Photo Essay
Heartfelt Connection
“It felt like divine timing and was a full-circle validating experience for me,” says Neal, who like Thompson grew up in West Oakland and was a first-generation college student.
In 2017, at age 16, Neal completed Berkeley Law’s Center for Youth Development Through Law program. The annual eight-week summer program welcomes 25 to 30 area high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who immerse themselves in paid law-related internships and classes at the law school that integrate a pragmatic curriculum focused on critical thinking and communication skills. College advisors and financial aid experts are also brought in, and follow-up mentoring is provided.
Neal is now an alumni board member for the program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on Sept. 20 with California Supreme Court Justice Kelli Evans speaking at the reception.
“More than 92 percent of our participants have attended higher education,” says Nancy Schiff, who directs the center. “We are committed to fostering civic engagement and providing transformative opportunities to local first-generation youth like Khiari, so they can pursue their dreams of a law career and community leadership.”
Heartfelt Connection
“It felt like divine timing and was a full-circle validating experience for me,” says Neal, who like Thompson grew up in West Oakland and was a first-generation college student.
In 2017, at age 16, Neal completed Berkeley Law’s Center for Youth Development Through Law program. The annual eight-week summer program welcomes 25 to 30 area high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who immerse themselves in paid law-related internships and classes at the law school that integrate a pragmatic curriculum focused on critical thinking and communication skills. College advisors and financial aid experts are also brought in, and follow-up mentoring is provided.
Neal is now an alumni board member for the program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on Sept. 20 with California Supreme Court Justice Kelli Evans speaking at the reception.
“More than 92 percent of our participants have attended higher education,” says Nancy Schiff, who directs the center. “We are committed to fostering civic engagement and providing transformative opportunities to local first-generation youth like Khiari, so they can pursue their dreams of a law career and community leadership.”
A Winning Event
Balanced scoring, stellar defense, and boisterous support fueled a 53-43 victory for Berkeley Law, which overcame a 6-foot-10 opponent who played college basketball at Texas A&M and Stanford’s 32-9 edge in free-throw attempts.
Hannah Naylor ‘24 initially presented the idea after a friend had informed her about an annual fundraising game between law students from New York University and Columbia. She then successfully pitched it to leaders of the Student Association at Berkeley Law.
“I thought it would be amazing to bring a similar event to the Bay Area where two great law schools could convene annually for friendly competition and to raise money for public interest work at each school,” Naylor says.
Players, cheerleaders, and supporters celebrate Berkeley Law’s impressive performance.
Daniel deButts ’25 and Leila Nasrolahi ’24 display the team’s relentless defensive pressure.
Metyia Phillips ’26 and her cheer teammates performed a halftime routine to a mashup of songs by Travis Scott, GloRilla, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Civility Across the Political Divide
“Would I make any friends? Would I be shunned if I expressed conservative views? Would I be able to handle a submersion into an environment so different from the one in which I had lived my whole life?”
But Radosevic, who led Berkeley Law’s Federalist Society chapter as a 3L, says he could freely exchange ideas. Some students invited him to coffee or lunch so they could learn more about what he believed. Amid rampant talk that America is irretrievably polarized, he found tremendous satisfaction in those discussions.
“I never turned down an opportunity like that,” says Radosevic, now clerking for Stephen Clark, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. “My friends and I usually ended these conversations still in disagreement, but we also left with an increased level of understanding and respect for each other.”
Student Life
“I find designing tattoos and the actual process of getting tattooed to be extremely therapeutic, very cathartic, and joyous,” says Rodríguez, a studio art major in college who drew most of their other tattoos.
“Given the current global conflict and the continued rise of climate refugees, gaining a deeper understanding of how asylum works in international practice is critical,” says Grazyel-Ward, who wants to work in international human rights law. “I am very grateful to have this amazing opportunity.”
Student Life
“I find designing tattoos and the actual process of getting tattooed to be extremely therapeutic, very cathartic, and joyous,” says Rodríguez, a studio art major in college who drew most of their other tattoos.
“Given the current global conflict and the continued rise of climate refugees, gaining a deeper understanding of how asylum works in international practice is critical,” says Grazyel-Ward, who wants to work in international human rights law. “I am very grateful to have this amazing opportunity.”