Who’s coming to law school, and why? Welcome back to our series meeting incoming Berkeley Law students! Our incoming class comes from all walks of life and all corners of the world, including Samuel Kippen. Samuel is from Hawai'i but spent the last few years in St. Louis as a civil rights enforcement officer. He graduated undergrad in 2011 and brought his wife and 8-year-old son to Berkeley with him. Learn more about Sam in his own words below: Q: Why law school? Why now? A: My parents were public servants. They raised me to understand that I have a kuleana to work for the common good. Following their example, I dedicated my career to the cause of social equity as an organizer, advocate, and public administrator. I am returning to school in my 30s to gain the legal tools I need to advance the public interest. At Berkeley Law, I will develop my expertise in anti-discrimination law in pursuit of my goal of becoming a civil rights attorney. Q: Why Berkeley Law? A:Berkeley Law is known for its commitment to educating public interest attorneys and it puts that commitment into action. The full-tuition scholarship I was awarded through the Public Interest Scholars Program has made accessing law school feasible for me as a student parent. I began my career in organizing in the Bay Area over a decade ago. The formative on-the-job education I received here started me on the path to law school. It is thrilling to return all these years later to take the next step on my public interest journey at UC Berkeley, the intellectual heart of Bay Area justice work. #BerkeleyLaw #LawSchool #LawStudent

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Turns out, marshmallows are way more high stakes than they look! Students participating in the Social Enterprise Clinic recently tackled the Marshmallow Challenge — building the tallest freestanding structure out of spaghetti, tape, and string to support a single marshmallow. The exercise highlighted key principles of effective legal practice: • Iterative Strategy Over Static Planning: Successful legal work relies on stress testing and continuous refinement, not just theory. • Agile Collaboration: Meeting tight client deadlines requires rapid alignment, active listening, and team-first execution. • Focus on Client Outcomes: The marshmallow represents the client’s core goal. Regardless of how sophisticated a legal strategy looks on paper, it must deliver real-world results. Experiential learning at Berkeley Law bridges the gap between legal theory and practical advocacy. #Berkeley Law 📸: @minhconnors

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New Asked and Answered videos have entered the villa! Got a question or want to be featured? DM us! #BerkeleyLaw

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