75 Things We Love About UCLA Law
UCLA Law Magazine | Summer 2025 | Volume 47
26. VISITS FROM SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
Throughout the years, 11 Supreme Court justices have visited UCLA Law. In 2018, Justice Elena Kagan spoke to then-Dean Jennifer Mnookin about civility and the virtue of listening.
27. STUDY BREAKS WITH THERAPY DOGS
Visits from therapy dogs — particularly during stressful periods like finals — through programs like the BARK Reading Therapy Dogs, provide students with stress relief and support.
28. GLICKMAN COURTYARD
A hidden gem, the Albert and Judith Glickman Courtyard was dedicated in 2000. Albert B. Glickman ’60, was a Double Bruin and the 1992 UCLA Law Alumnus of the Year.
29. ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWS
Talented students who have overcome significant personal, educational, or socioeconomic hardships earn full-tuition scholarships through this program, which is just one of many ways in which UCLA Law brings the best and brightest to Westwood.
30. THE DOCKET
Step into the storied pages of The Docket, UCLA Law’s student-run newspaper that debuted in 1956 and was published until 2004. A UCLA Law Students Association project, this beloved newspaper didn’t just report campus happenings, it captured the pulse of student life, delivering law school news with a healthy dose of student perspective and Bruin spirit.
31. OUR BEST-SELLING AUTHORS
Some recent books by professors and alumni to add to your nightstand: Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America, by Adam Winkler; A Real Right to Vote, by Rick Hasen ’91; Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable, by Joanna Schwartz; The Absolutely Indispensable Man: Ralph Bunche, the United Nations, and the Fight to End Empire, by Kal Raustiala; Women in Law: Discovering the True Meaning of Success, by Michelle Banks ’88; and Sushi Tuesdays: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Resilience, by Charlotte R. Maya ’93.
32. OUR ALUMNI JUDGES
Our grads rule — literally — from hometown courtrooms to federal benches to chambers around the globe. Judge Dolly Gee ’84 (pictured) was the first Chinese American woman to serve as an Article III judge, and she is one of many distinguished jurists who prove just how far a Bruin legal education can take you.
33. LIFE-CHANGING PROFESSORS
“At the first meeting of the Class of 1967 in September 1964, in Haines Hal 39, Professor Murray Schwartz spoke words to this effect: ‘You may not be sure why you are here, but you are here because you want to help people.’”
Bob Weeks ’67 on how Schwartz’s words inspired him to pursue a career in public service law, a path he had not expected to take.
34. EXTERNING IN THE HAGUE
Among a wealth of opportunities to apply and enhance a UCLA Law education overseas, The Promise Institute Europe’s UCLA Law in The Hague program offers students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to dive into international legal systems while making connections that last a lifetime.
35. REUNIONS
Our alumni reunions spark magic as Bruin attorneys reconnect with cherished classmates, celebrate career triumphs, and rediscover their legal roots together. These gatherings blend heartfelt nostalgia with valuable networking, creating those special moments that remind everyone why UCLA Law is more than just an alma mater.
36. PING PONG AND FOOSBALL BREAKS
Well-deserved study breaks— and some epic battles— take place at the Shapiro Courtyard’s Ping-Pong and foosball tables.
37. CLASSMATES WHO ARE FAMILY
Monique Lillard and her mom, Louise Lillard, both went to UCLA Law, just a couple of years apart. Monique graduated in ’83, and Louise followed in ’85.
38. PROXIMITY TO WORLD-CLASS ART
One of the hidden gems of North Campus, the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden is among the most distinguished outdoor sculpture collections in the country, featuring more than 70 modern and contemporary works set in five beautifully landscaped acres.
39. REAL MUSIC EVENTS THAT BRING US TOGETHER
Real Music events, where our student affairs office partners with student organizations to create cultural celebrations featuring authentic music, dance, food, and traditions, showcase the rich diversity of our community.
40. LIFE-CHANGING PROFESSORS
“Professor George Fletcher advised us not to take Remedies if it didn’t particularly interest us, even though it would be on the bar exam. … The lack of that course never hampered me in my over 40 years of practice.”
— Norman H. Green ’79
41. EL CENTRO LEGAL PROJECTS
Through the El Centro Legal Projects, founded in 1973 by UCLA’s La Raza Law Students Association, UCLA Law students— with supervision from licensed attorneys— continue to provide Los Angeles residents with range of legal services through this student-led volunteer group.
42. TEAM FREDDY
With support from Professor Sharon Dolovich, Frankie Guzman ’12 and a team of UCLA Law students (who became alums during the yearslong effort) worked with leading parole lawyer Keith Wattley to successfully get Guzman’s brother Freddy released on parole. Freddy and Frankie Guzman (pictured, left to right) attend a 2025 UCLA Law Prison Law and Policy event celebrating Freddy’s release and the work of Team Freddy.
43. VISITS FROM CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS
Rev. Jesse Jackson delivered the keynote address at UCLA Law’s 39th commencement ceremony in 1990.
44. ALUMNI LAWMAKERS
Advancing the law school’s commitment to service, scores of graduates— including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ’91 and Rep. Henry Waxman ’64 — have been elected to government bodies such as the U.S. Congress, the California State Assembly, and city councils.
45. RELIEVING STRESS WITH MINI HORSE THERAPY
As part of a de-stress and wellness program organized by the library, student affairs, and SBA, mini horses — such as Blue Moon and Sweet Louise — visit the library to bring joy to students studying for finals.
46. FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF ALUMS
Distinguished UCLA Law alumni Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw ’79, her husband, William Wardlaw ’72, and their children, Billy Wardlaw ’19 and Katie Wardlaw ’23, all attended UCLA Law.
47. THE TOWER READING ROOM’S FICTION SELECTION
The Tower Reading Room houses the library’s recreational reading collection, including fiction and nonfiction. Want a particular title? Library Director Kevin Gerson takes requests. If you look up, you’ll see one of the more unique lighting fixtures on campus.
48. OUR EXPERTISE IN INDIAN LAW
Our premier Indian Law specialization combines coursework on tribal legal systems with hands-on experience through the Tribal Legal Development Clinic. The school’s Native Nations Law and Policy Center champions tribal sovereignty, while the prestigious Graton Scholarship provides full-tuition support to students committed to advancing Indigenous rights.
49. INCREASING NUMBERS OF WOMEN STUDENTS
Women made up 10% of the first graduating class — a significant number at the time. Since 1995, more than half of our graduates each year have been female.
50. LIFE-CHANGING PROFESSORS
“Harkening back to my first year in 1970, I was fortunate to have Kenneth Graham as my Civil Procedure professor. He was great, notwithstanding referring to me as a smart-ass in class. (At least he said smart.) He made civil procedure so interesting it led to my career as a civil litigator before being appointed to the Bench.”
— Joe Hilberman ’73
The list of our favorite things about UCLA Law continues on the next page.