Berkeley Law Leads: Painting a New Picture of Leadership
What does leadership look like at UC Berkeley Law? It’s vibrant, inclusive, and reimagined for a changing world.
Hear from 1Ls Viktor Dimas, Peter Clune, Rachel Rood-Ojalvo, Sophie Kupetz and 2Ls Kaela Allen, M.Ed and Hannah Pigg as they share their unique perspectives on leadership, what it means to them, and how they’re shaping the future.
Their voices reflect how UC Berkeley Law is redefining leadership by equipping students to lead with vision, compassion, and purpose.
About Berkeley Law Leads:
UC Berkeley Law is empowering the next generation of leaders through a dynamic initiative that integrates leadership training across research centers, clinics, practicums, executive education, field placements, the Pro Bono Program, journals, and student organizations.
Learn more about this transformative program and how it prepares students to excel in every area of law: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/article/transcript-fall-2024-magazine-features-berkeley-law-leadership-across-legal-terrain/
3L Maria Magdalena Watson reflects on her experience working with Berkeley Law’s Human Rights Clinic on the Anastasio Hernández Rojas case.
3L Maria Magdalena Watson reflects on her experience working with Berkeley Law’s Human Rights Clinic on the Anastasio Hernández Rojas case — the first known extrajudicial killing case that will be decided by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) involving U.S. law enforcement.
Mark Kahn ‘00, General Counsel (and PA announcer) for Oakland's newest professional sports team, the Oakland Ballers.
Let’s go, Oakland! 🎉
Anastasia Snodgrass: "Making a name for myself, one step at a time."
The Berkeley Center for Law & Technology - BCLT has launched a game-changing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) course, offering free support to California student-athletes landing sponsorships.
Cal’s Associate Athletics Director for NIL, Justin DiTolla, praises the practicum as “a tremendous resource,” especially for helping athletes navigate negotiation and compliance.
NIL has skyrocketed since 2021, and this practicum has been invaluable in providing free legal services to our student-athletes.
Dive into the full story featuring Anastasia Snodgrass, a student-athlete & Cal Athletics NIL Liaison: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/article/berkeley-center-for-law-and-technology-name-image-likeness-practicum-ncaa-sports/
‘You Can Do Both’: Multifaceted 3L Insia Zaidi Blazes a Trail for Muslim Indian Lawyers
Even though it happened when she was a second grader, Insia Zaidi ’24 tells the story like it occurred a couple of hours ago — in strikingly vivid details and with considerable emotion.
It was awards day at her New Jersey Catholic school and Sister Henry was reading out the names of the students being recognized for a perfect attendance record. Zaidi, the child of Muslim Indian immigrants, knew she was eligible, but the nun never called her up.
With a stern whisper and a barely noticeable physical nudge, Zaidi’s mother pushed her forward to claim what was rightfully hers. The incident turned out to be an honest mistake, but the little girl took away from it a powerful lesson: Speak up.
“I worked as a middle school math teacher in Compton, I worked as a volunteer on Rikers Island, I worked as part of the state public defender’s office in Mississippi advocating for people on death row, I broke into white, male-dominated spaces like Wall Street,” Zaidi says. “And all of that was informed by my parents to use my voice to demand the very best for myself, and then apply that intensity to serve other people.”
Now, as she prepares to graduate from Berkeley Law, Zaidi is ready for the next target for that intensity — and reflecting on what she’s already accomplished. It’s an impressive list that balances with pinpoint precision her professional ambitions and advocacy, with a deep passion for music, particularly by Indian artists.
“I try to find ways to incorporate creativity,” she says. “That’s definitely been informed by my parents making it clear that you don’t have to choose one or the other, you can do both.”
Full Story: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/article/insia-zaidi-muslim-indian-lawyer-international-learning-and-mentorship/
Video credit: Michaela Vatcheva
