04/26/2026
Every spring, I’m reminded just how powerful commencement can be.
There’s something awe-inspiring about watching graduates cross the stage not just with diplomas—but with stories.
This year was especially meaningful.
I had the privilege of seeing former students walk across that stage—about to step into the profession as colleagues.
That moment never gets old.
And then, an added highlight: Dean Erwin Chemerinsky as keynote.
For those outside legal academia, Chemerinsky is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading constitutional law scholars. He serves as Dean of UC Berkeley School of Law, was the founding dean of UC Irvine School of Law, has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and has authored hundreds of articles and multiple leading treatises in constitutional law.
In other words—when he speaks, lawyers listen.
But what stayed with me wasn’t just the credentials.
It was the reminder of what this profession really asks of us:
* Intellectual rigor
* Courage in uncertain moments
* And a deep responsibility to the rule of law
Commencement isn’t an ending.
It’s a handoff.
To the next generation of lawyers who will shape families, businesses, and the legal system itself.
And sitting there, watching it unfold—I couldn’t help but feel incredible grateful to have found this calling
