UC Davis School of Law International

Join us this month for three interactive webinars featuring Melvin Duboile, the Associate Director of Outreach for the UC Davis School of Law: International Programs. During these webinars, you will have the opportunity to learn about the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree offerings in the United States and at UC Davis School of Law, how to complete your LL.M. application, and how to write a strong personal statement for your LL.M. application.

Each session offers the same information and is offered conveniently at two times.

Sign up here: https://law.ucdavis.edu/international/about/online-events

You did that! 🎓🫶✨🎉

Congratulations to the UC Davis School of Law LL.M. Class of 2026 on this monumental achievement!

Only 4 more days until graduation 🥳 🎓

Time flies when you're having fun!
We celebrated our final LL.M. and Exchange meeting this week to send off our graduating class with warm wishes and, as always, cake 🎂

Ehsan Salehian grew up in northeastern Iran, watching environmental negotiations over water and resources play out in real time. "Coming from a climate-challenged environment sparked my interest in policy," he says, "particularly in understanding how laws and rulemaking can directly or indirectly exacerbate climate impacts."

Before arriving in Davis, Ehsan had already earned an LL.M. with an environmental law concentration, completed a Doctor of Juridical Sciences in international watercourses law, and spent years working as a legal consultant and foreign trade manager for a manufacturing company with ties across the Middle East and East Asia. He came to UC Davis School of Law with a specific goal: to prepare for the California Bar Exam and establish himself in the U.S. legal system.

Ehsan first encountered UC Davis Law through an LL.M. search website. After encountering alumni of the program in professional settings, he decided to tour King Hall. He reflected on this first visit stating, " I had a meeting with the LL.M. directors and staff prior to the start of the LL.M. program, and I felt confident that UC Davis is the right university to pursue the LL.M. degree.”

Since arriving, he has found community through participating in student organizations like the Persian Students Club and the Journal of International Law and Policy, connecting with fellow J.D. and LL.M. students in his classes, and finding time to enjoy Northern California with day trips and hikes along the American River with his significant other and dog.

Despite his extensive educational background, Ehsan had to learn to adjust to the Socratic Method of teaching at King Hall saying, "It was a fast transition for me." The Socratic Method is a form of teaching where professors regularly engage with students during lectures to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and allow the students to form a deeper understanding with the material. His advice to future international students: read the material before lectures and attend office hours.

Upon graduation, Ehsan intends to pass the California Bar Exam, then pursue a long-term career in academia. His ambition underscored by the phrase, “We live in a world of possibilities, and there is no such thing as impossible."

We are proud to announce this year’s UC Davis School of Law Commencement speakers will feature two remarkable students from our LL.M. community!

For the first time, a former LLM student has been selected by the graduating JD class to deliver the commencement address. Dolph Li is a first-generation law student with two decades of legal experience and the founding partner of a Business Law firm in Shanghai. He earned his LL.M. from the UC Davis School of Law before continuing into the J.D. program. As an attorney licensed in both China and California, his long-term goal is to help bridge legal and economic collaboration between the United States and China, with a particular focus on contributing to the economic development of the Sacramento region.

Representing our current LLM cohort: Lia Gurchiani. During her time at King Hall, she served as a Research Editor for the UC Davis Journal of International Law & Policy, and was a member of the Executive Board of the Advanced Legal Scholars Association. Prior to King Hall, she graduated with honors from Tbilisi State University in Georgia. During her LL.M., she worked as a Legal Adviser with the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations in New York and was nominated to participate in the Council on Foreign Relations’ Young Professionals Briefing Series. Following graduation, she plans to sit for the New York Bar Exam and pursue a career within the United Nations system.

LLM Student Spotlight✨: Natsuki Yoshikawa’s path to UC Davis School of Law began with a recommendation. After passing the Japanese bar exam and practicing as a prosecutor for over two years, she found herself looking toward the United States for a broader perspective. "An acquaintance told me that Davis is a beautiful city with plenty of nature and a comfortable living environment, and that the law school is very supportive," she explains. "This recommendation strongly influenced my decision."

Natsuki made the move from Japan to Northern California with the goal of "applying the knowledge and perspectives gained in the United States to my legal practice back home."

Since arriving in Northern California, Natsuki describes the reality of the U.S. classroom as "very interactive," noting that "students are highly motivated. This environment has been both stimulating and inspiring." The supportive nature of the faculty has also been a cornerstone of her experience. "The faculty members are very supportive, and I feel comfortable seeking advice whenever I have concerns."

Between participating in the interactive classes and focusing on her criminal law concentration, Natsuki has found time to explore California’s famous cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and its great national parks such as Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

After completing her LL.M. degree, Natsuki will return to Japan to continue her professional work in criminal law. She plans to integrate the interactive, critical-thinking approach of the American legal system into her future practice, bridging the legal cultures of both countries.