Celebrating the LL.M. and Public Service graduates

The last day of class was a day of celebration at King Hall as the 2019/20 academic year comes to an end, pandemic or no pandemic. All students and faculty celebrated the end of classes, which have been taught remotely for more than a month. There were two formal celebrations of our new graduates.

The law school held a virtual commencement celebration for the LL.M. Class of 2020. It was a wonderful opportunity to honor the incredible students from around the world who have spent a year of studies at UC Davis School of Law. There were 69 participants in the commencement, including students participating virtually in other states, as well as in China and Saudi Arabia. Two fathers of graduates in Saudi Arabia joined the celebration with words of congratulations.

I enjoyed the opportunity to offer some remarks about the amazing achievements of the LL.M. students as well as their resilience during a year that saw many challenges. Senior Associate Dean Afra Afsharipour, John D. Ayer Professor of Law Bill Dodge and others offered remarks as well.

That evening, the School of Law held its annual Public Service Graduation, recognizing students from the Class of 2020 who spent many hours helping people in need. The Class of 2020, in earning Public Service Certificates, devoted more than 20,000 hours to public service. King Hall students helped protect immigrants, assisted workers, students, and domestic abuse survivors, helped trans and gender-nonconforming people, advised the disabled, and much more. I congratulated the students for their many achievements and stated that they were the future of the legal profession. The law school has commissioned a plaque in honor of the Class of 2020's public service work. A dedication ceremony will be held when we can get together in person, and the plaque will be displayed prominently in King Hall.

Aoki Center for Critical Race and Nation Studies Director Mary Louise Frampton spoke about the many challenges for the poor and oppressed in U.S. society, and how the law can help bring forth social change.

The Public Service Graduates and other honorees were recognized. The Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award was given to Evan Reid, a graduate of Morehouse College who seeks to address racial and other disparities in the criminal justice system. After graduation, Reid will continue his passion for capital habeas representation as a 2020 Equal Justice Initiative fellow.

The program is here.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! And thanks to Career Services Associate Directors Alec Nocco and Sofia Parino, and the entire Public Service Committee for organizing the Public Service Graduation.