Alumni Awards

Honored at the annual public interest and pro bono graduation ceremony, the recipients exemplify Berkeley Law’s far-reaching work to help disadvantaged people and communities.

Holding its annual gala Feb. 24, the Dale Minami ’71 Public Interest Fellowship connects API alumni, honors deserving graduates, provides financial support to deserving lawyers, and more.

The Berkeley Law alum calls the honor “major recognition that what I’ve been doing exemplifies the values of UC Berkeley.”

This year’s award recipients stand out among extraordinary individual and collective commitment across the legal landscape to improve people’s lives.

Given annually to a recent Berkeley Law graduate, the fellowship at UC Legal offers valuable experience in issues faced by public and nonprofit entities.

VanSickle was the lead reporter of a year-long investigation, conducted by four organizations, into the harms caused by police dog bites.

Robin Wetherill ’18, winner of the agency’s annual award for most outstanding new lawyer, and five other alumni work to protect American consumers.

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky says the total, second most among all law schools, “so reflects our public mission and commitment to public service.”

The fellowship’s second recipient is eager to help the university advance its commitment to diversity and social justice. 

Judge Holly Fujie ’78, James McManis ’67, Benson Cohen ’04, Barry Scheck ’74, and Professor David Lieberman are honored at the annual ceremony.

Jordan Bock ’17, Matt Rice ’16, and Anuradha Sivaram ’14 will clerk for Justices Elena Kagan, Clarence Thomas, and Sonia Sotomayor respectively.

Sarah Morando Lakhani ’19, Reynaldo Fuentes ’19, and Emma Mclean-Riggs ’17 will be funded for two years of focused public interest work.

The event signals how companies are increasingly prioritizing positive societal contributions along with shareholder profits.

Patti, who died last year, worked at UC’s Office of the General Counsel and as Berkeley’s chief campus counsel.

They were honored with the annual Young Alumni Award, Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award, and Citation Award, respectively.

Ted Lee ’59, Professor Stephen Sugarman, and Ann O’Leary ’05 receive awards for their exemplary work.

Six recent graduates who received the prestigious two-year fellowship will serve low-income populations in California, Texas, and New York.

The Los Angeles prosecutor steered a multi-agency effort that led to a major award from the Anti-Defamation League.

Charles Denton, Janice Kosel ’71 and Antonio Rossmann are honored for their service to the law school.

Mark Feeser ’07 and Van Swearingen ’08 each score major court triumphs that have significant implications for prisoners.

Llanes and 11 other members of her class were selected for coveted opportunities to launch their social justice careers.

Michele Roberts ’80, John Phillips ’69, Eleanor Swift, and Tirien Steinbach ’99 are recognized for their talent, drive, and willingness to give back.

Attorneys Megan McCracken and Jen Moreno ’06 are recognized for their influential work steering the clinic’s Lethal Injection Project.