Santa Clara University — U.S. District Judge Gives Advice to Santa Clara Law Graduates: Don't Be Afraid of Change

Business Wire, May 17, 2008

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The Honorable Phyllis Hamilton, U.S. District Court Judge and a Santa Clara University School of Law alumna addressed Santa Clara Law's class of 2008 at a commencement ceremony held today in the University's Mission Gardens.

Judge Hamilton graduated from Santa Clara Law 32 years ago and talked about how the law profession has changed since she began her career. Technological innovation and advancements have introduced a new layer of skills lawyers must possess in order to be successful, she said. "Today is as exciting of a time as ever to become a lawyer," Hamilton told the graduates. Hamilton also noted that more women are becoming lawyers. According to the American Bar Association 8.4 percent of law school graduates were women in 1976, the year Hamilton graduated from Santa Clara Law. Thirty years later, just over 50 percent of all graduates from law school are women. Santa Clara Law reflects that change, with women making up approximately 50 percent of the class of 2008. "The opportunities available to you are virtually limitless," Hamilton said.

Hamilton drew on her own experience as a lawyer, and now a judge, as she shared two pieces of advice with the graduates. "Strive to be the best person you can be," she said. She also encouraged students to keep an open mind, adding "don't be afraid of change, change can be good." Hamilton who serves as United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, San Francisco was presented with an honorary degree by Santa Clara University President, Paul Locatelli, S.J.

Among those joining Hamilton and Locatelli on the commencement stage were Mike Markkula, chairman of the Board of Trustees; Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren; and dean of Santa Clara Law, Donald Polden. "Santa Clara University's law school is graduating another outstanding class of lawyers. They have been educated for leadership roles in their communities and in industry, private law practice, government and the nonprofit sector. This is the law school's 96th graduating class and it exemplifies all of the great traditions and attributes of generations of Santa Clara law graduates," Polden said.

At the ceremony, 302 J.D degrees and 9 LL.M degrees were awarded. Of the J.D. degrees, 147 were awarded to women and 166 were awarded to students of color. The LL.M. (Masters of Laws) degrees included three programs, U.S. law for foreign lawyers, intellectual property law, and international and comparative law.

About Santa Clara University School of Law

Santa Clara University School of Law, founded in 1912 on the site of California's oldest operating higher-education institution, is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. One of the nation's most diverse law schools, Santa Clara Law offers its 975 students an academically rigorous program, including graduate degrees in international law and intellectual property law; combined J.D./MBA degree; and certificates in intellectual property law, international law, and public interest and social justice law. Santa Clara University School of Law is located in the world-class business center of Silicon Valley, and is distinguished nationally for our top-ranked program in intellectual property. For more information, see www.scu.edu/law.> About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California's Silicon Valley, offers its 8,685 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, plus master's and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master's universities, California's oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.