STANFORD, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Stanford Law School today announced the appointment of Diane T. Chin as director
of the John and Terry Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law.
Chin will oversee the center`s pro bono, externship, career advising and
mentoring programs as well as teach and work with faculty to develop and
coordinate public interest curriculum.
Chin is a renowned expert in public service and public interest careers in the
law. In 2007 she co-edited Beyond the Big Firm: Profiles of Lawyers Who Want
Something More, and she previously served as the Levin Center`s founding
director. She will return to Stanford Law School in July, after having been
director of the West Coast office of Equal Justice Works, a non-profit
organization that operates the nation`s largest post-graduate public interest
legal fellowships program and supports law school programming for public service
students.
"We are delighted to have Diane Chin back at the helm of the Levin Center," said
Stanford Law School Dean Larry Kramer. "Stanford Law School is deeply committed
to fostering a public service ethos among all our students, and that requires us
not only to expand the programs we have, but also to find new and innovative
ways to expose students to the importance and benefits of public service and
public interest law. There is no one more qualified than Diane to tackle this
ambitious agenda."
The John and Terry Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law is a
program at Stanford Law School that aims to make public service a pervasive part
of every law student`s experience and ultimately help shape the values that
students take into their careers-regardless of ideology or political persuasion
and regardless of whether they work as full-time public interest lawyers or work
in business, a private law firm, or elsewhere.
"All of us at Stanford Law School are committed to training lawyers who
understand the imperative of public service," said Professor Lawrence C.
Marshall, who serves as the David and Stephanie Mills Director of Clinical
Education and Associate Dean for Public Service and Clinical Education. "Diane
Chin returns to us with a wealth of experience that will enrich our program and
help us expose all our students to the values that our profession holds dear."
During her time as founding director of the Levin Center, Chin played a vital
role in designing a robust counseling and educational program within the law
school. In addition, she launched a number of programs that have made Stanford
Law School a national center for activities and programs relating to the public
service and served as a lecturer in law.
"I am delighted to return to Stanford Law School at this fascinating moment in
the history of legal practice and at a critical time in revisiting the role of
law schools in training future leaders in the profession," said Diane T. Chin.
"I can think of no better way to utilize my experience, skills and passion than
to continue the growth of the Levin Center`s work to inspire the next
generation, instill the values of pro bono publico, and engage with leaders in
the field to both make the experience more relevant to our students and to
increase the law school`s influence in the field of service."
At Equal Justice Works, Chin launched the first regional office for the national
nonprofit, provided training, technical assistance and support for post-graduate
legal fellows and their host non-profit legal organizations, and worked with law
schools to enhance support for law students interested in pro bono experiences
or in pursuing public service careers.
Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, Chin served as the Associate Director of
the Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at University of California
Berkeley School of Law. She also served as executive director of Chinese for
Affirmative Action, a civil rights advocacy and services organization in San
Francisco, and was a senior trial attorney for the Office of Citizen Complaints
of the San Francisco Police Commission.
Chin earned a JD from Northeastern University School of Law and BA from Mills
College. She was a member of the Skadden Fellowship Foundation`s inaugural
class, representing clients in housing discrimination and hate violence cases.
Chin went on to serve as a staff attorney and director of the Racial Violence
Project at the Lawyers` Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay
Area, and later was a housing attorney for Protection & Advocacy, Inc. She has
been a contributor and editor for numerous published works.
Chin will replace outgoing director Susan J. Feathers, who facilitated expansion
of the Levin Center`s pro bono, public interest career counseling, and
professional development programs, and helped launch the Miles L. Rubin Public
Interest Award.
About Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is one of the nation`s leading institutions for legal
scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision
makers in law, politics, business, and high technology. Faculty members argue
before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, and write books and articles
for academic audiences, as well as the popular press. Along with offering
traditional law school classes, the school has embraced new subjects and new
ways of teaching.
Stanford Law School
Tayla Klein, 650-725-7516
Assistant Director of Communications
taklein@law.stanford.edu
Copyright Business Wire 2009
