Senior United States District Judge Morrison England, ’77 and 83

The Hon. Morrison C. England, Jr., ’77 and ’83, was nominated by President George W. Bush to the position of United States District Court Judge, for the Eastern District of California, on March 21, 2002. Confirmed by the United States Senate to that position on August 1, 2002, he received his commission and assumed the office on August 2, 2002. A member of the Judge Advocate Generals Corps for the United States Army Reserve, his military service concluded upon his confirmation to the United States District Court. Judge England served as Chief Judge of the Eastern District of California from 2012 to 2016 and assumed senior status in 2019.    

Before his federal judgeship, Gov. Pete Wilson appointed Judge England as a Sacramento Municipal Court Judge in 1996, and he was elevated to the Sacramento Superior Court in 1997. First presiding over dependency and delinquency matters in the Juvenile Division, he was then assigned to a General Trial Court presiding over criminal and civil matters.   

In addition to court proceedings, Judge England was chair of the Superior Court’s Technology Committee, a member of the Superior Court’s Executive Committee, and a member, then Vice President of the Executive Board of the California Judge’s Association. Before his appointment to the Sacramento Superior Court, he was a partner with the firm of Quattrin, Johnson, Campora & England. 

Appointed by United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Judge England is currently a member of the Judicial Council of the United States on Information Technology and previously served multiple terms on the Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules for the United States. Additional long-term committee work for the United States, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Eastern District of California includes the Information Technology Advisory Council, the Ninth Circuit Courts and Community Committee, the State-Federal Judicial Council, the Committee for Public Information Community Outreach, the Judicial Advisory Committee, and the Technical Users Group Committee.   

Additionally, Judge England has traveled abroad to Afghanistan, Bosnia, The Republic of Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Morocco, and Pakistan as part of an exchange with the judiciary of each of those countries. The exchanges, which included discussion on issues of the Rule of Law and Intellectual Property, were sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Commerce, the United States Patent and Trade Office, and the Department of Justice. 

Judge England was a member of the University of the Pacific Board of Regents for nine years. Dedicated to serving McGeorge School of Law, he was a member of the Alumni Board of Directors, an Adjunct Professor of Law, a member then former President of the Anthony M. Kennedy Inn of Court, and served on the Kennedy Inn Executive Committee.  

In addition to his prodigious professional committee work, Judge England participates in educational outreach programs, hosts student groups to observe live proceedings in his courtroom, and annually presides in the Open Doors to Federal Courts program hosted by the Eastern District of California.      

In 2006, 2007, and 2014, Judge England was honored as “Judge of the Year” by the Capitol City Trial Lawyers, the Sacramento County Bar Association, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), respectively. In January 2016, he was named a Distinguished Alumni from the University of the Pacific and the ninth recipient of the University’s Medallion of Excellence Award. 

Judge England received a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific in 1977 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1983.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Kim Wilford, ‘94, serves as Chief Legal Counsel for the popular social fundraising platform GoFundMe, Inc. She is responsible for contracts, data security and privacy matters, our IP portfolio, litigation process, payments, and other risk management issues in this role. The platform, GoFundMe, has seen exponential growth in the last 11 years recording more than $15 billion raised from over 200 million donations to support personal causes and nonprofits worldwide.

Kim Wilford, ‘94, Chief Legal Counsel of GoFundMe, Inc.

Wilford was recognized as one of the top 20 general counsels in the world by the Financial Times in 2021. The honor recognizes corporate legal officers who have taken innovative approaches to a traditional role. 

Wilford’s first in-house role at KLA-Tencor was a change that unlocked her passion for strategic advising and business operations. Collaborating with cross-functional teams and having the opportunity to guide risk management and overall business growth while helping the company adhere to various global regulatory requirements and industry standards fueled her drive to become a general counsel. 

As WageWorks’s General Counsel, Wilford said she worked with another incredible team in a highly regulated and rapidly evolving space. For over a decade, she was a strategic business partner in developing and analyzing operational goals for their consumer-directed benefits business, planning around growth objectives, and eventually helped lead the company through its initial public offering. She also founded and led our social responsibility committee which annually drove financial and volunteer contributions for more than thirty philanthropic organizations.

While her journey has been one of extreme highs and certain transformational lows, she has always worked to make excellence a habit and to make herself proud. Her education at McGeorge School of Law provided her with the foundation needed to move through every difficulty and seize every opportunity. 

“I am extremely appreciative and honored to be an Alumni of Distinction,” Wilford said. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Capt. Michael A. Lilly, '74
Capt. Michael A. Lilly, ’74

Capt. Michael A. Lilly, USN (Ret.) graduated with honors from McGeorge School of Law (JD, 1974) and from UC Santa Cruz (BA, 1968). He had a distinguished career as Hawaii’s Attorney General and as a successful trial attorney for 45 years. He was licensed in Hawaii and California, appeared twice before the U.S. Supreme Court, and specialized in commercial, wrongful termination, and personal injury litigation. He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

As Attorney General, he was the State’s Chief Law Enforcement and Legal Officer. He was Chairman of the Governor’s Crime Committee, President of the Hawaii Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Director of the Western States Drug Information Network, and founder and member of the Vice President’s National Narcotics Border Interdiction System office in Hawaii. 

After returning to private practice, he won the largest wrongful termination jury verdict in State history ($2.1 Million). He also won Hawaii Supreme Court cases on wrongful termination, the right to campaign for political office, land reform, and open government. After protracted class action litigation, he obtained an exemption for vaccinated guide dogs from Hawaii’s animal rabies quarantine, for which he was awarded the National Access Partners Award from Guide Dog Users, Inc., the Helen Kinau Wilder Friendship Award from the Hawaiian Humane Society, and the Eye of the Pacific Guide Dog Foundation’s Mirikitani Recognition Award. He also was awarded the National Society of the DAR’s 1999 Outstanding Community Service Award. He represented the trustee in the James Lull Bankruptcy, the largest Ponzi scheme in state history, recovering tens of millions of dollars of hidden assets for Lull’s victims. 

Lilly is a Founding Director Emeritus of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. which operates the battleship as a memorial and tourist attraction.  He is on the Governor’s Advisory Board on Veterans Affairs, the Maui County Ethics Board, the Fundraising Chair of Guide Dogs of Hawaii, Inc., and a member of the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus Network. For nine years he served on the Honolulu Ethics Commission. He is a past member of the Secretary of the Navy’s Retiree Council (2009-2012), Trustee of Menlo College, President of the Navy League’s Pacific Region and Honolulu Council, Chairman and President of Diamond Head Theatre, President of the Association of the United States Navy’s Pearl Harbor Chapter, and member of the McGeorge Law School Alumni Board. He authored Nimitz at Ease, a book on how Admiral Nimitz’s relationship with his grandparents helped Nimitz win the Pacific War. He also authored If You Die Tomorrow, a layman’s book on estate planning, and is a frequent speaker on legal topics.

Lilly is a Vietnam War combat veteran. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and two Meritorious Service Medals. Lilly retired as a surface warfare Navy Captain after 30 years of service, active and reserve, including five commands. He is married to Cindy Walter and has four children. They reside in Kula, Maui.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Tia Boatman Patterson, ‘94
Tia Boatman Patterson, ‘94, is the president and CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation.

Tia Boatman Patterson, ‘94, is the President and CEO of the California Community Reinvestment Corporation. With years of executive leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, she previously served as the Associate Director of Housing, Treasury, & Commerce in the Executive Office of the President’s Office of Management & Budget.  

From 2014 to 2021, she served as the Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency where she brought about positive organizational change and significantly grew loan production. She simultaneously served as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Senior Advisor for housing from 2019 to 2020.  

From 2015 to 2021 she was a director on the National Council of State Housing Agencies Board, serving as Board Chair from 2018 to 2020.  

Patterson was general counsel for the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency from 2009 to 2014. She is recognized nationally and in the state of California as a policy expert in affordable housing, community development, small business, and economic development having served as a special assistant to four Speakers of the California State Assembly.  

Patterson received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Diego State University, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in the state of California and the District of Columbia. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni. 

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Arthur G. Scotland, ‘74
Justice Arthur G. Scotland, ‘74

After graduating with honors in 1974 from McGeorge School of Law, Arthur G. Scotland was a Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney prosecuting defendants in over 30 jury trials, then a California Deputy Attorney General representing the state in appeals and writs in California’s Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal and serving in the Legislative Unit. In 1982, he worked in the policy office of Attorney General George Deukmejian’s successful gubernatorial campaign, and, in 1983, he became the Governor’s Cabinet Secretary, the liaison between the Governor’s Office and the heads of state agencies and departments regarding administrative policy and programs. 

He was appointed a Judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court in 1987 and an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, in 1989 by Governor Deukmejian, then Presiding Justice of the court in 1998 by Governor Pete Wilson. As Presiding Justice, he started an award-winning outreach program holding oral arguments before students in high schools within the court’s jurisdiction. 

Scotland was named “Judge of the Year” by the Sacramento County Bar Association in 2004, and having served on the Judicial Council of California, the policy-making body for the state’s courts, he received the Judicial Council’s Ronald M. George Award for Judicial Excellence in 2010 for “extraordinary dedication to the highest principles of the administration of justice.”

As a past president of the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts, a nationwide organization created to improve the administration of justice and operation of state intermediate appellate courts, he was inducted into its Hall of Fame for his “notable and extraordinary service” to the organization. 

Upon retiring from the court in 2010, he represented the President pro-Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly in a successful lawsuit against the State Controller, then joined Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni as Of Counsel in 2012, specializing in government law and land use matters. In 2014, he was honored as “Distinguished Attorney of the Year” by the Sacramento County Bar Association.  

Other honors include the Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento’s President’s Award for his “unwavering support of diversity, inclusion, and equality; commitment to justice and civility; and steadfast dedication to making our community a better place,” and SacLEGAL’s Founders’ Award “in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.”  

Scotland is the past President of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court, an organization of jurists, attorneys, and law students dedicated to promoting ethics, civility, professionalism, and excellence in the law. He serves on the national American Inns of Court Board of Trustees and received the AIC’s prestigious A. Sherman Christensen Award “bestowed upon a member of the American Inns of Court who, at the local, regional, or national level, has provided distinguished, exceptional, and significant leadership to the American Inns of Court movement.” 

Having served on the Board of Regents of the University of the Pacific, Scotland continues to support his law school alma mater as an enthusiastic advocate and benefactor. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.  

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Tetiana Shamrai, LLM ’11
Welcome to Tetiana Shamrai, LLM ’11, a lawyer from Ukraine who now practices in the city of Ghent, Belgium.
  1. Tetiana, how did you decide to pursue your LLM at McGeorge?

In my final year of legal studies in Ukraine, I attended lectures by American and Canadian legal professionals – judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys – on the U.S. adversarial legal system. We learned the basics of trial advocacy, which we were able to apply at the end of the course during a mock trial. The Leavitt Institute for International Development, the organization that organized the lectures and the mock trial, had an agreement with McGeorge School of Law to offer a scholarship to the top students in the course or the mock trial. I was lucky enough to be among the four finalists who won the mock trial, and one of the two lucky ones who received an invitation to study at McGeorge School of Law in 2010. When I read about the high ranking of the international programs at McGeorge, the trial advocacy program and teaching of advocacy specialization, I felt that it was the right place to be getting my LLM degree.

  1. You had studied law in your home country, Ukraine, before coming to McGeorge. Ukraine has a civil law legal system.  What was it like to study in a common law legal system?

Very challenging at the beginning, interesting along the way, and enriching at the end. I could literally feel my brain “working hard” trying to process the information about the common law legal system.

  1. Did anything surprise you about Sacramento or McGeorge?

I was surprised by how quickly I felt at home in both Sacramento and McGeorge. Sacramento turned out to be a very green and cozy capital with a charming Old Town, an eye-catching Downtown, and a vibrant Midtown. McGeorge proved to be a law school where an individual approach exists not only on paper. The staff of the McGeorge international programs went an extra mile to help new students settle in and share all possible tips and tricks essential for a comfortable life on campus. It is priceless for a newcomer. Most of my questions were answered proactively during the campus tour or via e-mail exchange, so I didn’t have to worry about a thing.

  1. Are there any courses that stand out for you from your LLM studies that were particularly helpful or interesting?  

I was lucky to have professors who were passionate about their subject, so I would not be lying if I said that I would make the same exact choice if I were to choose today or had the opportunity to go back in time and change something. Nevertheless, the Trial Advocacy course taught by Professor Cary Bricker and Professor Jay Leach as well as the Global Lawyering Skills by Professor Mary-Beth Moylan stand out in my memory as instrumental in propelling students interested in trial advocacy towards being  outstanding professionals with hands-on practical skills.

  1. Could you please describe your career path since you received your LLM?  Do you think the LLM contributed to your options?

After graduating from McGeorge in 2011, I returned to my homeland and started working at a law firm in Kyiv. In parallel with my work at the law firm, I coordinated the BUILD Initiative, a program aimed at teaching the basics of the adversarial proceedings to the Ukrainian law students. Later, I was promoted to the Country Director of the BUILD program, and I served in this capacity until the program ended in September 2013. Around that time, I left the law firm and started teaching a course “Adversarial Proceedings” at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, a national research university in Kyiv. I worked there as an Assistant Professor for two years. In addition, I served as an ad hoc legal expert during trainings for prosecutors organized by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine in connection with the adoption of the new Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. From 2014 to 2019 I worked for international projects aimed at strengthening civil society (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung) and media in Ukraine (Council of Europe).

Then, I moved to Belgium. The last two years I have been working as a legal advisor in the Division of Policy Making of the City of Ghent. I am one of the project coordinators of the neighborhood budget project as well as one of the two employees responsible for the counter operation of the Association Guide, the support point for Ghent non-profit associations.

I know for a fact that every time I was hired, my McGeorge LLM degree was taken into account, and sometimes it made all the difference.

  1. What would your advice be to a law student who wants to have a career like yours?

Know your fortes. Focus on what you like and what you are good at. Work on your weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to work hard at the very beginning of your career – hard work does pay off in the long run.

Maggie Baingana Kali, LLM ’04

Welcome to Maggie Baingana Kali, LLM ’04, who is a lawyer based in Kigali, Rwanda.

  1. Maggie, could you please tell us your career path since you received your LLM at McGeorge?

It is almost 20 years since I was an LLM student at McGeorge School of Law, but it feels like it was just yesterday. Right after graduation, I was not thinking about my career path. I was only thinking about returning home to Rwanda as quickly as possible in order to marry my then fiancé Jean-Louis. After my wedding in August 2004, Dr. Margee Ensign, who was the dean of the School of International Studies at University of the Pacific (UOP) at the time, got in touch with me and invited me to join her and work on establishing a fellowship program through Tulane University’s technical assistance program to Rwanda. I had come from a criminal law/prosecution background to an LLM in government law and policy, and now was veering off that road and landed myself into development work in higher education and the health sector in Rwanda! I worked for Tulane University programs in Rwanda for several years doing training, faculty development in e-learning with the University of Rwanda, and managing multi-million-dollar grants from USAID and CDC. I got to interact with the government, international development partners and teaching faculty at the University of Rwanda, an experience I cherish until now.

During the many years with Tulane, I missed legal practice and therefore sought occasions that would help me to keep one foot in the legal world. I got together with other female lawyers, and we founded an association of women lawyers in Rwanda with the mission to advocate for women and raise awareness for women’s issues in post-genocide Rwanda. In the meantime, Rwanda’s economy was growing, and the country was opening up as an international investment destination. There was a need for English-speaking lawyers to support the business community and I saw this as an answer to my desire to enter into private legal practice. In 2017 we established Shield Associates, a corporate/commercial law firm that serves the business community in Kigali and the region. In less than 5 years, and with two years of covid interruption, Shield has grown to become one of the leading law firms in Rwanda and in East Africa, with clients from Europe, the U.S., the Middle-East, and many countries in Africa.

  1. You were a trailblazer as the first Rwandan attorney to come to McGeorge for your LLM. Could you please tell us what it was like to arrive in Sacramento and to be immersed in American legal education?

It was my first time leaving the continent of Africa! It was a whirlwind for me. I had studied in English all my formal education years, and I went to law school in Uganda at Makerere University and studied law based on the British common law system. But when I arrived for my first class, I could have sworn they were not speaking English. Everyone (except Professor Linda Carter) spoke so fast, and they used so many acronyms and phrases that I had never heard before. In one class, I was sure I had read through all my assigned reading only to be asked why the plaintiffs had to sue Uncle Sam! There was no one named Uncle Sam in all the reading I had done the previous night, so I asked the professor who this person is and whose uncle he was. When the class burst out laughing, the professor responded to me with so much grace and explained the origin of referring to the federal government as Uncle Sam. He paused and asked everyone to be considerate and graceful with me as I was finding my bearings. This marked the beginning of my journey not only to learn the law, but also to discover the American culture and language.

All the teachers made sure that we knew that they were there to help us to learn and succeed. The school gave us opportunities to meet leaders in the government as part of our learning. I met then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Kerry, and many judges and legislators. The icing on the cake was being part of the Kennedy scholars, traveling with then-Dean Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., and meeting Justice Kennedy and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I also really wanted to meet the late Justice Antonin Scalia because I had ready so many decisions written by him, but it did not happen. To sum it up, my experience was simply awesome and I’m forever grateful.

  1. Which course or courses did you enjoy the most and why? What did you think of the law school community?

There were so many courses that were really wonderful. I especially enjoyed comparative criminal law because I had just come from working for our public prosecution during the time of prosecuting genocide cases. I also enjoyed constitutional law and international investment and development. One of my fondest memories during my education at McGeorge is being cast as the U.S. government delegate in mock UN deliberations discussing Guantanamo issues. My favorite answer to all those who were accusing the U.S. of wrong doing was, “I cannot comment due to national security considerations.”

  1. How would you describe the contribution of your LLM to your career? What has been your contribution to law practice in Rwanda and within the East Africa Community?

I have seen the contribution of my LLM mostly in the invaluable exposure to a diverse way of thinking, ideas, and approach to solving problems that I apply to my day-to-day legal professional engagements. The community of international and American students, and teachers with whom I formed friendships and professional contacts has helped me to get opportunities that I would not have had access to if I had not had this opportunity. Lastly, learning the foundations of U.S. law through the LLM really gave me an understanding of the American legal system and has helped to improve my confidence as I interact with and serve clients from that part of the world. I have served on the Rwanda Bar Association and the East Africa Law Society’s governing council and on its rule of law committee. I’m a member of Rwanda Leaders’ Fellowship and I’m an appointed director of the largest pan-African bank on the continent.

  1. Are you in touch with classmates from your LLM year?  Do you think that it would be useful to have a greater network of McGeorge LLM alums?

Yes, I’m in touch with some in Europe, the U.S. and some from Africa. This September, I was pleasantly surprised to run into my McGeorge roommate at the Orange County Airport! Suffocating bear hugs exchanged and it did good to my soul. I absolutely believe it would be beneficial for everyone to have a network of McGeorge LLM alumni for personal and professional exchanges.

  1. As a final question, we can’t resist asking about a very special wedding shower that we happen to know took place in Sacramento.  Could you please tell us about that?

Oh, this is a memory I still cherish! I don’t know of any other place where professors, international and American students, and friends work together to throw an amazing bridal shower bash for this African student who was far from home and could not have in her wildest dreams imagined such a blessing! There was amazing food, meaningful and scandalous gifts and heartwarming speeches and well wishes for my wedding! I will never forget that day! That is a testament to the type of community/family I found at McGeorge. I would love for our experiences at McGeorge to culminate into the establishment of an alumni network.

Gordian Hasselblatt, ’95

Gordian Hasselblatt, ’95, is a McGeorge School of Law LLM alumnus and a member of the law school’s International Board of Advisors (IBOA).

  1. Gordian, you have had a long association with McGeorge that continues today.  Could you please tell us when you did your LLM studies and what the program was like at that time?

My connection to McGeorge does indeed go back a long way. In fact, McGeorge has been an instrumental part of almost my entire professional career. I took the LLM in Transnational Business Practice in ‘94/’95. This was a great, life-changing experience for me, both on a professional and personal level! This high-level program perfectly prepares you to practice in the international arena. As for my personal experience, let me simply say that many of my friends, almost in all corners of the globe, are former classmates or students of mine from McGeorge. The allegiance to McGeorge is shared by nearly all alumni and lasts a lifetime!

It had always been crystal clear in my mind that I wanted to attend a postgraduate Master’s program in the U.S. Although there were a substantial number of LLM programs in the U.S. back then, I only applied to McGeorge, because the program had a ‘unique selling point’ in that it combined excellent education on campus with a 3-month-internship abroad, which made it even more appealing to me. A slightly modified version of this program is still offered by McGeorge today, beginning with the fall semester on campus, followed by a four-month internship abroad.

  1. After McGeorge, what was your career path and what type of practice do you have today?

Before I took the LLM at McGeorge, I had already been practicing law in the international arena for almost three years. At that time, I was already fortunate enough to be active in the exciting field of IP law, which inevitably takes you into jurisdictions around the globe. With this international spirit in mind, it seemed only logical to take the LLM in Transnational Business Practice at McGeorge, which helps prepare you not only to survive, but to truly engage in an international practice!

  1. You have been very active with the IBOA over the years.  When did you join the IBOA? Could you please describe some of the activities in which you have participated? 

I have been an active member of the McGeorge family ever since my studies in Salzburg and Sacramento in ‘94/’95. From the very first year, we hosted legal interns in our various offices worldwide; one year even three students at the same time. Additionally, as of the year 2000, I started, together with our firm, to organize and sponsor the Friday evening receptions at the biannual alumni reunions. Over the following years, I also became involved in putting together the academic program for the alumni events, together with Keith Pershall and, more recently, Nora Klug, ’01. When I was asked to join the IBOA some 10 or 12 years ago, I naturally felt privileged and honored.

  1. What do you see as some of the biggest challenges in international practice today?

Some of the biggest ongoing challenges for the international law practice include issues related to enforcing international laws, the emergence of new technologies that create new legal issues, navigating complex geopolitical conflicts and addressing global challenges such as climate change and cyber security. One obvious area with multiple challenges is the relatively new phenomenon of artificial intelligence, which should not only be seen as a source of evil, as it is by many, but also as a helpful tool. The greatest threat I have observed in the past 8 – 10 years, however, is the shift from globalism to nationalism in many parts of the world, and the isolationism that comes with it. This makes it more difficult to maintain a functioning cross-border dialog, which in turn is essential to protect the fundamentally important principle of the Rule of Law. McGeorge’s Master’s programs, which focus on internationality and intercultural understanding, among other things, are invaluable assets for not only conducting this dialog, but also actively shaping it.

  1. Do you have any advice for those who would like to engage in an international practice?

Engaging in international legal practice can be a rewarding and challenging career. It wouldn’t do it justice to only highlight a few of the numerous tools that are helpful to successfully navigate the international arena. Of course, successful client work requires brilliant lawyering, which in turn begins with a solid education. In addition, proficiency in multiple languages is a significant asset. What’s more, openness to and understanding of different cultures and legal systems is crucial for effective communication and negotiation in international settings. Be prepared for a dynamic and ever-changing field and uphold the highest ethical standards and professionalism in your practice. And keep in mind: reputation and respect are essential characteristics in the international legal community. Legal practice in the international realm can be highly competitive, but with dedication and the right skill set, you can make a significant impact in this field!

  1. Any other thoughts about McGeorge and its international programs?

McGeorge is more than just an excellent law school; it’s like a big family that continues to grow, virtually spanning the entire globe. And last but certainly not least, I can say in all honesty that my career would not have been as successful without McGeorge!

Kristine Kwong, '92
Kristine Kwong, ’92, received recognition as a minority leader of influence in the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2023.

Kristine Kwong, ‘92, is a sought-after trainer and has presented numerous training programs throughout the country. In her professional career, Kwong has trained more than 1,000 government agencies and college districts, assisting them in maintaining compliance and staying current with the difficulties of handling ever-changing legal concerns. She played a primary role in drafting numerous handbooks, policy manuals, codes of conduct, and trade secret agreements for various organizations. 

Kwong has litigated matters in both federal and state courts throughout the State of California in issues such as labor, student issues, and operational compliance. She represented clients within the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Public Employment Relations Board and the National Labor Relations Board. 

As a McGeorge alumna, Kwong gives back to the community by serving on McGeorge’s Diversity Alumni Board. Additional community connections include her positions as a board member in the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra, a member in the California Chamber of Commerce Legal Reform Committee, and a commissioner in the Community Services Commission of City of South Pasadena. Notably, in 2022, Kwong was elected to the Board of Trustees for the Pasadena Area Community College District; a position that represents the cities of San Marino, South Pasadena, and Temple City.  

Upon graduating from McGeorge School of Law, Kwong clerked for the Honorable Morio L. Fukuto, of the California Court of Appeal, Second District.  

Fairly soon after, her work ethic and talents were recognized and awarded as she received the distinction of Southern California Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in 2005, 2006, and 2007 from both Los Angeles Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine, which is only given to 2.5 percent of attorneys in the region.

Recently in 2023, she received recognition as a minority leader of influence in the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Kwong is currently a partner at Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP in the firm’s Los Angeles office. 

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary. 

Darrin Lim, ’04, was the keynote speaker at McGeorge School of Law’s Unity Graduation in May 2022.

Darrin Lim, ’04, is the co-founder and partner of Politicom Law LLP, an innovative and leading political compliance law firm based in Sausalito, California.

Lim supports some of the largest corporations throughout the U.S. to efficiently navigate the patchwork of campaign finance, lobby disclosure, and ethics laws. Lim brings a technology-driven and client centric focus to political compliance, which distinguishes Politicom Law.

Lim is very active with the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws. He has served the organization in virtually every role and was the 2021 recipient of COGEL’s 2021 Outstanding Service Award.

Lim is a passionate supporter of McGeorge School of Law and its students. He is a founding member of the McGeorge Diversity Alumni Board and served as its chair from 2022-2024. Lim was the McGeorge Unity Graduation keynote speaker in 2022. This was a full circle moment as Lim was also the class speaker at his McGeorge graduation in 2004.

Lim began his career as a television news reporter and anchor. He was also the communications director for a California state legislator while attending McGeorge.

Lim and his husband, Jim Wayand, are the proud dads to their children, Matthew and Mika.

Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.

Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.