April, 2012

Students and staff pose for a photo in front of the original Boalt Hall, 1914


Centennial logo


Celebrations abound - a graduation and a Centennial Year   

 

It's hard to believe, but another graduating class is already racing toward the finish line. The Class of 2012 is taking finals as we write this. Then they quickly turn their attention to the celebratory Commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 11 at the Hearst Greek Theater. California Attorney General Kamala Harris is the keynote speaker, and Eleanor Swift is the faculty speaker. [read more]

 

This year's commencement is extra special because it comes during a year packed with Centennial events, at Berkeley and around the country. On April 17, over 40 alumni, students and faculty joined California Supreme Court Justice Katherine Werdegar and Federal Judge Thelton Henderson at Boalt. Attendees enjoyed hearing the judges' recollections of their time at Boalt and esteemed careers, and afterward they launched the Partners in Leadership Program. [see pictures]  Meanwhile, dozens of alumni and admitted students joined together at receptions held in New York and Washington, D.C. [see pictures]  Additional stops are planned for San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle and Portland in May.

 

Other Centennial year events continue taking shape, including an exciting Political Roundtable. This thought-provoking evening, scheduled for September 21, brings together a stellar panel of guests to discuss the presidential election and the future of our country. Scheduled participants include former California Governor Pete Wilson '62, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and political commentator and Republican strategist Dan Schnur.

 

Dean Christopher Edley will moderate the discussion, which will review President Obama's first term in office and the coming election, with viewpoints from across the political spectrum. The elegant Herbst Theater in San Francisco is the venue for this evening, which kicks off All-Alumni Weekend and Reunions. The Political Roundtable is an example of Boalt's commitment to engaging the community in important conversations, particularly in this Centennial year.

 

Centennial events conclude with a grand Centennial Gala on November 9 at Pauley Ballroom on the Berkeley campus. Dinner, dancing and a few surprises will officially mark the launch of Boalt's second century.

 

Look for sponsorship opportunities and ticket information for Centennial events soon. We look forward to seeing you often this year!

 
Upcoming Events and Save the Dates 

  • May 1 �- Los Angeles Alumni and Admitted Student Centennial Reception
  • May 2 -San Francisco Alumni and Admitted Student Centennial Reception
  • May 3-6 -Kentucky Derby Trip led by Boalt Professor and California Horse Racing Commissioner Jesse Choper. [read more]
  • May 7 - Boston Centennial Reception featuring Videoconference with Dean Edley 
  • May 8 - Silicon Valley Alumni and Admitted Student Centennial Reception
  • May 11 - Law School Commencement at Hearst Greek Theatre 
  • May 21 - Seattle Centennial Reception featuring Videoconference with Dean Edley
  • May 22 - Portland Centennial Reception featuring Videoconference with Dean Edley
  • September 21 - Centennial Political Roundtable  
  • September 22 - Back-to-Boalt Day and Reunion Dinners 
  • November 9 - Centennial Gala     

 

All-Alumni Weekend and Reunion Update   
 
We continue planning the 2012 All-Alumni Weekend and Reunion Class Dinners, coming up on September 21-22. This promises to be the best Alumni Weekend yet! Friday evening will feature the Political Roundtable mentioned above, and Saturday offers a chance to catch up with classmates, attend topical panels for MCLE credit and enjoy lunch with the 2012 D. Lowell Jensen Awardee. If you are a member of a class ending in 2 or 7, your class dinner Saturday night caps a great weekend!

The Reunion 2012 Campaign kicks off in early-May. So far, over 140 alumni are committed to driving record levels of participation and giving in this centenary. National Co-Chairs Steve Arent '67, Ken King '87 and Matt Sonsini '92 are excited to join Centennial Co-Chairs Noel Nellis '66 and Art Shartsis '71 in engaging alumni from all classes in this special year.

 

Will you help drive participation by your classmates this Centennial Year?

 

Contact Joe Swimmer in the Alumni Center at 510.642.7574 or [email protected]
to join your class committee.

Boalt Through the Decades 

Boalt by Decade: 1930s 

Law school dean Orrin Kip McMurray was adamant in his rejection of a proposal to increase tuition for law students, telling Robert Gordon Sproul "some of the best students in our student body are wretchedly poor and belong to families who can give them no assistance." 

 

On October 29, 1929 the United States spiraled into the economic collapse now known as the Great Depression - and Boalt Hall began to rise in a period of unprecedented growth. [read more] 

 

Student Update
 

Boalt's Class of 2012 'Last Class' Celebration

 

The Class of 2012 Gift Campaign Co-Chairs, Brett Hammon, Adriana Mendoza and Shruti Chopra-along with the Boalt Hall Alumni Association and over 120 students joined to celebrate their last class at Boalt with a festive reception. [see pictures]  Many students made gifts to the class campaign at this event held on Boalt's beautiful new rooftop terrace. It is exciting to report that over 50% of the graduating class have committed financially to the Class Gift. The Co-Chairs will continue driving additional participation through June 30. Class gifts are matched 2:1 this year!    

 

Boalt's Mock Trial Team Advances to National Semifinals   

 

For the second straight year, a Boalt team won the Northwest regional championship of the American Association for Justice's national mock trial competition. At this regional round in Seattle, Berkeley Law's two teams bested their competitors and faced each other in the finals. At the national championship, held March 22-25 in Las Vegas, the team of Kevin Budner '12, Nikki Davenport '13, Jonah Lalas '12 and Emily Tienken '12 went on to win all nine judges' ballots in three preliminary rounds. [read more]

 

Grace Hsu '14 Takes Innovation Award at National Energy Event

   

It was a metaphor that helped Grace Hsu '14 win a Most Innovative Proposal award at the U.S. Department of Energy's recent  Better Buildings Case Competition. The contest challenged university students to create ways to improve energy efficiency in structures across the nation.  "I described a brick wall that Houston had to strategically knock down to spur energy-upgrade investments for its commercial buildings," Hsu said. "The bricks represented barriers. I urged the city to target some bricks, but argued that others were better left to federal or state government, utilities, or financial institutions." [read more]

 

Faculty Update
  

2011 Berkeley Law Authors Celebrated at Special Event

 

Berkeley Law scholars who published books in 2011 were honored at the law school's annual "Authors' Prandium." Professor Kenneth Bamberger made his debut as MC of the event, which for several years was hosted by fellow professor Robert Berring '74. The reception showcased the enormous breadth of topics covered by faculty members over the past year-celebrated in song. Bamberger persuaded audience members to sing along to "So We Toast Them," lyrics he molded to the Cole Porter tune, "Don't Fence Me In." Each author was feted in the song parody. [read more]

   

Centers / Institutes / and Clinics
 

Berkeley Center for Law , Business and the Economy hosts Annual Symposium

 

BCLBE's annual symposium, co-sponsored with the Berkeley Business Law Journal, on The Foreclosure Crisis: Challenges and Solutions to the Mortgage Meltdown produced a lively dialog. Finance, government, law and computer science experts brought their perspectives to the table and shared a great deal of information on approaches to address the devastating problem of the mortgage market meltdown and subsequent foreclosure crisis. Presentation material, full video-recordings, and background information on the discussed topics, are available here.

 

Berkeley Center for Law and Technology's Orphan Work Symposium Offers Timely Review of Evolving Copyright Topic


BCLT speakers and presentations addressed the challenges around 'orphan works' and online access at a recent well-attended conference held at Oakland's Claremont Hotel. See articles, videos and postings from this important recent BCLT conference on copyright reform here.

Berkeley Law's Henderson Center for Social Justice Focuses on Violence Against African American Women


While the personal anecdotes are harrowing, it was data compelling Berkeley Law's Henderson Center for Social Justice to confront the rising violence against African-American girls and women. According to a recent study, 60 percent have been sexually assaulted by age 18, and they are 35 percent more likely to be victimized than their white counterparts.  [read more]

Announcing Select Upcoming Center Events


Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy: Business Law Certificate Ceremony - Boalt Hall, Warren Room. May 9, 3:30pm to 5:00pm
- Recognizing the 2012 recipients of the Business Law Certificates. [read more]

 

Berkeley Center for Law, Energy and the Environment Conference on the Future of Infill: How CEQA Reform and the End of Redevelopment Will Affect Sustainable Development in

California - The Temple Ballroom, Capitol Plaza Ballrooms, Sacramento , May 17 [read more]  

  

For Other Center and Clinic Events Please Visit: www.law.berkeley.edu 

 

Ask the Archivist 
Suing for the Pious  

 

Q.        O.K., so I'm sitting in the reading room trying to study and this huge painting of an old dude is staring down at me. I'm assuming this is Garrett McEnerney, the guy the library is named for. Was he a famous alum? Professor?

                                                                                                T.S., Berkeley

 

A.        Garret W. McEnerney had no direct connection to Boalt Hall, but he was a very big personality in the San Francisco legal community, perhaps best known for arguing the first case ever submitted to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague - an effort to recover money from the wonderfully-named Pious Fund for the Californias. [read more]

 
Alumni Updates / ClassNotes

Rosalyn Chapman '67 Elected to UN's Appeals Tribunal

 

Since retiring from the federal bench, Rosalyn Chapman '67 has a new career as an international jurist. Recently she was elected by the United Nations General Assembly to the UN's Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) for a term starting July 1, 2012. The UNAT, comprising seven international jurists, reviews appeals from decisions of the Dispute Tribunal, which hears employment-related cases affecting UN employees. She is honored to be part of the UNAT, which hears appeals in New York City, Geneva and Nairobi. 

  

Constance de la Vega '78 Addresses Extreme Sentencing in UN High Commissioner Panel

  

Constance de la Vega '78 participated on a panel before the UN Human Rights Council. She spoke on extreme sentencing for children, which includes the death penalty, life without parole and corporal punishment. Other panelists included the UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay, representatives of other UN agencies, professors from Europe and Africa, and a former child offender. De la Vega credits Professor Frank Newman who opened the doors to the UN for her while at Boalt.

 

Paul Marchegiani '03 Promoted to Director of Business Affairs at NBC Universal     

 

Paul Marchegiani '03 was recently promoted to Director, Business Affairs from Senior Counsel, Legal Affairs at NBC Universal located in Los Angeles, CA. In his new role, Paul negotiates talent and production deals for the Bravo, Oxygen, and Style television networks. "I work closely with studio and network executives to structure and close deals with talent and production companies, managing risk and maintaining industry relationships at every step."

 

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Making a meaningful gift - large or small - in honor of a reunion, funding student scholarships, supporting faculty or programs or in recognition of the Centennial is only a click away. Use the button below to make an online gift or send your gift to: 

 

Boalt Hall Alumni Center

UC Berkeley School of Law

2850 telegraph Avenue, Suite 500

Berkeley, CA 94705-7220