STUDENTS :: COMMENCEMENT 2016
UCLA LAW CELEBRATES 65TH COMMENCEMENT UCLA Law marked its 65th commencement by graduating more than 450 jubilant students on May 13th, 2016. A crowd of enthusiastic and supportive teachers, family members and friends gathered in Dickson Court North to celebrate the newly minted lawyers’ momentous achievement. Dean Jennifer L. Mnookin congratulated the Class of 2016 and reminded its members of the responsibility their degrees conferred. “As lawyers, you must recognize your potential to contribute to the greater good and your obligation to uphold justice,” she said. “Every year, we welcome students filled with a desire to make a difference. And every year, we graduate a class with the knowledge and skills to do so. As graduates of one of the greatest law schools in the country, you are on your way to becoming leaders of our profession and of our nation.” Joining the festivities was Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court Goodwin Liu, who gave the commencement address. Liu’s remarks drew on his personal experiences as a child of immigrants and in the field of law to encourage graduates to take risks despite fear of failure. Separate from his commencement address, Justice Liu has agreed to hire Giovanni Saarman ’16, the justice’s first clerk from UCLA Law.
UC Regent John Pérez, former speaker of the California Assembly, also addressed the graduates, as did Professor Pavel Wonsowicz, selected by the graduates as Professor of the Year. Dean Mnookin asked the graduates to reflect on the moment when they first were admitted to UCLA Law. They were part of an applicant pool of more than 5,500 people seeking one of only 293 seats in the first-year class. They were later joined by 44 transfer students and 148 lawyers from 31 different countries who were enrolled in the school’s selective LL.M. program. “You are truly on your way to being leaders,” the dean said. “As you enter the practice of law, regardless of whether you represent indigent mothers or wealthy CEOs, it will be up to you to put the knowledge you have gained here into practice. Use your expertise … to harness the transformative power of law. Use your talents to advance the common good. We have given you the tools to do this.”
FALL 2016 | UCLA LAW MAGAZINE 59