UC Law San Francisco

10/08/2026

UC Law San Francisco proudly celebrates the 2026-27 Emerita Chancellor & Dean Mary Kay Kane Excellence Award recipients:

Teaching Excellence: Nira Geevargis and Geoffrey Hansen
Scholarly Excellence: Zach Price
Service Excellence: Richard Boswell

Established through the generosity of the late Dean Mary Kay Kane, UC Law SF’s first woman dean, these awards honor exceptional faculty who embody her lifelong commitment to teaching, scholarship, and service.

Join us in celebrating these outstanding faculty members and in honoring Dean Kane’s lasting impact at a luncheon on Nov. 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Alumni Reception Center. RSVP: https://uchastings.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9KShplgxhAGxhmS

10/07/2026

For three decades, Professor Reuel Schiller has brought deep curiosity about the law and history into UC Law SF classrooms and into his nationally recognized scholarship.

His research, supported by generous UC Law SF donors, has examined consequential and often unexplored questions in labor, administrative and civil rights law. And his teaching and mentorship have helped generations of students develop their own interests and careers.

Former students say his generosity, approachability and passion for sharing knowledge continue to influence how they teach, practice and think about the law.

Did Professor Schiller make a difference in your life or career? Tell us how.
https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/10/07/prof-reuel-schiller-marks-30-years-of-teaching-and-innovative-scholarship-at-uc-law-sf/

10/02/2026

Congratulations to Nazrawi Allen ’28 for his work with the Equal Justice Society this summer. This week EJS thanked Allen for his litigation support, including discovery review, legal research and engagements with clients. EJS also thanked Allen, co-president of the UC Law SF Black Law Students Association, for his “vital outreach in the Oakland community and in the higher education space to advance our racial equity goals.”

https://equaljusticesociety.org/2026/09/23/thank-you-to-ejs-summer-interns-brianna-morrison-nazrawi-allen-and-kaysia-harrington/

10/01/2026

Professor Gail Silverstein has worked to make social justice, community service and experiential learning central to the UC Law SF experience since joining the faculty in 2005.

Through teaching clinics, leading the College’s experiential learning and pro bono programs, and co-founding the Center for Social Justice, she has shown how the law can be used to uplift people and communities. Donor support has helped make many of these opportunities possible by reducing financial barriers for students seeking to do public interest work.

Former students say Silverstein helped them develop empathy and advocacy skills that they still use today, while giving them a sense of purpose and belonging in the legal profession.

Did Professor Silverstein play a role in shaping your professional life? Tell us how.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/10/01/prof-gail-silverstein-helps-law-students-build-purpose-driven-careers/

09/30/2026

Look closely at the artwork across UC Law SF’s campus and you’ll find stories about history, identity, the environment and more. The fourth annual Ripples celebration on Sept. 24 brought together artists and community members to celebrate 81 works by 53 Northern California artists, with State Sen. Scott Wiener and UC Law SF Board of Directors Chair Albert “Chip” Zecher among those in attendance.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/09/30/ripples-celebrates-artists-bringing-new-perspectives-to-uc-law-sf-campus/

09/30/2026

Constitutional and administrative law expert Zach Price spoke to Time about the president’s announced proposal to use a “pocket rescission” to cancel $810 million in spending already approved by Congress. The funds are primarily for refugee resettlement and other immigrant services. Price said the proposal violates the separation of powers giving Congress the power of the purse, as well as the Impoundment Control Act designed to block presidential meddling in use of appropriated funds. While the immediate goal may be“ picking money to cancel based on some political calculus,” Price said the longer term goal is to “establish stronger executive control over spending.”

https://time.com/article/2026/09/26/what-is-a-pocket-rescission-inside-trump-s-move-to-cancel-810-million-in-federal-funding/

The Trump Administration is seeking to claw back spending that was approved for programs including those serving immigrants, refugees, minority groups, and children.

09/29/2026

2L James Schweig returned to his hometown of Willits, CA, to clerk for Legal Services of Northern California through UC Law SF's Summer Fellowship Program, helping community members navigate eviction and expungement cases.

Now in its fifth year, the program is part of the College's broader commitment to restorative justice, addressing historical harms against Native American communities in the Round Valley area.

"The field of legal aid is rewarding because clients are grateful for your help and you feel accomplished knowing that you made a difference where you live,” Schweig said.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/09/24/uc-law-sfs-2026-summer-fellows-serve-indigenous-and-rural-communities-in-northern-california/

09/25/2026

Melissa Hooper, executive director of UC Law SF’s Center for Constitutional Democracy, led a Sept. 24 session with students, “Fair Access, Fair Count: A Conversation on Voting Rights and Election Integrity.” Hooper outlined current challenges including efforts to influence U.S. Postal Service handling of ballots, weakening of the Voting Rights Act, last-minute gerrymandering of Congressional district maps and potential voter intimidation at the polls. She and students discussed the laws governing these aspects of elections and the country’s strong tradition of protecting the right to vote. “In a democracy, voting is a sanctified right,” she said.

09/24/2026

This summer, 2L Anacristina Perry took part in UC Law SF's Summer Fellowship Program, clerking across six tribal courts in Northern California — including Round Valley, Hoopa Valley, and Karuk — and diving into issues of jurisdiction and tribal sovereignty.

Now in its 5th year, the program reflects the College's ongoing commitment to restorative justice, addressing historical harms against Native American communities in the Round Valley area.

"This is exciting because there is potential for developing the courts and codes even further to preserve tribal court jurisdiction and sovereignty," Perry said.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/09/24/uc-law-sfs-2026-summer-fellows-serve-indigenous-and-rural-communities-in-northern-california/

09/22/2026

Prof. Ming Hsu Chen, faculty director of the Center for Race, Immigration, Citizenship and Equality, hosted a panel exploring the boundaries of citizenship — a widely debated topic since the executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. Chen was joined by Lucia Martel-Dow LLM '12, attorney and director of the New Americans Campaign (NAC), Immigrant Legal Resource Center; Sidra Mahfooz, staff attorney, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project; and Sandra Wong, descendant of Wong Kim Ark.

Chen said that in addition to understanding the law of citizenship, "it is important to look beyond the law in understanding ... the public dialogue, that these seemingly legal events can have and can spark.” The panelists discussed the “chilling effect” caused by policies that introduce confusion about accessing the benefits of citizenship and the need for reliable information.