Legal Studies Latest News as of 1/17/24

Legal Studies Spring 2024 Announcement: An Opportunity for Undergraduates to
Participate in a Berkeley Law JD Skills Class with the OPTION of earning 1 unit of LS 199
Individual Research Credit

In Spring 2024, undergraduates will have a unique opportunity to play the role of witnesses in a Berkeley Law JD Professional Skills Class (Depositions: Law 246.3), taught by Professor Henry Hecht.

Professor Hecht seeks six (6) students to serve as role-playing witnesses. Students selected will be expected to prepare in advance by reading a witness statement and a very limited amount of background material. Witnesses will then be expected to participate during the semester in six (6) Tuesday afternoon classes from 3:35 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., on February 6, February 13, March 5, March 12, April 2, and April 9. (Note: It is possible that events during the semester will cause a change in dates, but you will be given notice in advance of any changes.) 

During these six (6) classes, you will play the role of a witness for either the plaintiff or the defendant in a mock case.

Students selected must be able to commit to attending all six (6) Tuesday afternoon classes.
Professor Hecht's Depositions course is a lawyering skills course, in which Berkeley Law students, working in small groups, simulate the process of preparing witnesses for their depositions and then taking as well as defending their depositions. Practicing Bay Area lawyers attend these sessions, observe the law students in action, and critique their performances. 

(Note: A deposition is a pre-trial legal procedure in which witnesses in a civil lawsuit answer questions by the opposing parties under oath, typically in a law office rather than a courtroom.)

Playing the role of a witness will allow you to gain insight into the US system of civil litigation and to see it in operation. In addition, it will provide you with a chance to meet and talk with Berkeley Law students and Bay Area attorneys. Finally, witnesses will earn a $50.00 Amazon gift card for their service.

To Apply:
Please apply by e-mail to Professor Hecht at hhecht@law.berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail), by no later than
Wednesday, January 24, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Please include the words “Application to be a Witness” and your last name in the subject line of your e-mail. In your cover message, please include a brief statement about why you are interested in taking part in this class; and attach your resume.
Students' applications will be reviewed by Professor Hecht, and he will notify students of his decisions by no later than Monday, January 29, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

OPTION: Earn 1 Unit of LS 199 Course Credit for Supervised Independent Research with
Professor Perry

Students who choose this OPTION have the opportunity to earn one (1) unit of LS 199 P/NP course credit for their service as a witness in Professor Hecht’s Depositions class under the supervisor of Professor Perry. In order to earn this supervised independent research credit,

2 students will be required to do some additional readings on the civil litigation process and on the participant observation method, which are described below. At the end of the semester, students selecting this option must submit a paper of at least ten pages in length, exclusive of notes and bibliography. The requirements for the LS 199 course credit, offered by Professor Perry, are described below.

Requirements for LS 199 credit:

i. Attend all six (6) class role playing sessions, and prepare for the role plays;
ii. Take notes on what you did and what you observed, preferably in a small note pad,
organized by the date of the session; and submit the raw, handwritten pages along
with your final paper;
iii. Read materials, posted on bCourses, on participant observation methods; and consider how those method(s) apply to your own experience;
iv. Read two chapters, posted on bCourses, from Robert Kagan’s Adversarial Legalism:
The American Way of Law, focusing especially on Chapter 6, which mentions
depositions; and
v. Papers will be graded on a P/NP basis by Professor Perry.
If you want to pursue this option, specify that in your cover message to Professor Hecht when you apply; and he will let Professor Perry know.

We have two student worker positions for our Rausser College advising office.  

We're very fun and cool, send students our way!

Work Study Job Number: 8454646924

6-12 hours/week

Rausser College Office of Instruction and Student Affairs

Front desk support, student services, social media 

##########

13) Tons of Rsrch info

Tons of Rsrch info

Haas Scholars Program 

Every year, the Haas Scholars Program funds 20 students for up to $14,800 to carry out a capstone project in the summer preceding and during their final year on campus. Haas Scholars also receive guidance from their faculty mentors (who also receive a stipend) and from a full-time staff member, membership in a close-knit interdisciplinary community of scholars, and connections to an alumni network of more than 500 members.  To be eligible, students must have: a  3.45+ UCB GPA, intend to graduate Fall ’24 or Spring ’25, and demonstrate financial need (Estimated Family Contribution of <$26,000). Interested students should attend an upcoming info session and contact the Program Manager for an appointment to discuss their eligibility and project proposal.

SURF L&S 

SURF L&S provides undergraduates in the College of Letters and Science with funding to undertake concentrated summer research in preparation for a senior thesis or similar major capstone project in their final semesters at Cal. Fellows receive a summer stipend of $5,000 for seven weeks of research. In addition to the funding, students benefit from regular meetings with their research cluster cohort and from numerous workshops. To qualify, students must have the support of a UC Berkeley affiliated faculty member and the application requires students to prepare a research proposal related to their project. The application deadline is March 1, 2024, and applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of OURS's "How to Write a Research Proposal Workshops" in January and to participate a draft workshop with one of the SURF mentors in February.  

The Judith Lee Stronach Baccalaureate Prize

The Stronach Baccalaureate Prize supports graduating seniors to undertake a public service, creative, or community-based research project in the year following graduation (Fall '23, Spring and Summer '24 graduates eligible for the 2024 award). Recipients are awarded up to $25,000 for projects that serve the public good and heighten awareness of social issues.Application Deadline: Friday, March 1, 2024.  Interested students are highly encouraged to make an appointment with the program manager to discuss their project ideas. Email mwcrabb@berkeley.edu for more information or questions.

January Information Sessions & Workshops at OURS
For a full list of forthcoming events, please visit and register for sessions at  the OURS events page. Registration is required so that we can communicate with registrants if there are any changes to any events. 

• Stronach Prize Information Session, Wednesday, January 10, 2-3pm on ZOOM
• "How to Write a Research Proposal," Thursday January 11, 10-11am on ZOOM
• Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Thursday January 11th 12pm, ZOOM 
• OURS Undergraduate Research Opportunities (Haas Scholars, SURF L&S, Rose Hills Summer Scholarships) Info Session, Tuesday January 16, 11am-12 noon, ZOOM
• Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Tuesday January 16th 12pm, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM 
• Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Wednesday January 17th 10am, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM 
• "How to Write a Research Proposal," Wednesday January 17, 12 noon, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM
• Haas Scholars Program Information Session, Friday January 19th 10am, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle & ZOOM 
• OURS Undergraduate Research Opportunities (Haas Scholars, SURF L&S, Rose Hills Summer Scholarships) Info Session, Thursday January 18, 12 noon, Location: HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
• Stronach Prize Information Session, Thursday, January 18, 1-2pm on ZOOM
• "How to Write a Research Proposal," Tuesday January 23rd 12pm, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM 
• Stronach Prize Information Session, Friday, January 26, 10-11am on ZOOM
• "How to Write a Research Proposal," Tuesday January 30th 3pm, HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
• "How to Write a Research Proposal," Wednesday January 31, 11am-12 noon,  HYBRID - 3401 Dwinelle Hall & ZOOM
• Stronach Prize Information Session, Thursday, February 1, 4-5pm in person in 3401 Dwinelle Hall

##########

14) PhD Studentships

PhD Studentships

##########

15) JusticeCorps

JusticeCorps

Are you interested in Law and Social Justice?

Applications for the 2024-2025 JusticeCorps Program as well as the 2024 Access to Justice Summer Internship are now available! Continuing students & Graduating seniors interested in Public Service, Law, Social Justice, and/or community service can find the JusticeCorps internship and fellowship applications on our website. JusticeCorps is an academic year program. If you are interested in a summer internship, click here to learn about the Access to Justice Summer internship.  

JusticeCorps is an AmeriCorps program that will engage approximately 55 continuing university students from Bay Area Partner Universities and 8 graduate fellows in intensive volunteer service in the self-help centers of the Superior Courts of: San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Francisco Counties for the 2024-2025 program year. The self-help centers assist litigants who cannot afford an attorney; to help themselves resolve their legal matters.

Legal Access Interns commit to serve for 300 hours, which is roughly equivalent to 2 4-hour shifts each week over the academic year. Fellows commit to 1700 hours of service over 11.5 months beginning in mid-August, 2024.

Benefits for all JusticeCorps members include:

• The opportunity to serve their community

• One-on-one interaction with litigants

• Practical law and social services-related experience

• Daily opportunities to work with lawyers

• Courtroom observation

• Shadow days with judicial officers

• Field project or internship credit

• Letters of recommendation for law school or graduate school

Legal Access Interns also earn an AmeriCorps education award. Currently $1,565.08 (This award can be used to pay back loans or for future education). Student members also receive transportation reimbursement. 

Graduating seniors should apply for the full-time JusticeCorps Fellowship. In addition to the benefits above, Fellows receive:

• A $33,000 living allowance,

• Medical insurance

• Loan forbearance (for qualifying student loans)

• Education awards totaling $10,000 including an AmeriCorps Eli Segal Education award and the California For All Award. These awards can be used to pay back qualifying loans or saved for future education.

• Childcare benefits.

For more information, please visit ourwebsite.

Fellow Applications are due by 2/12/2024

Student member Applications are due by 2/25/24.

##########