Igasaki '79 Speaks at Public Service Graduation
Paul Igasaki '79 will speak at the Public Service Law Program graduation on Thursday, April 26, 2007, between 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the UC Davis School of Law Wilkins Moot Courtroom.
Igasaki is the deputy chief executive officer of Equal Justice Works (formerly the National Association for Public Interest Law), which was founded in 1986 by law students dedicated to working for equal justice on behalf of underserved communities and causes. Today, Equal Justice Works is the national leader in creating summer and postgraduate public interest opportunities for law students and lawyers, as well as in urging more public interest programming at law schools.
"My years in civil rights have taught me that the struggle for justice is unending and we must be in the fight for the long haul," Igasaki says. "Nothing is more important than developing new leadership to carry the fight forward."
Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, Igasaki was the executive director of the Rights Working Group, a nationwide coalition of groups and individuals committed to ensuring liberty and justice for all. He also served for eight years as vice chair and acting chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an appointee of President Bill Clinton. In addition, he served as executive director of the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, the first civil rights legal organization for the Asian Pacific American community. He helped found the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, D.C., the Chicago Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
The UC Davis School of Law Public Service Law Program is an academic certification program developed for students seeking public service careers. Enrollment in the Program demonstrates to employers a commitment to serving the public. Certificate requirements include academic and experiential components. Program candidates must complete a minimum of 175 hours of legal work in public interest organizations, government agencies, and courts. The experiential component of the program provides students the opportunity to make important contacts with public service attorneys. In addition to assisting public service organizations meet their needs, volunteering offers students opportunities to interact with attorneys and gain practical legal work experience.
Public Service Law Program
Igasaki is the deputy chief executive officer of Equal Justice Works (formerly the National Association for Public Interest Law), which was founded in 1986 by law students dedicated to working for equal justice on behalf of underserved communities and causes. Today, Equal Justice Works is the national leader in creating summer and postgraduate public interest opportunities for law students and lawyers, as well as in urging more public interest programming at law schools.
"My years in civil rights have taught me that the struggle for justice is unending and we must be in the fight for the long haul," Igasaki says. "Nothing is more important than developing new leadership to carry the fight forward."
Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, Igasaki was the executive director of the Rights Working Group, a nationwide coalition of groups and individuals committed to ensuring liberty and justice for all. He also served for eight years as vice chair and acting chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an appointee of President Bill Clinton. In addition, he served as executive director of the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, the first civil rights legal organization for the Asian Pacific American community. He helped found the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, D.C., the Chicago Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
The UC Davis School of Law Public Service Law Program is an academic certification program developed for students seeking public service careers. Enrollment in the Program demonstrates to employers a commitment to serving the public. Certificate requirements include academic and experiential components. Program candidates must complete a minimum of 175 hours of legal work in public interest organizations, government agencies, and courts. The experiential component of the program provides students the opportunity to make important contacts with public service attorneys. In addition to assisting public service organizations meet their needs, volunteering offers students opportunities to interact with attorneys and gain practical legal work experience.
Public Service Law Program