UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic and Lecturer Amagda Pérez Honored by California State Assembly

The UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic and its former Director and Supervising Attorney Amagda Pérez were honored on the floor of the California State Assembly. King Hall alumnus and Assemblymember Luis Alejo '01 presented resolutions honoring the clinic and Pérez during a ceremony on March 31, 2016, in remembrance of labor leader and civil rights activist César Chávez. In attendance to receive the resolutions were Dean Kevin R. Johnson, Pérez, and clinic attorneys Holly Cooper and Rachel Ray.

Assemblymember Alejo paid tribute to Pérez, who is now Executive Director of California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. "Ms. Pérez has played an important in delivering justice to our state's indigent rural communities," said Alejo. "She has taught a wide array of seminars on immigration-related topics, and is an expert on naturalization and family-based immigration. As a supervising attorney at the Clinic, her mentorship and training have developed law students into practice-ready attorneys-and many of them pursue public interest careers upon graduation."

Assemblymember Roger Hernández spoke in tribute of the Immigration Law Clinic at UC Davis School of Law. "The Clinic was one of the first of its kind in the United States. It provides legal services without charge to indigent persons, particularly client groups that have traditionally lacked significant legal representation," said Hernández. "The Clinic helps to develop law students into first-rate lawyers who will serve the profession for decades. Given its proximity to the Central Valley, the Clinic is in a unique position to serve the state's large community of immigrants."

The UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic was founded in 1982 under the direction of Professor Emeritus James F. Smith. Clinic students, under the direction of staff attorneys at the top of their fields, work with actual clients on challenging cases that deal with cutting-edge legal issues, providing them with real-world experience as they perform a vital community service. Over the years, the Clinic has worked with clients from all over the world, representing more than 700 people in court and helping more than 37,000 individuals apply for U.S. citizenship, in addition to making immigration law presentations to more than 40,000. 

"Public interest law has long been a hallmark of UC Davis School of Law," said Dean Johnson. "Our clinical programs allow students to gain real-world practical experience while working with real people on real problems, improving lives. I wish to thank the California State Assembly and Assemblymember Alejo for their recognition of the attorneys, staff, and students of the Immigration Law Clinic."