kgaclc 20th anniversary celebration event program
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E D U C A T I O N. S E R V I C E. S U C C E S S.
Celebrating twenty years of educating law students and providing free legal services to the community
with competence, conscience, and compassion
20th anniversary celebration
october 25, 2014
2 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
A Message from the Executive Director
Dear Friends,
I am so glad to be back as Executive Director!
Your presence here tonight is a tribute to the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center and the dedication and commitment of everyone associated with it. Without your support and the support of the University, the Law Center would not be able to continue to educate and challenge our students and inspire them to become lawyers of conscience, competence and compassion.
Experiential learning has been going on here for the last 20 years, long before the ABA and the State Bar became seriously interested in the concept. Graduates who participated as students at the Law Center frequently describe it as the best experience of their law school career. Watching the current students in action energizes and motivates me. I will do all I can to support the mission of KGACLC - an exceptional place where individuals without the means to remedy grave injustices obtain representation and advice. In turn, our students learn how to represent clients under the close supervision of our nationally-recognized clinical professors.
Everyone realizes that the Law Center could not continue without the fi nancial support of law fi rms, attorneys and other individuals. Our benefactors give in the spirit of the late former Dean of the Law School, George Alexander and his wife Katharine, who so generously started an endowment for the Law Center in 2004.
Much of tonight’s success is due to the hard work of the Celebration Committee, which includes many members of the Law Center’s Advisory Board and our Staff – thank you. I also want to highlight our partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Ignatian Center and the Markkula Center – our common Jesuit mission of service to our community unites us in our endeavors. I am especially grateful for the support of Michael E. Engh, S.J., the University President.
To our sponsors and everyone here tonight, thank you so much for making our 20th Anniversary Celebration a huge success! Have a wonderful evening.
Cynthia A. MertensExecutive Director
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 3
WELCOMING REMARKSLisa KloppenbergDean of the Santa Clara University School of Law
CELEBRATORY REMARKS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTSCynthia A. MertensExecutive Director, Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
THE LAW CENTER THEN AND NOW - A BRIEF PERSPECTIVEJim Hammer, Esq.Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Co-founder
KEYNOTE ADDRESSLuis J. Rodriguez President Emeritus, State Bar of CaliforniaIntroduced by Jim Hammer
THE FOUNDERS’ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDBrief introductory video, presented by Jim Hammer Award presented by Ruben Pizarro and Jim Hammer
Acceptance remarks by Eric and Nancy WrightKatharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Co-founders
THE LIVE AUCTIONRichard Alexander, tonight’s auctioneerIntroduced by Christopher Schumb
CLOSING REMARKS Cynthia A. Mertens
THE MYSTERY PRIZESergio LópezKatharine & George Alexander Community Law Center Staff
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4 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 5
A Message from Michael E. Engh, S.J.President, Santa Clara University
I congratulate the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center on this milestone and express my gratitude to its director, attorneys and staff who continue to serve our community with selfl essness and commitment.
Th e Law Center truly embodies the values of SCU. It serves the community of which we are a part and gives students the opportunity to understand and improve the lives of those with the least education, power, and wealth.
Th e Law Center’s distinction rests in the fact that it provides direct legal services to the poorest in our community while training law students to be lawyers of conscience, competence and compassion.
Th anks to the hands-on, experiential learning off ered to our law students by the Law Center’s attorneys and staff , their collective impact on our community is truly transformative. In line with the University’s values of engagement and solidarity, the Law Center is an integral part of our eff orts to build a more humane, just, faith-fi lled, and sustainable world. May the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center continue to serve our community for many more years to come.
Michael E. Engh, S.J.President
6 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 7
Introduced byJim Hammer, Esq.Law Center Co-Founder
Luis J. Rodriguez President Emeritus, State Bar of California
On October 12, 2013, Luis J. Rodriguez was sworn in as the 89th President of the State Bar of California. He is the fi rst Latino, the fi rst active Public Defender and the fi rst Santa Clara Law School alumnus to serve as President of the State Bar.
Luis attended Santa Clara University as an undergraduate. While at SCU, his commitment to social justice blossomed
when he joined a coalition of student groups to urge the school’s administration to divest from South Africa’s then apartheid government; he fought for an expansion of the Ethnic Studies curriculum, and participated in student politics. Upon graduation, Luis was honored with the Nobili Award. Th e award, named after SCU founder John Nobili, S.J., is given by the faculty and the Provost to the graduate deemed outstanding in academic performance, personal character, school activities, and constructive contribution to the University.
Luis went on to Santa Clara School of Law, where he was active with the La Raza law students, and he continued his commitment to diversity and access to justice. In 1994, he joined the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Offi ce, where he has worked for the last 19 years to fi ght for the rights of indigent adults and children charged with criminal off enses.
In his role as Special Counsel to then Public Defender, Michael P. Judge, Luis was also key to advancing Mr. Judge’s commitment to the diversity of the attorneys in the offi ce. Luis was instrumental in ensuring that not only attorneys were representative of the diverse population in Los Angeles County but that law clerks were similarly representative of the county’s diverse community.
Luis has taken leadership roles throughout the years as President of the Los Angeles County Mexican American Bar Association, President of the California La Raza Lawyers Association, President of the Latino Public Defender Association, member of the California State Board of Education and Chair of the State Bar of California’s Council on Access and Fairness (COAF). Th e mission of COAF is to advise the State Bar Board of Trustees on appropriate strategies consistent with State Bar policies and procedures that enhance opportunities and advancement in the legal profession for diverse populations, particularly those who have been historically under-represented.
Because of the obstacles he faced and the support that he received from many, Luis forever committed himself to being the voice for those who have no voice. He is happily married. He and his wife are raising two young, socially-conscious and loving girls who will become strong, independent and compassionate women.
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8 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 9
Introduced byRuben Pizarro and Jim HammerLaw Center Co-Founders
Law Professors Eric and Nancy WrightLaw Center Co-Founders
Twenty years ago, when a disenfranchised community in East San José suff ered the injustice of unpaid wages and abuse in the work place, a group of committed Santa Clara La Raza law students and generous volunteers found in Professors Wright the assistance and inspiration they needed to provide relief in the form of free legal advice.
Th e Wrights’ enthusiastic support quickly went beyond its supervisory role as they saw the potential of this eff ort and its need for fi nancial viability. So, unfazed by their full teaching load and their many law school responsibilities, they applied for two grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the Legal Services Corporation. Both grants were approved in the total amount of $200,000. Th e money was put to use immediately to pay the rent of badly needed offi ce space and to hire two attorneys to supervise our law students. Th us, in 1994, the East San José Community Law Center (ESJCLC) was offi cially born thanks to the work and foresight of Professors Wright.
“In their combined 73 years of teaching, Eric and Nancy have taught literally thousands of SCU Law grads. Th ey are among the most respected and loved of all the professors at the law school. Students rave about their teaching, their genuine concern for them and their success, and their commitment to social justice. Th ey are known for taking action when they see an injustice; they are eff ective, committed and creative,” says Professor Cynthia Mertens, the Law Center’s current Executive Director and their long-time colleague.
In addition to their role in founding the Alexander Law Center, Professors Eric and Nancy Wright were the co-founders and initial co-directors of the Center for Social Justice and Public Service at Santa Clara. Th ey also co-founded and were the fi rst co-administrators of the Trina Grillo Public Interest Retreat.
Th eir teaching also refl ects their commitment to public interest, with Eric teaching consumer law and Nancy focusing on children and the law. In addition, for many years, they have jointly taught a course on Public Interest Practice, in which they encourage students to develop practical and relevant projects for underserved communities and the issues they face. Th ey have also co-taught a similar course on a number of occasions at Stanford Law School. Both law schools have recognized their contributions to public interest education. At Santa Clara, they have received Public Interest and Social Justice Recognition Awards as well as the First Year Professor of the Year Award and the Professor of the Year Award. At Stanford, in 2005, the law school established the Eric and Nancy Wright Chair in Clinical Law — the fi rst time that a Chair was endowed at one law school in honor of professors at another law school.
FOU
ND
ERS’
AW
ARD
10 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Th e Advisory Board
proudly salutes
Th e Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
on its 20th Anniversary
and congratulates
Professors Eric and Nancy Wright on their
Founders’ Lifetime Achievement Award
Board Members
Marlene BennettSara Folchi
Robert E. GreeleySylvia Kennedy
Estela López Carlos Mino
Robert NuddlemanRuth Silver TaubeNiels van Naarden
Bart Volkmer
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 11
LEADERS Th e Morrison & Foerster FoundationMichael E. Engh, S.J., President, Santa Clara UniversityWilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati FoundationHopkins & Carley
ADVOCATES Needham Kepner Fish & Rickard LLPJohn Marshall CollinsChristopher Schumb
PARTNERSCooley LLPBenjamin FangerSara FolchiTh e Law Foundation of Silicon ValleyLaw Offi ces of Balam LetonaMicrosoftRichard Schramm
SUPPORTERSTh e College of Arts and Sciences, Offi ce of the DeanTh e Ignatian Center for Jesuit EducationTh e Markkula Center for Applied EthicsEdward AlvarezAndrew Shaff erNarendra Th appeta
SPONSORING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Th ank you for supporting our dual mission of educating law students and serving our clients with competence, conscience, and compassion.
THANK YOU
Th e Law Center’s righteous work speaks to our true calling as lawyers,
to serve and seek justice for others.
Marisela Sandoval ’15SCU La Raza Law Student Association, Member
Law Center Workers’ Rights Student
12 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 13
Advisory Board
Marlene Bennett
Sara Folchi
Robert Greeley
Sylvia Kennedy
Estela López
Carlos Mino
Robert Nuddleman
Ruth Silver Taube
Niels van Naarden
Bart Volkmer
Alexander Community Law Center Staff
Margarita Alvarez, Employment Law Supervising AttorneyDianne Blakely-Depositar, Administrative DirectorReuben Castillo, Consumer Law ParalegalCaroline Chen, Low Income Tax Clinic Director, Supervising Attorney Marisol E. Durani, Legal AssistantErika Henderson, Administrative Director, GrantsMirna Henriquez, ReceptionistSergio López, CommunicationsScott Maurer, Consumer Law Supervising AttorneyCynthia Mertens, Executive DirectorLynette Parker, Immigration Law Supervising AttorneyMargarita Sandoval, Immigration Legal AssistantRuth Silver Taube, Employment Law Supervising Attorney
LAW CENTER STAFF AND ADVISORY BOARD
Without you, the work of the Law Center would not be possible. Th ank you for making a diff erence in the lives of so many law students and members of our community.
14 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Marlene Bennett, Esq.*Dianne Blakely-Depositar +Robert Greeley, Esq.*Sylvia Kennedy, Esq.*Estela López, Esq., Committee Chair *Sergio López+Cynthia Mertens, Professor of Law, Law Center Executive Director +Mariela Rodriguez +Ruth Silver Taube, Esq.*+
*Advisory Board Member+ Law Center Staff
CELEBRATION COMMITTEE
We recognize the Celebration Committee. Your work and dedication to this event and to the Alexander Law Center are truly inspirational. Th ank you!
THANK YOU
PLATINUM Brian Blacutt and Carol Blacutt-Underwood
SILVERDelma LockeEstela López & Haywood S. GilliamSasha MorganAllen & Cynthia RubyRuth Silver Taube & Melvyn Silver
BRONZEMichael AlcortaCynthia Mertens & Jim RowanKristi Nevarez
EVENT HOST COMMITTEE
Our sincere thanks for your fi nancial support and for reaching out to other supporters on behalf of the Law Center.
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 15
Many thanks to Dr. Lucia Albino Gilbert, SCU Professor of Psychology, for reaching out to the Women Winemakers of California (www.womenwinemakers.com) on our behalf. Th e Law Center is very grateful to you and the four event partners featured here in alphabetical order.
Our Gratitude to the Women Winemakers of California
arnswinery.com corison.com corrawines.com viader.com
Richard Alexander, Celebration Auctioneer Jack and Marni BalletoChuck Barry, SCU Photographer Nic Bertino, Law Technology and Digital Media Rigel Brooks, Founders’ Award Video Editor Reuben Castillo, Law Center Staff MemberMatthew Hall, Law Technology and Digital Media Keith L. Hames, Executive Director, Akoma Arts (Entertainment)Bill HirschJohn Marshall CollinsMichael Morales, Law Technology and Digital MediaTrang Morris, Catering Manager, Hotel ValenciaHoward and Sallie PetersChris Schumb Julie Stone, Operations and Campaigns, SCU Development Michelle Waters, Law Technology and Digital Media Garland Yee, Founders’ Award Videographer
A Very Special Th anksOur deepest gratitude to the following individuals and organizations for your unconditional support and assistance.
16 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
Our MissionOur Mission
Our mission is to educate law students in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards by serving individuals and communities in need with competence, conscience and compassion through pro bono legal representation and education.
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Legal Advice and RepresentationTh e Law Center leverages the evolving skills of law students, who work under the close supervision of experienced attorneys to provide free legal services. Clients are served through appointments scheduled during “clinic” days. Th is model achieves two goals:
• It allows law students to receive excellent training in the handling of cases involving real clients, which in turn allows them to become competent and compassionate attorneys.
• It provides very low-income clients with high-quality legal representation that they would not be able to aff ord otherwise.
Depending on the available resources, the Alexander Law Center may decide to off er full legal representation to a limited number of clients seen during its legal clinics or referred by partner agencies.
Education Th rough Community Workshops In addition to its legal clinics, the Law Center off ers a number of workshops in the areas of:• Consumer Rights • Tenant Rights • Workers’ Rights
Th ese workshops are given throughout the community in day-worker centers, ESL classes, community centers, homeless shelters and other venues as a way to disseminate basic legal information to the under-represented members of our community.
Making a dif ference. . .
Our ServicesOur Services
K G A C L Cking a dif ferenceking a dif ference
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 17
Consumer Law • Fraud and unfair business practices in the sale and fi nancing of used cars• Identity theft and inaccurate credit reports• Car repossession or towing issues• Debt collection harassment and other miscellaneous consumer issuesEmployment Law • Wrongful termination, unpaid wages• Harassment and discrimination at the workplace • Investigation of retaliation cases for the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement of the State of California• Family and Medical Leave Act and California Paid Family Leave Act issues• Representation at the Labor Commission and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board• Mediation at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission • Assistance with Superior Court Appeals from Labor Commission DecisionsImmigration Law Representation of adults and minors (including unaccompanied minors), in affi rmative applications and in deportation defense related to:• T visas for victims of human traffi cking, U visas for victims of crimes• Self-petitions based on VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act)• DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
. . .everyday.Our Practice AreasOur Practice Areas
Our Collaborative Work
(
Our Collaborative Work
Memberships• Bay Area Equal Pay Collaborative• South Bay Coalition to End Human Traffi cking• Santa Clara County Human Traffi cking Commission • Santa Clara County Wage Th eft Coalition
Partnerships for Workers’ Rights clinics led by supervising attorney Ruth Silver Taube• Th e Mexican Consulate in San José• Th e Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC)• Th e Vietnamese American Bar Association of Northern California (VABANC)• Th e Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC)• Yerba Buena High School and Mount Pleasant High School
• Petitions for political asylum
18 Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center
IN-KIND PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
SILENTAUCTION
Ronnie Lott, 49ers ticketsArns Winery
Kevin Mertens-Rowan, sous chef at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, Gourmet dinner for 8
Green Hills Country Club in MillbraeHartford Family Winery
La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos
San Francisco 49ers, Mini-helmet autographed by #49 Bruce MillerCorison Winery
Corra WinesViader Wines
Green Design (Greendesignplantscape.com), Gift card Sylvia Kennedy, Onyx necklace
Robert and Bonnie Peterson; A handcrafted, solar-powered water fountainDean Emeritus Don Polden and Cynthia Mertens, A delectable dinner for 8
Sayyora Shanazarova, Handcrafted purses from UzbekistanMade’ Sukerti Berg, Balinese Flower Watercolor
LIVE AUCTION
THANK YOU
OTHERIMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTIONS
Mementos of gratitude for award winners:Hotel Fairmont, San Francisco
Green Design (Greendesignplantscape.com), Gift card
Barry Swenson Builder, Wine sponsor
Celebrating twenty years of education, service and success 19
IN-KIND PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
Th e Law Center is grateful for the participation of the MetWest Terra Hospitality group, comprised of beautiful resort properties in California and other states. We are happy and honored to feature
these great hotels in our 2014 Donation Drawing.*
Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa, SausalitoHotel Abri, San Francisco
Th e Lodge at TiburonTh e Toll House Hotel, Los Gatos
Many thanks to Hotel Valencia for hosting our event so generously and for providing a fantastic item for our drawing.
Hotel Valencia, Santana Row
We’re grateful to our very supportive friends at the fabulous
Hotel Los Gatos & Dio Deka
Our gratitude to Mezcal, a local culinary jewel specializing in Oaxacan food, for its continued support.
Mezcal Mexican Restaurant & Bar
Th anks to Justin’s, right next to the SCU campus, for being a supportive neighbor and a provider of world-class dining experiences and top-notch food services.
Justin’s Restaurant, Catering and Event Production
Many thanks our good neighbor Fiorillo’s, for its continued support of the Law Center.
Fiorillo’s Restaurant & Banquet Facilities
* Th is year, to recognize the continued support of the campus community and our University Partners, the Donation Drawing was open only to SCU Faculty and Staff . We look forward to next year’s drawing during our annual event.
We would like to extend our deep gratitude to our university partners. Th rough your support and our collaboration, we seek to better serve our clients and to point our students towards a more complete, a more compassionate, and a more enriching Santa Clara education.
Michael E. Engh, S.J., PresidentSanta Clara University
The College of Arts and SciencesOffice of the Dean
THANK YOU
law.scu.edu/donate-to-kgaclc
We appreciate the support of