California LAW Pathways Summit

Last week, I visited USC Gould School of Law for a California LAW Pathways Summit, reception, and dinner. I am on the Advisory Board for Pathways, a pipeline program designed to bring diverse community college students to college and law school. The festive reception had special guests Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Senator Richard Roth. (Bonta asked me how his friend Brett Burns, Senior Assistant Dean for Administration, was doing).

The Attorney General presented a Diversity Champion Award to retired Chief Justice of California Tani Cantil-Sakauye '84 for her career-long commitment to diversity. She gave a wonderful acceptance speech that referenced UC Davis School of Law.

I accepted a Diversity Champion Award for UC Davis School of Law, and several other law schools, for its decision to no longer provide information for the US News and World Report rankings. Our statement announcing the decision, which highlighted the need to combat systemic racism in U.S. society, was read by the award presenter as exemplifying the importance of the action. The Chief Justice later mentioned to me how proud she was of her alma mater.

The reception was followed by a dinner of the Leadership Advisory Council of California LAW Pathways. I convened the dinner of law deans from many California law schools, community college and university leaders, and California LAW Pathways staff and Advisory Board members. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye '84 and Justice Martin Jenkins were in attendance. I had the opportunity to thank the members of the Leadership Advisory Council for their support of the Pathways program and encouraged them to work with us in our efforts to diversify the legal profession. It was a wonderful dinner with a great group of people.

I am proud that UC Davis School of Law has a long commitment to changing the face of the legal profession.