75 Things We Love About UCLA Law
UCLA Law Magazine | Summer 2025 | Volume 47
51. LUVALLE COMMONS
Open for business since 1985, LuValle Commons, a student center adjacent to the law school, was named in honor of James “Jimmy” LuValle, a UCLA graduate and Olympic medalist, and the first president of the Associated Graduate Students.
52. OUR MERCH
From classic blue-and-gold hoodies to water bottles, hats, and keychains, UCLA Law gear lets you — or Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who paid a visit in the 1990s — show some Bruin spirit.
53. EXCELLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW
Anchored by the Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law, our program prepares students for successful careers as leaders in the business. Founded 49 years ago, the UCLA Entertainment Symposium has become a must-attend event where industry bigwigs— lawyers, executives, agents, and producers— join students for real talk about what’s happening in the business today.
54. GRASSY STUDY SPACES
This early 1990s image shows that Dickson Court has long been a favorite place to spread out.
55. GIVING BACK
What do the Michael T. Masin Scholars program, Laura E. Gómez Teaching Fellowship, and Bruce H. Spector Conference Room have in common? All were born from the largesse of our devoted alumni and friends, including Bruce Spector ’67 (pictured).
56. OUR WIDE ARRAY OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
More than a half-century old, the Black Law Students Association is among UCLA Law’s 50-plus student organizations that provide support, mentorship, and community.
57. WE TRACK OUR SPENDING
A true blast from the past, this historic clipping from a 1960 edition of The Docket charts the spending habits of the average law student.
58. OUR LEADING ROLE IN L.A. LAW
UCLA Law alumni have left their mark all over Los Angeles, with many grads launching firms and shaping how the city handles everything from entertainment deals to litigation to fighting for social justice. Graduates haven’t just built some of L.A.’s top practices— they’ve championed causes that have actually changed communities across the city through years of meaningful advocacy.
59. OUR ICONIC HALLWAY
With access to plenty of natural light, classrooms, a moot courtroom, and a student study room, the main hallway in the law building has everything a student could need to ace their legal studies.
60. OUR SUPREME COURT CONNECTIONS
Whether it’s gaining clerking experience or arguing cases, UCLA Law has strong ties to the U.S. Supreme Court. Many Bruin law professors and alumni have clerked for various justices, including Sandra Day O’Connor and Earl Warren.
61. THE FACULTY BAND
Our professors are a multi- talented bunch! The UCLA Law faculty band began in 1981 when a few faculty members played the music for My Fair Law Student, a musical that students Bill Peters ’82 and Bryan Hull ’82 wrote for their classmates to perform.
62. THE LAW FELLOWS PROGRAM
Since 1997, the Law Fellows Program has been breaking down barriers to legal education and helping aspiring lawyers navigate the often intimidating law school admissions process with personalized consulting that continues right up until they start classes. This program has opened doors for countless students who might otherwise have found the journey too daunting to pursue.
63. FURNITURE THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
Can someone please help us move this thing?
64. THE A. BARRY CAPPELLO PROGRAM IN TRIAL ADVOCACY
Our trial advocacy program equips students with essential courtroom skills through comprehensive courses and experiential opportunities. What’s more, our No. 1–ranked Cappello Trial Team has made history by winning the prestigious “triple crown” of competitions for three consecutive years and securing an unprecedented four straight National Trial Competition championships. And the Cappello Courtroom, a gift from A. Barry Cappello ’65, offers a realistic courtroom environment where students can compete in mock trials, moot courts, and other simulations.
65. LIFE-CHANGING PROFESSORS
“I found a way to practice law that incorporated my values and really felt like I was helping people. Thank you, Dean Prager, for changing my life.”
Joni Clover ’82 on how Prager’s advice, and assistance landing a first job, launched her 40-plus- year career in family law.
66. COMMUNITY ICONS
Jim Barrall graduated from UCLA Law in 1975 and was named Alumnus of the Year in 2008 — and he did it all with style! Barrall, pictured in 1974, founded the Law Firm Challenge in 2002 and is a senior fellow in residence with the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy, where he leads the Tax and Business Law Scholarships Program.
67. THE LIBRARY MURAL
L.A. artist Douglas Riseborough unveiled this 50-foot-long, nine-foot-high mural in 1969, depicting what he considered the major social issues of the time. After hanging in the library for almost 30 years, it is now tucked away in the law building’s basement.
68. STUDENT REACTIONS TO THE LIBRARY MURAL
From The Docket in 1982.
69. A WEALTH OF BUSINESS LAW OPPORTUNITIES
Tax law. Transactional training. Trailblazing work in entrepreneur- ship and philanthropy. It’s all here! Through the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy and Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits, students participate in a plethora of programs, including the LMI-Sandler Prize for New Entrepreneurs business plan competition (pictured); faculty members collaborate on cutting-edge work in corporate law or trade; and the broader community benefits from events that zero in on the top issues of the day.
70. A PERSONAL TOUCH FOR ADMITTED STUDENTS
A call you don’t want to miss. Assistant Dean of Admissions Rob Schwartz welcomes admitted students with a phone call to let them know they’ve been accepted.
71. OUR INNOVATION IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
UCLA Law was one of the first schools to teach the practice of law, using simulations to develop interviewing, counseling, negotiation, and trial skills. Today, our experiential education program has over 50 hands-on courses that help turn promising scholars into powerhouse attorneys.
72. CELEBRATING OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF
The Latine Law Students Association honors the hard work and dedication of UCLA Law’s custodial staff by hosting an annual dinner.
73. OUR TRACK RECORD WITH SKADDEN FELLOWSHIPS
Year in and year out, UCLA Law ranks among the top law schools in the country for graduating students who receive Skadden Fellowships, one the nation’s most prestigious programs in public interest law.
74. OUR OWN FAMOUS CARTOONIST
Stephan Pastis ’94, an attorney turned cartoonist, honed his craft drawing cartoons for The Docket. Pastis is the creator of Pearls Before Swine, a syndicated comic strip that has run in newspapers around the world.
75. THE FRIENDLIEST LIBRARY GREETER
Keith Boseman, the law school’s legendary and beloved library security guard, retired in 2025 after nearly 25 years of service to our community. Faculty, students, and staff alike could always count on Keith for a high-five, a new music recommendation, or even a short recitation of Shakespeare, making even the most difficult days so much brighter.
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Celebrating 75 Years of UCLA Law
Join the dean of UCLA School of Law, Michael Waterstone, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, and distinguished faculty, students, and alumni as we celebrate 75 years of UCLA Law. This video tribute honors our history of legal innovation and vision for shaping tomorrow's legal landscape. From groundbreaking scholarship to producing leaders who have transformed the practice of law, UCLA Law continues its tradition of excellence while looking boldly toward the future.