UCI Law Talks

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Stacy Bratcher, senior vice president and chief legal officer of Cottage Health, host of The Legal Department podcast, and member of the inaugural faculty for UC Irvine Law's new certificate program, From Lawyer to Leader: The Road to the General Counsel Seat.

Bratcher reflects on her journey from government service and private practice to leadership roles in higher education and healthcare, sharing lessons from decades of experience as an in-house attorney. She discusses the importance of relationship-building, professional development, networking, and public service, while offering practical advice for law students and lawyers interested in pursuing in-house careers.

Bratcher also shares insights from hosting nearly 100 podcast episodes focused on lawyer development and explains why today's legal professionals must embrace lifelong learning, collaboration and leadership.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Amy Chen — U.S.–China consultant, inaugural president and co-founder of the Chinese American Lawyers Association of Orange County (CALA OC), and UC Irvine Law Board of Visitors member — about her two decades as a tech attorney in Hong Kong and California, her current advisory work on U.S.–China geopolitical issues, and her role in launching CALA OC to empower Chinese American legal professionals.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Veronica Gray, retired Partner at Nossaman LLP and a member of the UC Irvine Law Board of Visitors, about her employment law career — and how her decision to pursue a law degree stemmed from her experience as a Spanish language translator for courtroom proceedings; the importance of giving back to your community; and her parallel, impressive photography career and passion.

Dean Austen Parrish talks with Anteater in Law, The Honorable Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux, on her career in public interest, her path to the bench and recommendations to students considering a judicial clerkship.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Mark Samuels, Firm Vice-Chair and Partner of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, about his founding of O’Melveny’s Intellectual Property & Technology practice group, his predictions for the future (preview: will AI or the law firm billable hour be more prevalent at law firms at the end of this decade?), the imperative for lawyers to give back to their communities and his wise advice for law students.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Professor of Law and inaugural Faculty Director of the Korea Law Center (KLC) Sung Eun (Summer) Kim and Grace Lee, Program Director for the KLC, about the mission, goals and ambitious programs of the Korea Law Center since its inception at UC Irvine Law in 2009.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Mei Tsang, President of the Orange County Bar Association and Partner at Umberg Zipser, on her vision for the OCBA, the importance of curiosity and connection in the legal profession, and her inspiring journey as an immigrant, lawyer, and leader in the Orange County legal community.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews Kelly Lucinda Galligan ’15, Partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, about charting her path to corporate mergers and acquisitions work, prioritizing community involvement especially as President of Orange County’s Project Youth OCBF, and her fondest memories and people of UC Irvine Law.

Dean Austen Parrish interviews UCI Law Distinguished Professor Joseph F.C. DiMento, who has been an integral part of UCI for 50 years and a founding faculty member of the Law School, about his leadership and early days at the Law School, his impact at UCI in Planning, Criminology, Law & Society, the former Program in Social Ecology, and the Newkirk Center for Science and Society, as well as his many scholarly achievements.

This episode of UCI Law Talks was recorded with Professor Dan Burk on January 17, 2024, and sadly, less than three weeks later, on February 4, Dan passed away. As you will hear in this episode, and as profoundly poignant as it is, Dan spoke warmly about his 15 years in Irvine, the wonderful colleagues and students at UCI, his career and the early days of the founding of UCI Law.

In this last recorded conversation with Dan, these were his final words for us: “Take some risks but never risk quality. You might want to choose a topic that’s a little offbeat. You might want to work in an environment that’s a little bit different. But you always do quality lawyering. You always do quality scholarship, and that’s not something that I’m willing to take a risk with and I don’t think others should either.”

Rest in peace, Dan.