From the Dean

I write this in anticipation of the fall semester, which will be in full swing for over a month when this Transcript issue is delivered. We begin with much uncertainty.

Will our international students be able to get visas and do they still want to come to study in the United States? What will be the financial impact of the Trump administration on the resources of the University of California, the Berkeley campus, and the law school? What can UC Berkeley Law do to help uphold the rule of law and constitutional democracy?

Despite these challenges, it is very exciting to begin a new academic year at a truly consequential school with pioneering scholarship, a strong public mission, and a global reach reflected in the work our students do here and our alumni carry into the world. There is much that is wonderful happening at UC Berkeley Law.

I am delighted that we have seven new professors with us. The hiring of each is a result of a national search and all of our new faculty members will greatly enrich our school. They are truly stars in their fields. These new professors reflect a wide array of disciplines — civil rights law, constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, Indian law, race and the law, small business representation, and tax law. They are profiled in these pages.

Our entering students, in all of our programs, have superb credentials and bring a wealth of experiences. When I speak to them at orientation, I will explain that I think there never has been a more important time to go to law school and be part of our justice system. And our returning students are already engaged in countless projects that use law to make our community, our society, and our world better.

This issue of Transcript also profiles alumni engaged in compelling entertainment law work. We will continue to profile alumni across myriad practice areas in future issues of the magazine. As always, our alumni provide us essential support in every way, as evidenced by inspiring examples in the Advancement section highlighting their generosity and impact.

This is an unprecedented moment in American history. In numerous ways, UC Berkeley Law is on the frontlines working to protect democracy. We could not do this without the generous support of our alumni. On behalf of all of our students, staff, and faculty, thank you so very, very much!

Warmly,

Erwin Chemerinsky
Dean, Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law