UC Law San Francisco

This summer, 99 UC Law San Francisco students put their legal education into action — supporting public defenders' and district attorneys' offices, providing legal aid to detained immigrants and representing tenants at risk of losing their housing, among other work.

Students took on legal challenges in public service roles — experiences made possible through UC Law SF’s Public-Interest Grant Program, funded by generous donors and championed by Chancellor & Dean David Faigman and UC Law SF’s Office of Advancement.

2L Aryam Jaimes worked with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).

“When choosing where to spend my summer, I wanted to prioritize the option that was best aligned with my long-term career goals, social justice work and experience in court,” said Jaimes. “With the public interest grant, I didn’t have to compromise the opportunity to work at NIJC for an offer from an organization that was not aligned with my interests or long-term career goals.”

Read more: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/08/06/grant-program-sends-uc-law-sf-students-into-public-service-roles/

Grant program sends UC Law SF students into public service roles - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings) Grant program sends UC Law SF students into public service roles August 06, 2026 at UC Law SF Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share through Email Nearly 100 UC Law SF students served in public-interest roles across California and the nation this summer, funded by donor-supported...

Professor Rory Little, an expert in criminal law, analyzed the criminal cases in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2025-26 term and found that the justices again adopted pro-defense or pre-defendant positions in most “pure” criminal matters, this term 11 of 16. “Some pro-defendant decisions were not always for results that a politically ‘liberal’ ideology might favor (for example, two decisions favoring gun possession rights),” he wrote. “Do court observers need to shift their labels or definitions?”

The court’s criminal law term: overview and observations (Amy Howe)Approximately two weeks after the final opinion of the 57 argued cases decided by the Supreme Court in the October 2025-26 Term was filed, this column presents an overview of the “pure” criminal law decisions the court issued. By my characterization, there were 16 (or 17) “pure” cr...

As Professor Manoj Viswanathan prepares to become UC Law SF's interim provost & academic dean, he shares how he plans to build on the College's academic strengths, ensuring that students continue to thrive and navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI.

Read more: https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/08/05/prof-manoj-viswanathan-will-serve-as-interim-provost-academic-dean-in-2027/

Provost & Academic Dean Morris Ratner has spent the last decade building a UC Law SF where students are better supported and better positioned to succeed. With his tenure concluding at the end of 2026, he and colleagues reflect on his work to strengthen the law school and position it for the future.

https://www.uclawsf.edu/2026/08/05/morris-ratner-to-conclude-decade-long-tenure-as-uc-law-sf-provost-academic-dean/

Professor John Myers, a criminal law expert, commented to Bloomberg about the recent expansion of California's Racial Justice Act, which now allows all those convicted of felonies to argue on appeal that racial bias infected their cases. Public defender offices report being flooded with cases, and Myers said the burden will also be felt by counsel defending the convictions. Citing statistics that show “Black and brown people are stopped at higher rates than their proportion in the population [is] all you have to do to start to get discovery,” he said.

California Racial Justice Act Aims to Redress Bias, Clogs Courts California became the first state to allow all felons to challenge their convictions for racial bias this year, a change that is flooding courts with claims and straining public defenders’ offices statewide.

Reva Samant, entering her 2L year, has been named a recipient of the Farella Braun + Martel LLP Diversity Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes first-year law students whose academic achievements, work, and community service demonstrate strong potential to become future leaders in advocating for equal access and opportunity for all.

Samant is a member of the South Asian Law Students Association board. She was a judicial intern for Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Johnny Cepeda Gogo and interned this summer with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.

Professor Joan Williams joined NPR Morning Edition to discuss a new report she co-authored examining the priorities of working-class voters and how political messaging can better resonate across class divides. Williams has authored two books exploring the role of class in American politics and what shapes voter priorities.

To win over working-class voters, Democrats need to stop talking about democracy Working-class voters have moved away from the Democratic Party. Winning them back is key to the party's future, a new reports shows. But first, the messaging has to change.

An article co-written by Clinical Professor and Director of Externship Programs Nira Geevargis has been included in a new book about clinical and externship education, Teaching Law in the Trenches: The Essential Features of Clinical and Externship Teaching, by Wally Mlyniec. Geevargis’ article, “Case Rounds Redefined: Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Reflective Practice,” explores the value of using rounds in externship seminars to facilitate problem solving and foster a sense of community.

Teaching Law in the Trenches: The Essential Features of Clinical and Externship Teaching Teaching Law in the Trenches: The Essential Features of Clinical and Externship Teaching (9781531018122). Authors: Wallace J. Mlyniec. Carolina Academic Press

Professor Emerita Marsha Cohen, a food and drug law expert, discusses in the Daily Journal how the recent multistate Cyclospora outbreak has renewed scrutiny of delays in implementation of the FDA's Food Traceability Rule for high-risk foods. The rule has been put on hold until 2028 because of cost concerns raised by the industry.

FDA's false-positive finding unlikely to derail Cyclospora investigation, lawsuits The Daily Journal has more journalists covering the California legal profession than any other publication. Comprehensive coverage of litigation, arbitration, and mediation results from California state and federal trial courts for attorneys and legal professionals.

UC Law SF students will learn from four new faculty members this year: Steven Bazley, Aimee J. Carlisle, Mary Hoopes, and Shaun Ossei-Owusu. They bring experience advising startups, representing underserved clients, studying courts, and examining how law shapes society. Learn more about what they will teach and research at UC Law SF.

UC Law SF welcomes new four new professors - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings) UC Law SF welcomes new four new professors July 27, 2026 Faculty Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share through Email Steven Bazley, Aimee J. Carlisle, Mary Hoopes, and Shaun Ossei-Owusu join UC Law SF this year with backgrounds spanning entrepreneurship, criminal defense, judici...