Three members of the UCLA School of Law faculty are featured in an essay that appears in the opinion section of The New York Times, which recounts the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. Ann Carlson, Ingrid Eagly, and Jon Michaels are among the 35 legal experts from around the country whom the Times quotes on matters ranging from the firings at independent agencies to President Trump’s clashes with the judiciary.
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J.D Environmental Law
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J.D. Business Law & Policy
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J.D. David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law & Policy
The Eaton fire that ignited in January struck close to home for second-year UCLA School of Law student Amber Grimmer ’26, damaging her 90-year-old grandmother’s house and devastating the Pasadena neighborhood where Grimmer spent vacations growing up.
“It was a very emotional and stressful experience for our whole family dealing with the impact of the fires and watching the neighborhood change so drastically,” says Grimmer. “For that reason, I was very motivated to give back to the Los Angeles community.”
Robina Henson ’25 was motivated to help the community in the aftermath of the fires and has worked eight volunteer shifts. “Through this work, I have become better able to continue pro bono work in the tenants, immigration, and FEMA spaces, and I am grateful to LAFLA for partnering with UCLA to provide students with this opportunity,” she says.
In addition to gaining specific legal skills related to disaster relief, Grimmer, Henson, and their fellow students are learning how to address issues around meeting the needs of immigrant communities, protecting tenants’ rights, and addressing the lack of affordable housing.
“The community benefits from free legal assistance on critical areas thanks to the support of students volunteering at the DRC, and it’s wonderful to witness such a strong commitment among the next generation of lawyers,” says Carlos H. Valdes, the pro bono manager at LAFLA. “Many wildfire survivors seeking help would otherwise struggle to navigate legal processes on their own. This support can prevent homelessness, unfair evictions, and financial exploitation during this critical time.”
The students also attended trainings touching on non-legal matters, like how to work with people who have undergone trauma, which Grimmer says is essential to providing support for her grandmother and others.
“We learn about issues in class, but working directly with clients shows us that the law is personal and requires a human touch,” she says. “We are helping people rebuild their lives.”
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Please join us for a panel discussion on police use of force in healthcare facilities. As a case study of policing in hospitals, the UCLA Law Research for Change research team has analyzed use of force records from Veterans Affairs facilities in Los Angeles, Tampa, and Columbus. This analysis provides insight into when, why, and how police use force against veterans and other marginalized patient groups, and the impact of policing in veterans' healthcare. Speakers will include practitioners, scholars, and the UCLA Law Research for Change Fellows. This project is part of the UCLA Criminal Justice Program's 2024–2025 Research for Change Initiative generously supported by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation.
The event will take place on April 7th from 12:15-1:30 in Room 1447 of the UCLA School of Law. The event is co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice Program, the Critical Race Studies program, the Disability Law Journal, the Health Law and Policy Program, the Public Interest Law and Policy Program, and the Veterans Legal Clinic.
Please RSVP by March 31st for lunch.
Join the Federalist Society at UCLA for a panel featuring prominent District Attorneys from Southern California: Los Angeles DA Nate Hochman and Riverside DA Mike Hestrin! These distinguished panelists will discuss their approach to criminal justice and the challenges facing DAs today.
The event is moderated by Prof. Pavel Wonsowicz and features opening remarks by UCLA Law Dean Michael Waterstone.
There will be time for Q&A, so submit your questions on our RSVP form! Donuts available for attendees while supplies last.
RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/ZRp1KhXWxTrA947s9
UCLA School of Law’s academic excellence and national prominence has been highlighted in a new publication that tabulates the most influential and impactful current legal scholars.