Whether you’re a student thinking about your future—or an alum looking for an expert in a specific field, considering a career shift, or moving to a new city—soon the Berkeley Law community will have an online space to connect with the school’s talented and accomplished graduates.
The Alumni Center, Student Services Office, and Career Development Office (CDO) are collaborating to build a robust online portal that will enable community members to network, seek and offer mentorship and advice, ask questions, and share job opportunities.
Eric Stern, the CDO’s director of operations, believes the most powerful asset students and graduates have is Berkeley Law’s generous and far-reaching alumni network.
“Our alums provide invaluable support, whether it’s helping students explore a specific career path, preparing for an interview, or discussing how to break into a particular legal market,” he says. “We can’t wait to see how the new portal enhances our support of the career goals of current students, as well as the career transitions of our graduates.”
Incoming Boalt Hall Alumni Association President John Kuo ’88 says he is especially excited about the mentoring opportunities that will be accessible through the new portal.
“Connecting law students and junior lawyers with more senior experienced lawyers is a very powerful value proposition,” he contends. “I certainly wish that as a junior lawyer I’d had a mentor to turn to for advice.”
While the structure and technology for the new platform are in development, Assistant Dean of Advancement Amy Ambrose highlights two key priorities: providing a comprehensive directory of alumni—both by location and practice area, as well as a hub where graduates can take advantage of the lifelong benefits of membership in the Berkeley Law circle.
“It will be a powerful tool and statement about who we are as a community,” Kuo says. “A cohesive network where we can connect intergenerational alumni at all levels of their careers will perpetuate the cycle of excellence.”
—Rachel DeLetto
