting professor and as co-director of the Street Law program. In her stint away from the program, Professor Howell was the deputy director and legal counsel of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in the District of Columbia, Executive Office of the Mayor. In this position, she collaborated with local juvenile and adult justice agencies to create policies at the intersections of justice and education to improve outcomes for citizens. While at California Western, Professor Howell participated in the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy’s Trial Skills Academy, being named Best Advocate, despite being the only student among 75 trial attorneys. She also interned at the California Innocence Project, helping to free the wrongfully incarcerated. She completed her degree in two and a half years.

Christine N. Waer ’06

Christine was named managing director of litigation for the Center for Family Representation in New York City. CFR’s mission is to defend the rights of parents and children targeted by systems of family regulation and incarceration.

2007

Emma D. Bennett-Williams ’07

Emma is chief of staff at Fort Valley State University (FVSU). As chief of staff, she provides leadership and operational oversight to the Office of the President in fulfilling the university’s mission and strategic priorities. Emma joined Fort Valley State university’s Office of Legal and Government Affairs in 2019, overseeing the University’s legal affairs and advising administration on

compliance issues. Before joining FVSU, Emma was an assistant city attorney in Columbia, South Carolina, as a staff attorney with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. Emma is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and serves on the NACUA Legal Resource Library Committee. She also holds the position of treasurer for the University System of Georgia’s Equity and Compliance Officers Association.

Samantha Cherot ’07

Samantha joined the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) as a managing attorney, helping to develop strategies for the Center’s advocacy, prevention, and intervention services on behalf of Alaska Native people. Born and raised in Alaska, Samantha previously served as an assistant public defender and as the State Public Defender from 2019-2023, overseeing 13 offices throughout the state and providing representation to indigent persons in various legal matters.

Deborah S. Dixon ’07

Deborah was given the San Diego County Bar Association’s 2024 Community Service Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to the needs of the community. Deborah is the founding partner of The Dixon Firm, focusing her practice on class and mass actions relating to defective products and fraud. Deborah also concentrates her practice on employee gender discrimination and harassment actions. She serves as the General Counsel for the Los Angeles Chargers, acting as the lead lawyer for the NFL team. Deborah is the current President of the San Diego County Bar Foundation, which raises money to provide grants to local nonprofits committed to providing legal services and civil rights information to underserved populations. She is also the President of the San Diego Inn of Court, organizing seminars and workshops to provide hands-on training and feedback to trial lawyers. Deborah is past president

of the Lawyers Club of San Diego and of CWSL’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has also taught at California Western, mentoring students in the Competitive Advocacy Program on advocacy and alternative dispute resolution.

Monica L. Montgomery Steppe ’07

Monica was sworn into the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, becoming the county’s first Black woman to serve on the Board. She will represent the Fourth Supervisorial District for the remainder of the current term, which ends in January 2027. Monica previously served on the San Diego City Council, representing over 160,000 San Diegans and was chair of the Budget and Government Efficiency Committee, overseeing the process for the City’s $5.2 billion dollar budget. She is also on the San Diego City-County Reinvestment Task Force, the board of MTS, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, and the San Diego Housing Authority. Before entering elected office, Monica worked in public service law. She worked at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties as a Criminal Justice Advocate and served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the City of San Diego with specific focus on the policy areas of criminal justice reform and public safety, neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, small business development, equal opportunity contracting, and youth services.

2010

Andrew B. Kleiner ’10

Andrew “Andy” Kleiner joined Husch Blackwell as a commercial litigation attorney. Husch Blackwell is a national firm offering legal counsel and litigation services in a variety of industries. Andy will serve as senior counsel out of the firm’s Phoenix, Arizona offices, with a focus on transportation, logistics, and employment defense law. Andy has over a decade of litigation experience, with previous postings as partner at Lewis

Brisbois and senior counsel at Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP. His clients include major freight carriers and brokers, as well as one of the country’s largest household goods movers. Andy advises clients on contracts, consumer protection and fraud, theft, and misappropriation of trade secrets, among much else. Earlier in his career, Andy worked as a mock trial team instructor in CWSL’s Competitive Advocacy Program, coaching students in local and national competitions.

2011

Heather Averick ’11

Heather was appointed as the director of Santa Monica’s newly established Housing and Human Services Department. In this role, Heather will facilitate the completion of the city’s Homelessness Strategic Plan and provide leadership on the city’s housing, education, and social services programs. Heather has more than 15 years of experience working in affordable housing and with underserved individuals. Prior to her appointment, she was the director of supportive housing for Affirmed Housing, a San Diego-based affordable housing developer. She was previously the executive director and staff attorney for Think Dignity, a nonprofit homeless advocacy group, and as executive director for Harvest of Hope Pantry, a food assistance nonprofit.

Nicholas R. Schechter ’11

Nicholas joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack as a member of the firm’s business litigation, health care law, and professional liability practice groups. Nicholas’s practice focuses on civil litigation in

state and federal courts with an emphasis on professional liability and health care law. He was previously an associate attorney at Belsky & Associates. Nicholas has served on the board of directors of San Diego Defense Lawyers, and he is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel as well as the San Diego County Bar Association.

2012

Ryan J. Vego ’12

Ryan became a founding partner of Glauber Berenson Vego, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in workers’ compensation. Ryan has worked exclusively in workers’ compensation since 2012, with previous public service experience in the San Diego District Attorney’s office. Ryan earned the Super Lawyers Rising Star Award from 2016 to 2017 and from 2020 through 2023. He is also a member of the Pro Bono Honors Society, which includes volunteering at the Marsa Open Center Refugee Camp in Europe, where he and the society work on behalf of displaced individuals.

2013

Elizabeth A. Harris ’13

Elizabeth was promoted partner at Epstein Becker Green, a national firm specializing in health care, life sciences, and workforce management solutions. Elizabeth focuses her practice on health care government investigations and litigation matters, providing assistance to health care clients undergoing inquiries, audits, or investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and other state and federal authorities. She also represents clients in litigation arising under the Medicare and Medicaid programs

and under the False Claims Act and assists clients in conducting internal reviews and investigations. Elizabeth was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America: “Ones to Watch” in health care law for 2023 and 2024. She is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and is vice chair of its Health Care Liability and Litigation Practice Group.

Edwin N. Schwartz ’13—Edwin was elevated to partner at Messner Reeves LLP, serving out of the firm’s Orange County offices. Edwin handles matters of business and commercial litigation, labor and employment law, product liability, and other civil litigation in California and federal courts. Edwin graduated Cum Laude from California Western, having received the Andrea L. Johnson Business Law Award in 2013 and the California Western Advanced Mediation Award in 2014. He was listed as a Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2018 to 2023.

Danielle E. Worthy ’13—Danielle was named by Forbes Advisor as one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Anaheim. She is currently a senior associate in the Liability Department at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP, where she handles labor/employment and tort liability matters, including discrimination and sexual harassment cases. Danielle is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association, the Consumer Attorneys of California, and the American Association for Justice. She has also been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2018.

2014

Emily Cunningham ’14

Emily became partner at the national litigation defense firm of Hawkins Parnell & Young, based in San Francisco. Emily has been an associate attorney at Hawkins Parnell since 2020. With experience in commercial litigation, employment law, and intellectual property, Emily defends manufacturers, retailers, and premises owners in product liability and toxic tort litigation throughout California. She was recognized for her commercial litigation skills in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers

in America. While at California Western, Emily was a National Moot Court team member and served as president of the Moot Court Honors Board. She was also a member of the Student Bar Association and the Pro Bono Honors Society. She was a judicial extern for the Honorable Richard D. Huffman at the California Court of Appeal and a law clerk with the California Attorney General’s office.

Dr. Laurie K. McNamara ’14

Laurie became partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a national firm specializing in technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises. With a PhD in biochemistry and drug discovery, Laurie focuses her practice on intellectual property law for clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. She provides strategic counseling for clients related to patent prosecution, diligence, freedom to operate, patentability, invalidity, and noninfringement analyses. Over the last ten years at Wilson Sonsini, Laurie has counseled clients in a variety of intellectual property areas, including antibodies, small molecule pharmaceuticals, proteomics, and CRISPR technologies.

Jacob T. Spaid ’14

Jacob was elevated to partner at Higgs Fletcher & Mack, where he specializes in business and tort litigation, helping clients resolve complex and class action disputes and issues. Jacob has successfully represented clients at all stages of litigation, including the California Court of Appeal and the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth, Second, and FIfth Circuits. He has been selected to the Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list each year since 2021 and as a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2017. Jacob was previously an honors instructor at CWSL, teaching Legal Skills I & II, Constitutional Law I, Torts II, and the International LLM program, and he provided personalized tutoring for small groups of students in need of additional academic assistance. Jacob is a former member of the

leadership development committee for the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and a member of the Louis M. Welsh American Inn of Court. He is also a published author, with articles published in the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation and in San Diego Lawyer Magazine.

Professor Liam Vavasour ’14

Professor Vavasour was named to the Association of American Law Schools’ 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll. The Honor Roll “acknowledges and highlights the pro bono work of individuals engaging in, expanding, and/or supporting their law school community in providing pro bono legal services.” Professor Vavasour is a legal writing professor at California Western as well as the director of the Clinical Externship Program. He is a regular volunteer attorney for the Community Law Project, providing pro bono service to the most vulnerable among our San Diego community. Prior to joining the CWSL faculty, Professor Vavasour was in private practice in San Diego as a civil litigator, represented diverse clients in a broad variety of cases, including employment disputes, personal injury, legal and medical malpractice, fraud, and more. While in practice, Professor Vavasour was an adjunct professor at California Western teaching a seminar on principles and practices of legal scholarship and served on California Western’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.

2020

Jessica E. Cavanaugh ’20

Jessica joined Antonyan Miranda, LLP as an associate attorney. She previously interned at the Family Law Facilitator’s Office, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, was a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Judge Battaglia, and also clerked in the domestic violence division of the Alliance for HOPE International. While at California Western, Jessica received an honors certificate in child, family, and elder law and two academic excellent awards in legal skills.

She was placed on the Dean’s Honor List, inducted into the Public Service Honors Society and the 50 Hours Pro Bono Honors Society, and received the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services.

2015

Kara A. Ritter Cole ’15

Kara was elevated to shareholder at Littler, a global labor and employment firm. Kara’s practice involves employment law counseling as well as litigation defense of public and private entities. She defends employers against claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract, and derivative or related claims at the federal, state and administrative levels. Kara was previously an associate attorney and partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP.

2021

Fernando Arias ’21

Fernando was admitted to the list of Assistant Counsels of the International Criminal Court, becoming the only Central American on the list. He received his LLM in oral litigation, ]which was taught entirely in Spanish.

Dakota L. Hickingbottom ’21

Dakota joined Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as an associate in the litigation department. While at California Western, Dakota was a member of the Women’s Law Caucus and an intern with the California Innocence Project. She served as the executive lead article editor for the California Western International Law Journal and as an associate editor for the California Western

Law Review. Dakota also served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, as an intern in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, and as a law clerk at Selman Breitman LLP.

Elizabeth Mireles ’21

Elizabeth Mireles joined Wood, Smith, Henning and Berman as an associate attorney in their Thousand Oaks office, handling all facets of complex civil litigation. Elizabeth’s legal experience includes serving as a housing justice fellow with the Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles and as a legal extern for the California State Division of Labor and Standards Enforcement. Earlier in her career, she was a judicial extern for U.S. Magistrate Judge Crawford of the Southern District of California, and she also served an internship with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office. While at California Western, Elizabeth was a part of the San Diego County Bar Association/Association of Corporate Council’s Diversity Fellowship Program and was a San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association scholarship recipient.

2023

Dorothy L. Grafilo ’23—Dorothy joined Garcia Hong Law APC as an associate attorney, handling general civil litigation matters, including breach of contract and personal injury. While at California Western, Dorothy was an intern with the Community Law Project and a law clerk with the Disability Rights of California. She was also on the senior board of the International Law Journal. Dorothy is currently a member of Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego, Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, and Women of Color in Law.

IN MEMORIAM

James B. Orton ’73

Peter A. Schey ’73

The Honorable James E. Herman ’75

Eleni Nikki Sakellar ’78

John W. Escott ’87

John M. Rielley ’88

Scott A. Kaufman ’94

Mark T. Gardner ’00

Mary L. Fickel ’02

Avraham Kalaf ’18