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Your Values are Your Compass, California Chief Justice Tells 2015 SCU Law GraduatesUse your values as your compass and safeguard the well-being of others, Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye of the Supreme Court of California urged the 223 graduating students from Santa Clara University School of Law. The law school's commencement took place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, in the University's Mission Gardens. Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye is the 28th Chief Justice of the State of California, the first Filipina American and the second woman to serve in this role. During her commencement address, she noted that the graduates are "inheriting three centuries of unfinished challenges, which are morphing into modern-day, contemporary challenges." "You have approximately 50 privileged years to go hard, and bend the arc of justice," she said. She noted the dire need for legal aid for low-income people, including 90 percent of California litigants in housing and family law who are self-represented, and those for whom only 1,000 lawyers out of the state's 165,000 practice in legal aid. Born in Sacramento, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye earned her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Davis, graduating with honors after first attending Sacramento City College. She received her J.D. from UC Davis School of Law. She received an honorary doctor of law degree from Santa Clara University during the ceremony. Universiy President Michael Engh, S.J., also spoke to the graduates, saying, "you are the voices of justice in an increasingly complex and inequitable world," and urging them to "continue to bring justice to the innocent, to serve those who would otherwise have no legal counsel, and speak truth when it challenges the status quo." Santa Clara Law's 2015 graduating class comprised 47 percent women and 53 percent men. Fifty three percent of the graduates identified as Caucasian, with 23 percent identifying as Asian; 12 percent Hispanic; 4 percent multi-ethnic, and 2 percent African-American. Eighty one graduates received certificates in various areas of high-tech law; another 24 received certificates in public-interest and social-justice law; and 20 specialized in international law. Among the awards for outstanding graduates given earlier in the graduation season, student Sarah Mirza received the Inez Mabie Award for the Outstanding Graduate based on academic performance, scholarly activities, leadership and service roles at the law school and in the community. Catherine Nguyen received the Dean's Outstanding Student Leadership Award for exemplifying the school's motto of "lawyers who lead" and serving other students, the school, and community. Kambrie L. Keith was named the Pro Bono Student of the Year, for the graduate who has volunteered the most hours during the 2014-15 school year. About Santa Clara University School of Law Santa Clara University School of Law, one of the nation's most diverse law schools, is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. Santa Clara Law offers students an academically rigorous program including certificates in high tech law, international law, public interest and social justice law, and privacy law, as well as numerous graduate and joint degree options. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Law is nationally distinguished for its faculty engagement, preparation for practice, and top-ranked programs in intellectual property. For more information, see law.scu.edu.
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