ADDITIONAL LINKS
What inspired you to pursue graduate studies?
I was inspired to study law, politics, and economics after observing the lack of economic and educational opportunities in the inner-city of Los Angeles where I founded and directed a therapeutic athletic program for “severely emotionally disturbed” students. Although my programs successfully developed self-esteem and empowered the students, I became very frustrated with the extremely low number of students who were able to break out of the cycle of poverty and violence. Eventually, after three years of patient teaching by my students and their families, I finally realized that I could not effect the systemic change that was necessary without further educating and training myself.
What excites you about joining the UCI Law team?
I'm excited to seize an historic opportunity to join leaders and innovators in helping to build what in my mind will be the best law school in the country. I'm excited about sharing my passion for the law with members of the team and in turn being inspired by them. I'm excited about assisting every student in choosing and developing the right career. Finally, I'm excited about former students becoming colleagues and changing people's lives, corporations' fortunes, and the law itself.
- University of California, San Diego, M.A., International Affairs, Public Policy Concentration, 2000
- American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 1999
- Occidental College, Los Angeles, A.B., Anthropology and Sociology, Distinction and Highest Honors, 1993
- Howrey LLP, Los Angeles, Pro Bono Manager, 2007-2011
- Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST), Los Angeles, Founding Legal Director, 2002-2007
- Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, Los Angeles, Staff Attorney/Human Rights Fellow, 2000-2002
- President's Interagency Council on Women/U.S. State Department, Law Clerk, 1998-1999
- International Human Rights Law Group, Washington, D.C., Law Clerk, 1998
- Representative matters include:
- American Council of the Blind v. Astrue, national class action on behalf of blind and visually impaired individuals requiring Social Security Administration to provide reasonable accommodations.
- Ho v. Barton, an action on behalf of a survivor of human trafficking to obtain compnsation for violation of state employment, tort, and human trafficking laws.
- Confidential v. Ashcroft, an action on behalf of a minor trafficking victim to enjoin his unconstitutional removal and compel issuance of federal T visa regulations.
- Reno v. Flores, 113 S.Ct. 1439 (1993), a national class action on behalf of immigrant and children subjected to unlawful detention conditions or denied release on bail pending deportation proceedings.
- Reno v. Catholic Social Services, 113 S.Ct. 2485 (1993), a national class action to restore the rights of immigrants unlawfully denied legalization under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
- Song has also testified before Congress and the California State Legislature on human rights issues.
- Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Advisory Board, 2011
- United States Sentencing Commission, Victims Advisory Group, 2009-present
- Los Angeles Public Interest Law Journal, Advisory Board, 2009-present
- Association of Pro Bono Coordinators, 2007-2011
- American Bar Association, 2006-2009, Commission on Domestic Violence, President’s Working Group on Human Trafficking
- California Lawyer, Attorney of the Year in Immigration Law, 2004
- Southern California SuperLawyers - Rising Stars