Capitol Reception introduces first-year students to alumni

Students, alumni, faculty and staff gathered online on Thursday, Oct. 1 for Capitol Reception, an important annual networking event for first-year King Hall students.

In his opening remarks, Dean Kevin R. Johnson noted that Capitol Reception – now in its 27th year – usually involves a visit to Sacramento’s state Capitol building. But “the location is not what makes it memorable,” Johnson said. That comes from the kinships that arise from the event, between students and UC Davis Law alumni and friends.

Johnson noted that UC Davis Law’s dedicated alumni have been eager to help during the pandemic. They helped ensure King Hall students completed their externships last spring, hosted students as summer law firm associates, and contributed generously to the law school's student emergency fund.

“Our alumni want to help, and they are in a position to do so,” Johnson said, noting that King Hall produces leaders in many areas of law.

Johnson also praised the academically accomplished, exceptionally diverse class of 2023, before sending the attendees off to smaller online groups. In these virtual “rooms,” alumni recounted their own journeys to legal careers and fielded questions from 1Ls and LL.M. students about the best approaches to securing externships and summer jobs.