Jayni Foley I was away last semester at another law school, and realized how much I missed UC Berkeley School of Law and truly love it here. It makes me happy everyday to attend law school with such diverse and vibrant classmates and be taught by inspiring and dedicated professors. I'm so glad to be back for my final semester to spend time with my wonderful friends, run in the sunny hills, and enjoy Berkeley.
Ben Allen (U.C. Student Regent) There is a strong interest in maintaining a great public university to train our society's most promising leaders, and I am deeply concerned about the long-term effects of the state's disinvestment from our public universities. For better or for worse, our alumni must step up to provide Boalt and the UC in general with increased support.
I came to Boalt because I wanted to be at a public law school of the highest caliber, and I have not been disappointed. Boalt students are deeply committed to excellence and public service, and our presence is felt far beyond the walls of our feisty little law school—from West Oakland to Washington to Tanzania and beyond. I treasure the friendships I have made here, and knowing that they will be with me for the rest of my life makes me very proud to lend my support as a part of the Boalt family. – Ben Allen (U.C. Student Regent)
Sarah Grossman-Swenson During my three years at Boalt, I have been impressed by the dedication and community spirit evident among Boalt students. I feel very lucky to have attended the best public law school in the country, and I want future generations of Boalt students to be able to do the same. Increasing donations is essential if we are going to keep Boalt affordable and accessible to all students while maintaining the high quality of teaching, research and commitment to the public interest that has defined Boalt Hall.
Daniel Occhipiniti Leaving Boalt will be bittersweet. My time at Berkeley Law has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life—being constantly exposed to exciting new opportunities and surrounded by classmates with very diverse backgrounds and ambitions. I will miss the freedom, and the challenges, of student life, but I feel well prepared for my future goals. I think the most valuable thing we have is the relationships we made while we were here. Everyone has such unique plans to make an impact in the world; I can't wait to see what each of us does with our degree.
Giving back is essential to making the most of our degrees. It is rewarding to know that we made a difference while we were here, and it is important to remember that we can continue to do so after we leave. We should always promote the value of our degree, and help build the bridge for those who come after us. It is great to see our class campaign underway and I am confident the Class of '08 will leave a strong legacy!
"If it weren’t for Boalt, it is possible that I might not be graduating from law school this May. Like many 1L students, I doubted my decision to go to law school. Having started my legal education at Tulane, my first semester was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina. With no certain prospects of school even starting up within that year, I thought that perhaps this was a distinct sign that I should reconsider my decision to pursue a legal career. However, my time at Boalt quickly quelled any doubts I had about getting a legal education. People in the Boalt community offered me their genuine friendships, and treated me like I was one of their own. It was this generous acceptance that got me through that very difficult time, and prompted me to continue with my education. Contributing to the class campaign is just one of many ways I would like to say thank you for such kindness." - Michelle Marck, Vanderbilt '08 (formerly at Tulane & Boalt)
For family reasons I decided to take part in Boalt’s exchange program and spend my third year in Boston attending Harvard Law School. It was through my experiences at Harvard that I was able to see how special Boalt really is. The character of our student body and community as a whole is really unparalleled. And, while I am happy to have experienced a different educational environment in my last year, I could not be happier with my initial decision to attend and graduate from Boalt.-Aaron Schohn
