The U.S. Supreme Court added two opinions to its growing Second Amendment jurisprudence in June, when it ruled in the cases U.S. v. Hemani, holding that people cannot be denied guns because they unlawfully use controlled substances, and Wolford v. Lopez, expanding the right to bear arms on property that is privately owned and generally open to the public.
Anna Spain Bradley, the MacArthur Foundation Chair in International Justice and Human Rights at UCLA School of Law, has been elected to the membership of the American Law Institute, among the most prestigious positions for law professors, judges, and lawyers.
Thanks to a $2 million gift from Nancy Abell ’79, one of the most distinguished graduates of UCLA School of Law, and her husband, Leslie “Les” Abell, the school is proud to announce the establishment of the Nancy and Leslie Abell Family Chair in Employment and Labor Law.
Students come from all over the world to study at UCLA School of Law. Many, before they even enter the law building, carry vast experiences and sets of skills that they will hone and then use on their journeys to make a difference in the world. Among them, some stand out for the leadership that they have shown in service.
Business law professor. Taxation scholar. Legal historian. UCLA School of Law’s Steve Bank is a man with broad expertise and interests, to be sure. And when soccer stars and fans travel to Los Angeles and elsewhere in North America for the World Cup this summer, he will be right there in the stands. But for Bank, the Paul Hastings Professor of Business Law at UCLA Law, getting to see some historic matches in person won’t be all about cheering on the home team.
Bringing vast experience in research and leadership in sexual orientation and gender identity law and policy, Christy Mallory has been named the executive director of the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.
Students in UCLA School of Law’s Immigrants’ Rights Policy Clinic secured a major legal victory in April when they helped free a man from ICE detention. It was a success that put a human face on their legal studies and sharpened their focus on the real difference that lawyers can make.
“Being part of the team that helped someone regain his freedom was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in law school – and in my whole life.”
For several of the students, the work felt particularly personal.
“Being part of the team that helped someone regain his freedom was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in law school – and in my whole life,” says Camilo Suárez LL.M. ’26, who became a lawyer in his native Colombia and then immigrated to the United States. He recently completed his LL.M. degree at the law school – he was a featured speaker at UCLA Law’s 75th commencement ceremony in May – and he plans to take the California bar exam, with an eye toward serving immigrant communities in his legal practice.
“Professor Inlender was actually the first person I connected with at UCLA Law, even before the semester started, and that early connection with her and her work made me interested in the clinic,” he says. “Before coming to UCLA, I had already worked closely with immigrant communities and had seen how difficult it can be for people to navigate the immigration system, especially when they do not have meaningful access to counsel or do not feel heard. The clinic helped me understand that advocacy can happen at many levels: with an individual client, through litigation, through policy work, and through efforts that change the conditions affecting entire communities. After this experience, I am even more certain that I want to continue working with immigrant communities, fighting for access to justice, and helping ensure that the rule of law protects people who are often ignored or silenced.”
Jessie Rich ’27 just finished her 2L year at UCLA Law and is working at the civil rights and criminal defense firm of McLane, Bednarski & Litt in Pasadena this summer. Preparing for a career in public interest lawyering, she participated in the clinic because it piqued her concern for immigration law and tapped into her connection with clients like JB.
“Given the current political climate, I felt a pressing need to be involved in immigrants’ rights advocacy in some form, and the clinic seemed like a great fit,” she says. “Issues of immigration affect all other areas – criminal defense, housing, employment, et cetera. But throughout my career prior to and during law school, I felt that when I had clients facing immigration issues, it was a total blind spot for me. I didn’t want to have this blind spot anymore.”
For Alexandra Sarkis ’26, the experience is one that she will build on as she embarks on her career as an Equal Justice Works fellow at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, where she will prepare habeas petitions.
“This helped tremendously prepare me for my fellowship, as it is exactly the kind of work I’ll be doing very soon,” she says. “The experience was great because I got to work with the best mentors and team – such dedicated advocates who were not only committed to our client but also supportive of each other, personally and professionally.”
And she, adds, she will never forget this case. “Finding out that my client was released was incredible! It reminded me that the rule of law does still exist,” she says. “It reminded me that attorneys are very powerful and can use that power to do good in this world.”
The home of UCLA School of Law’s robust and renowned programming in immigration law and policy has a new name: the UCLA Miñana Family Center for Immigration Law and Policy.
UCLA School of Law professor Rick Hasen has been uncommonly busy lately. At a time when his agenda has been full of successful projects and honors, Hasen traveled to Philadelphia for the annual meeting of the American Law Institute.
Speakers, students, and guests came together to create a moment of uplift and community at UCLA Law’s 75th commencement ceremony, which took place in Pauley Pavilion on May 15.