March 2022
Environmental Law Program No. 1
UCLA Law's Environmental Law program, led by the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, is No. 1 in the U.S. News & World Report rankings released on March 29, tied with Pace Law School and Berkeley Law as the best in the nation. The specialty rankings reflect ratings by academics at peer law schools. In total, nine UCLA Law specializations saw their rankings rise, including five that placed among the top ten of all law schools: in addition to Environmental Law, those include Business and Corporate Law, Criminal Law, Tax Law, and Trial Advocacy. While U.S. News rankings should be taken with a large grain of salt, we also appreciated that our overall “peer assessment” score increased, continuing a multi-year trend. UCLA Law was ranked No. 15 in the country.
Entertainment Law Program No. 1, Again
The Hollywood Reporter's annual listing of top lawyers and law schools has once again named UCLA School of Law as the country's top entertainment law school, singling out the Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law for its excellence and innovation. UCLA Law has held the top spot for eight of the last nine years. "With a legion of alumni across Hollywood, UCLA boasts a roster of professors renowned for their expertise and connections," writes the magazine. "Every major entertainment topic offered through (the Ziffren Institute) is taught by a leader in that field." In addition, the special annual issue recognized 22 UCLA Law alumni as "Top 100 Power Lawyers" and "Legal Legends," including a member of last year's inaugural class of Legends, Ken Ziffren '65.
Explore the full issue.
Dorothy Wolpert's "Uncommon Decency"
When Dorothy Wolpert ’76 entered UCLA Law, she wasn’t the typical new student. Nearing 40, she had just celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary and she was the mother of 10- and 13-year-old boys. But it wasn’t those differences that made her stand out. It was her wit, intelligence, and passion. With those qualities, and her husband Stanley—a successful UCLA history professor —at her side, she forged a career in law of uncommon decency and service. As the co-founder of the firm Bird Marella, and President of the Board of the Inner City Law Center, Wolpert has worked on some of the highest profile public interest cases of the past twenty years, including the El Monte Thai Worker Slavery Case. She'll honored by UCLA Law for her incredible achievements in public interest on April 13.
Horwitz: Why Nonprofit Hospitals
Can't Fix The Health Care Crisis
New scholarship from Jill Horwitz, the David Sanders Professor in Law and Medicine, was a lead feature in the journal Health Affairs this month. The new article, "Hospital Service Offerings Still Differ Substantially By Ownership Type," is an update of research Horwitz began fifteen years ago on the medical services provided by nonprofit hospitals compared to similar for-profit hospitals, and the potential effects of these outcomes for patients and the public purse. The work was also the subject of Horwitz's appearance on the "A Health Podyssey" podcast and her guest essay in the Health Affairs Today newsletter, "Why Nonprofit Hospitals Can't Fix the Health Care Crisis."
Gómez Named to New Smithsonian Board
Professor Laura E. Gómez has been named to the scholarly advisory committee of the new Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. “Latinos are one-fifth of the nation’s population, but we remain under-studied and under-covered at institutions such as the Smithsonian, so I am excited to contribute my expertise and passion on Latinx equality and history,” says Gómez. She is one of three UCLA faculty appointed to the advisory committee, and will serve alongside 17 esteemed academics from institutions across the country. UCLA is the only institution with more than one scholar serving on the committee.
Agua Caliente Gift Establishes
Fellowship in Native Nations Law Center
UCLA School of Law and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have announced the establishment of a new post-graduate fellowship for a scholar to work within the law school’s Native Nations Law and Policy Center. The Richard M. Milanovich Fellowship in Law will allow this scholar to lead research projects and teach in the Tribal Legal Development Clinic. “This is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen the pipeline for future Native scholars,” says Lauren van Schilfgaarde, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Director of the Tribal Legal Development Clinic.
Celebrating Hon. John A. Arguelles '54
With a Special Event and a Scholarship
The law school community, in partnership with the National Hispanic Bar Association and the Latinx Law Student Association, hosted a special event on March 22 celebrating the career of the Hon. John A. Arguelles '54, UCLA Law's first alumnus to serve on the California Supreme Court. Guests were treated to a special interview with Judge Arguelles, who offered insights and anecdotes about the history he had witnessed from the bench—and had helped to make. A highlight of the event was the announcement of the new California Supreme Court Justice John A. Arguelles Scholarship, which will be offered to incoming students who will become leaders in the Latino Community at UCLA Law.
Student Spotlight: Terry Allen '23
This month, we spoke to Terry Allen '23, the new editor-in-chief of the UCLA Law Review. Allen is pursuing a specialization in Critical Race Studies (CRS) and is a recipient of CRS’s Erika J. Glazer Scholarship, which supports first-year law students who are dedicated to achieving equity for Los Angeles’ Black communities. The San Francisco native and father of two is already an experienced student, having earned both a master's degree and PhD before enrolling in law school. His love of the classroom is evident not just in his résumé but in his enthusiasm and joy when the topic gets mentioned.
Alumni Spotlight: Michelle Banks '88
Every month, we talk to our amazing alumni to hear what they do, how they make a difference, and what their UCLA Law experience means to them. This Women's History Month, we feature Michelle Banks ’88, a Senior Advisor at BarkerGilmore, where she specializes in executive leadership coaching for women general counsel. Mentorship has been a constant in Banks’ career and has informed her close connection to UCLA Law for nearly a decade as co-founder and co-chair of UCLA Law Women LEAD and as a member of the advisory board for the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law & Policy. "The legal profession will be more effective when more people are included and treated equitably at every level," says Banks. "And, yes, I'm optimistic!"
- Dean Kitchens ‘78 is appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
- Fred Slaughter ‘99 is confirmed to the US District Court for the Central District of California.
- Ruth Bermudez Montenegro ’92 is confirmed by the US Senate as a US District Court judge.
- Adrianne Marshack '07 is appointed as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court.
- Moises Ceja ’09 is confirmed by the Oregon Senate to serve as a Board Member of the Oregon Workers' Compensation Board.
- Tim Shimizu ’12 is promoted to Assistant City Attorney for the City of Palo Alto.
- Nick Warshaw ’16 works for former California Governor Gray Davis at Loeb and Loeb LLP.
- Louis Gutierrez '84 is promoted to Chief Human Capital and Equity Officer at Los Angeles World Airports.
- James Baca ’83 becomes Managing Partner at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR).
- Katy Alimohammadi Crown ’15 is promoted to partner at Donaldson Callif Perez.
- Scott Timpe ’11 joins Sheppard Mullin as a partner.
- Abby Meyer ’13 is promoted to partner at Sheppard Mullin.
- Ryan Krueger ’13 is promoted to partner at Sheppard Mullin.
- Linda Igarashi ’12 is promoted to partner at Sheppard Mullin.
- Harsh Parikh ’11 is promoted to partner at Nixon Peabody.
- Sarah Abeson ’20 joins Barnes & Thornburg in their Los Angeles office as an associate.
- Angela Reid ’18 joins Gibson Dunn & Crutcher as a commercial and employment litigation associate.
- Cyrus Moshiri ’16 joins Fisher Phillips as an associate.
- Brad Greenberg ’12 joins the National Public Radio's (NPR) policy team as legislative counsel.
- Janai S. Nelson ‘96 is named the eighth President and Director-Counsel of The NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s (LDF.)
- Lolita Buckner Inniss ’86 is appointed as Dean of Law at the University of Colorado Law School Boulder.
- Greg Zipes ‘91 publishes the book “Justice and Faith: The Frank Murphy Story.”
- Josh Escovedo ’12 is named the number one ranked Trademark author in the 2022 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards.
- Alyson Tocicki ’20 writes a piece in The National Law Review entitled “Supreme Court Excuses Inadvertent Legal Errors in Copyright Applications.”
- Jim Spitser ’64 is featured in an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune about his March Madness memories.
- Almuhtada Smith '08 is featured in an article in Ebony entitled "6 Tips for Black Entrepreneurs Looking for Startup Funding."
- Wilma Pinder ’76 is honored with the Kilgore Service Award by the USC Black Alumni Association.
Visit our alumni website to read the latest news and submit your update.
April 2: Honoring the Legacy of the Hon. Cruz Reynoso
The Chicanx-Latinx Law Review celebrates its 50th anniversary by honoring the legacy of California's first Latino Supreme Court justice, former UCLA Law faculty member Cruz Reynoso.
April 8: Williams Institute Gala: The Annual Update
The Annual Update is the Williams Institute’s signature event held each spring in Los Angeles. The 2022 Annual Update will feature a Gala Awards Reception followed by the Founders Dinner. Join us in the Shapiro Courtyard at 6 p.m.!
April 13: U. Serve L.A.: Spotlight on Public Service
Join us as we celebrate and recognize law school students and alumni who have made outstanding pro bono, public interest, and public service contributions in the past year and over their careers.
April 24: BLSA Lunch and Fundraiser
The Black Law Students Association is hosting its 51st annual Solidarity Gala, with special guests and an auction to raise money for the organization's endowed scholarship supporting student success at UCLA Law.
April 27: "Speaking Across Differences" with Mónica Guzmán
Dean Jennifer Mnookin in conversation with the author of I Never Thought of it That Way, the bestselling book on building bridges in divided times. Part of our new "Speaking Across Differences" series.
April 28: APABA Panel Discussion
Jerry Kang moderates "Los Angeles Uprisings, 1992 Until Now: Each "Other," Together, Forward." MCLE is available for this Zoom event presented by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association and co-sponsored by UCLA Law.
May 13: UCLA Law Commencement
UCLA Law's 71st Commencement will be held in-person at Dickson Court North on Friday, May 13, at 3:30 p.m. The commencement speaker is Janai Nelson '96, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
June 8, 15 & 22: 46th Annual UCLA Entertainment Symposium
The Ziffren Institute is pleased to announce this year's symposium. Featuring a who's who of industry experts discussing the most important topics for 2022 and beyond, including NFTs and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
October 14-16: Reunion 2022!
UCLA Law's in-person reunion festivities are back! We can't wait to honor our classes and celebrate our alumni. For information on how to get involved now, email Harlisha Hamm in our External Affairs office:
hamm@law.ucla.edu.
Join Us for These Events!
Terrific events are always happening at UCLA Law. You are invited!
April 1 — To sanction or not to sanction the Internet access: A SancNet debate
April 1 — Herbert Morris Lecture in Law and Philosophy Featuring Lawrence Sager
April 2 — Remembering Cruz Reynoso
April 6 — Branches of the Same Vine: LGBTQ Rights, Reproductive Rights, and Critical Race Theory
April 7 — "100 Years from Mississippi" Film Screening & Discussion
April 8 — Williams Institute Gala
April 13 — U. Serve L.A. 2022
April 14 — JOLT's Special Issue Symposium on Governing the Digital Space
April 21 — Student Application: Forum on Viewpoint Diversity in Tech and Innovation
April 24 — BLSA Lunch and Fundraiser
April 28 — APABA Panel Discussion
June 8, 15, and 22 — UCLA Entertainment Symposium
September 30 — UCLA Law Women LEAD Summit 2022
Visit the UCLA Law events page for more events and information.
OP-EDS AND ESSAYS Ingrid Eagly in the San Francisco Chronicle, "How California is Failing to Meet Its Constitutional Obligation." Alicia Virani in the Los Angeles Times on pre-trial electronic monitoring. Kate Mackintosh for Bloomberg Law on Ecocide. Steven Bank for ESPN on the USWNT equal pay settlement. Victor Narro in Generations on the benefits of union membership for aging populations. COMMENTARY Jennifer Mnookin on Bloomberg's Quicktake, discussing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Eugene Volokh is cited by Charleston Post & Courier in Editorial on Putin, Democracy, and Ukraine. Jon Michaels speaks to June Grasso for Bloomberg Law on the SCOTUS confirmation hearings. Cara Horwitz in KPCC and in LAist discussing California's regulation of car emissions. Kate Mackintosh talks to Bloomberg Law about potential war crimes in Ukraine. Eugene Volokh quoted in Boston Globe on lawn signs and free speech. Julia Stein speaks with the Los Angeles Times on the new EPA draft rule. Cara Horowitz talks to Nature about West Virginia v. EPA.
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