FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: PROFESSOR HADAR AVIRAM

Professor Hadar Aviram models the value of service. Prof. Aviram completes hundreds of hours of pro bono each year, on top of her publishing and teaching responsibilities.

She specializes in criminal justice, civil rights, law and politics, and social movements. She is one of the leading voices advocating against mass incarceration and for other carceral reforms. She has recently defended animal rescuers in court and successfully sued San Quentin to protect and release incarcerated people during COVID-19.

"DOING PRO-BONO WORK IN LAW SCHOOL HAS REAFFIRMED WHY I'M HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE -- TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF LEGAL AID AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED OF THEM."

Sofia Maristela, Class of 2024

"MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE CENTER FOR GENDER AND REFUGEE STUDIES, HASTINGSTO-HAITI PARTNERSHIP, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT CLINIC, AND THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD HAVE ALLOWED ME TO SERVE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES WHILE HONING THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US AS BUDDING LAWYERS TO RELENTLESSLY FIGHT WITH AND FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED AMONG US IF WE ARE TO MAKE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MOCKERY OF NOTIONS LIKE JUSTICE."

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"PRO BONO WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO CRIMINALLY UNDERSERVED, MARGINALIZED, POPULATIONS. WITHOUT PRO BONO WORK, THE LEGAL PROFESSION RISKS THE FURTHER PERPETUATION OF WEALTH, RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND DISABILITY INEQUALITY."

Katie Cox, Class of 2024

"[THE LEGAL AID AND REFERRAL CLINIC] PROVID[ED] ME WITH INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE WITH REAL FACE-TO-FACE CLIENT CONTACT. IT ALSO EXPOSED ME TO NEW PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES."

Bob Chan, Class of 2024

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