UC Law San Francisco

06/20/2025

1L student Alyssa Martindale prepared name-change petitions for clients and helped them navigate a change in state law during Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in East St. Louis, Illinois.

“I aspire to work for the State of California in a role related to health law. This experience reminded me that a benefit or right must be made accessible in order to be meaningful,” she said. “I aim to integrate this lesson into my career.”

Read more: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2025/06/11/1l-alyssa-martindale-helps-close-gap-in-access-to-justice-by-assisting-clients-with-name-change-petitions/

06/18/2025

Congratulations to Professors Dave Owen, Reuel Schiller, and Jodi Short on their promotion to the rank of Distinguished Professors at UC Law San Francisco!

This title is reserved for faculty whose careers reflect sustained scholarly excellence, national and international recognition, and a significant impact on their fields. Only seven UC Law SF faculty currently hold this honor.

This distinction recognizes far more than seniority or publication count; it honors those whose work has reshaped legal thought, inspired generations of students, and exemplified the highest standards of service to the academic and broader community.

Owen is a leading voice in environmental and water law. His scholarship explores the intersection of law, science, and environmental policy, often focusing on complex regulatory frameworks such as the Clean Water Act. A gifted teacher and prolific scholar, Owen's work is frequently cited by courts and policymakers, and he is widely recognized for his ability to translate intricate legal regimes into meaningful and actionable analysis.

Schiller is a renowned legal historian whose work focuses on the intersection of administrative law, labor law, and civil rights. His research examines how law shapes — and is shaped by — social and political movements, with particular attention to mid-20th century America. Through both scholarship and teaching, Schiller has made enduring contributions to our understanding of the legal system’s role in shaping modern governance and labor relations.

Jodi Short is a nationally respected scholar of constitutional law, administrative law, and compliance and risk management for attorneys. Her research investigates how institutions and private actors influence the effectiveness and legitimacy of regulation. Short brings interdisciplinary rigor to her work, often drawing on empirical methods to deepen legal insights. In the classroom, she is equally revered — her Constitutional Law I course is a student favorite and is consistently praised for its dynamic engagement with foundational constitutional questions.

Read more: uclawsf.edu/2025/06/16/three-uc-law-sf-professors-elevated-to-distinguished-faculty/

06/17/2025

In a spring break pro bono project, Alysha Shahrukh LLM ’25 practiced and sharpened critical legal skills that will serve her well as she pursues her interest in law and public policy.

“This experience was meaningful to me because it aligned closely with my interests in law, public policy, and community engagement. Working within an environment dedicated to systemic change strengthened my determination to advocate for equitable educational opportunities, particularly for underserved communities,” she said.

Read more: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2025/06/11/alysha-shahrukh-llm-25-uses-legal-skills-to-drive-policy-change-and-expand-educational-opportunities/

06/16/2025

Prof. Kate Weisburd discusses the limitations, both practical and societal, of relying on GPS ankle monitors for youths in a long-form piece on teens in the Washington Post. Her research focuses on technology and the changing dimensions of criminal procedure and punishment and how these shifts impact inequity and privacy.

D.C. juvenile courts lost track of teens wearing GPS ankle monitors at critical moments, as they have committed or fallen victim to crime.

06/12/2025

UC Law SF ranks among the top 20 law schools nationwide for producing professors hired into tenure-track positions at law schools across the country. The placement highlights UC Law SF’s impact on legal education and its reputation for academic excellence.
https://www.uclawsf.edu/2025/06/12/uc-law-sf-ranks-no-18-for-law-schools-launching-legal-scholars/

06/11/2025

This could be your home, your classroom, and your community. Live in the heart of San Francisco and apply at academe198sf.com

06/11/2025

Mariam Ghvamichava LLM ’25 worked with immigrant rights organization Al Otro Lado for Alternative Spring Break (ASB), helping vulnerable individuals in Tijuana, Mexico, and supporting asylum seekers’ access to the legal system.

“My ASB trip was intense, emotional, and at times overwhelming, but it reinforced why I came to law school—to use my legal knowledge to make a difference in people’s lives—and reaffirmed my dedication to making legal protections more accessible to those in need,” she said.

Read more: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2025/06/11/mariam-ghvamichava-llm-25-supports-asylum-seekers-and-expands-international-advocacy-skills/

06/11/2025

While HHS Sec. RFK Jr.’s removal of all members of a key CDC vaccine committee is legal, it raises questions of safety, conflict of interest, and politics, UC Law SF Prof. Dorit Reiss tells The Washington Post. “This will not restore trust in vaccines, and is not designed to do so,” she says.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/06/09/rfk-ousts-vaccine-advisory-committee-acip/

Kennedy said the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group of experts who recommend vaccines, has been "plagued with persistent conflicts of interest."

06/10/2025

Why do teachers plan their pregnancies around summer vacation? Liz Morris, co-director of UC Law SF’s Center for WorkLife Law, spoke with the Los Angeles Times about gaps in paid family leave for California’s public school teachers. She explains how current policies affect retention and access to leave for educators.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-15/why-teachers-plan-pregnancies-for-summer

Pregnant teachers don’t have access to as much paid leave as other pregnant workers. An LAUSD effort aims to change that.

06/06/2025

What does it mean to uphold the Constitution? According to Professor Matt Coles, it starts with applying rights equally—regardless of immigration status.

In an interview with KQED, Coles explains why the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process isn’t just a legal technicality—it’s a structural safeguard for everyone. “The guarantees of individual rights are only meaningful if the government doesn’t get to pick and choose who’s got the rights,” he said.

Coles, a constitutional law expert and former ACLU deputy national legal director, also pushes back on the idea that due process can be ignored for the sake of speed. “Every single criminal case we have in the United States in a sense exists because we require due process,” he said.

https://www.kqed.org/news/12042492/what-is-due-process-habeas-corpus-definition-courts-push-back-trump-moves-limit-this-right

The courts are pushing back against the White House and affirming that everyone is entitled to due process and habeas corpus — regardless of immigration status.

06/06/2025

Nimsi Garcia Sandoval ’27 has spent years advocating for immigrant communities through storytelling and education. Now, as the 2025 Jeanette M. Acosta Scholar, she’s using legal education to build on and expand that work. Learn more about her path and purpose. https://www.uclawsf.edu/2025/06/06/acosta-scholar-nimsi-garcia-sandoval-aims-to-empower-immigrant-communities-through-law/

06/05/2025

From oil pipelines to wind farms, high-profile projects dominate headlines—but they account for only a small slice of environmental reviews. In The Hill, UC Law SF’s Dave Owen and co-author Timothy Male suggest streamlining the large volume of small-scale reviews that create hidden bottlenecks. Their piece explores how targeted reforms could improve government efficiency without sacrificing environmental oversight.

Experts propose reducing the number of small environmental permits and improving remaining small permit processes through technology, self-permitting, offsets and a culture shift among government s…