With more than 600 alumni in attendance representing classes spanning seven decades, Reunion 2017 delivered a jubilant celebration of Berkeley Law’s past, present, and future.
First-year Dean Erwin Chemerinsky says he was “thrilled” by the warm welcome he received, and that he “heard many positive comments from those who attended. … The panels were very well received, and I’m grateful to everyone who participated.”
The Class of 1977 was especially excited to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Garry Trudeau, creator of their popular two-dimensional classmate Joanie Caucus. Trudeau engaged in a lively conversation with Chemerinsky and reminisced about Joanie’s journey through Berkeley Law.
This year’s Alumni Reunion Weekend is set for October 5-6. As always, all alumni are encouraged to return to Berkeley for a memorable celebration of their alma mater and remarkable school community.
The gathering begins Friday with a Welcome Barbecue on the law school’s rooftop terrace. In addition to reuniting with classmates, this casual evening provides a chance to get to know today’s faculty, meet Berkeley Law students, and learn about the high-impact work of the school’s centers and clinics.
On Saturday, get ready for the future with a deep dive into “Cyrptocurrency and the Blockchain: What Lawyers Need to Know.” This timely program features faculty experts who will share insights from Berkeley’s first-of-its-kind blockchain curriculum, some student members of Blockchain@BerkeleyLaw, and alumni who are practicing in the field.
Following that, an all-star panel of female attorneys will lead a compelling ethics CLE program on the “Problem of Power Dynamics: Fighting Sexual Harassment in Courts & Capitols.”
CLE programming will close with a perennial crowd favorite, the always lively “Supreme Court Update,” which features Chemerinsky and special guests.
Finally, the dean will host a salon-style conversation with attorney and legal journalist Dhalia Lithwick. A senior writer at Slate and the writer of its “Supreme Court Dispatches” column, Lithwick also hosts the popular Amicus podcast.
That evening, alums will gather on the roof terrace for cocktails, then reminisce with classmates and other fellow grads at the Class Dinners.
Act fast: Those who register by July 1 get an Early Bear Special Discount of 20 percent off full program price. Visit law.berkeley.edu/reunion2018 for more details and information.
—Rachel DeLetto