Downey Brand Hosts Luncheon for Students in UC Davis KHOP Program
July 23, 2024
Fostering diversity and supporting the next generation of legal professionals is an important component of Downey Brand’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
On Friday, Downey Brand was delighted to host the annual summer luncheon for the UC Davis School of Law King Hall Outreach Program (KHOP). This unique initiative, established to assist college students from underrepresented communities, provides invaluable guidance and preparation for the law school admissions process.
“We were thrilled to welcome a record 31 students to our firm, many of whom were experiencing a law firm environment for the first time,” said Marketing Manager Merry Iseley.
The luncheon, a testament to the firm’s commitment to mentoring, began with welcome remarks and an overview of Downey Brand and the legal profession by Mentoring and Professional Success Partner Tyson Hubbard. Steve Meyer, a former managing partner and passionate pro bono advocate, highlighted the firm’s robust pro bono program, which was followed by tips and advice from 1st-year associate Stella Rugama and several law students from the firm’s summer associate program.
“The students really enjoyed their time at the firm, and more than that, they were blown away by how approachable and kind the summer associates and attorneys were. I think they expected lawyers and future lawyers to be a little less accessible and were disarmed by their generosity,” said Joseph Schneider, Director of Admission and Outreach at UC Davis School of Law.
The event concluded with a tour of the firm’s newly remodeled office and ice cream treats in celebration of Sunday’s National Ice Cream Day. “It was a fun and fulfilling afternoon. The students were actively involved and posed many excellent questions,” added Merry Iseley.
Established in 2001, KHOP provides mentoring and pre-law advice throughout the school year and hosts weekend workshops as part of their summer and winter programs. These workshops help students develop essential skills for the law school admissions process, including writing, analytical, and logical reasoning skills, and explore various career paths available to law school graduates.
Downey Brand has proudly served as a KHOP partner in past years and is enthusiastic about continuing to support the program and hosting the annual summer luncheon for years to come.