2014-2015 Community Fellows
List of Community Fellows
Nefi Acosta
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Provo, UT
Alma Mater: Utah Valley University
Professional Interests: Immigration law, IP law, corporate litigation, public policy, Latino advocacy
Hobbies: Salsa dancing, snowboarding, the outdoors, working on cars, reading (for fun), and basketball
Co-Curricular: Latina/o Law Students Association, Street Law, Saturday Academy of Law
Jordan Aiken
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Alma Mater: UC Berkeley
Work Experience: New Orleans Women's Shelter; The Louisiana Civil Justice Center; started and ran Ayla - a queer Jewish non-profit
Professional Interests: Community organizing, transgender law & policy
Hobbies: Painting, calligraphy, time banking
Co-Curricular: Orange County Human rights Association, Women's Law Society, OutLaw, Public Interest Law Fund
Emile Ayoub
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Alma Mater: UCLA
Professional Interests: Mediation, business litigation and transaction
Hobbies: Basketball (NBA and college), college football, TV, music/concerts, traveling
Co-Curricular: Student Bar Association, Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, Street Law
Jamila Benkato
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Houston, TX
Alma Mater: Southern Methodist University, B.A.; UC Santa Barbara, M.A. in Global & International Studies
Professional Interests: Civil rights, race and the law, critical identity theories, mass incarceration, education rights
Hobbies: Road tripping, hiking, camping, potlucks, and drinking copious amounts of tea
Co-Curricular: Student Bar Association Chair (2014-2015), FRCP 12(f)Motion to Strike intramural soccer, Admissions Ambassador, Perspectives reading group, various pro bono projects
Jessica Brostek
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Costa Mesa, CA
Alma Mater: UC Berkeley
Professional Interests: Government, business litigation, civil litigation
Hobbies: Cal athletics, Los Angeles Lakers, running, yoga, hiking, art history, food, Paris
Co-Curricular: Student Bar Association Vice-Chairperson of External Relations, Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, A New Way of Life Expungement Clinic, Trial Advocacy Club, Admissions Ambassador
Sam Cretcher
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Morgan Hill, CA
Alma Mater: UC Irvine
Professional Interests: Indigent defense, public interest law
Hobbies: Concerts, movies, fitness
Co-Curricular: Student Bar Association, Orange County Human Rights Association
Emily Cross
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Glendive, Montana
Alma Mater: University of Montana
Professional Interests: Appellate litigation
Hobbies: Trivia, dancing, hiking, reading, listening to/making music, cooking, having super-nerdy philosophical discussions
Co-Curricular: Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, Election Law Society, Global Justice Summit, Saturday Academy of Law, CARES, Permanency Applications for Victims of Crime
Natalie Diaz
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Hemet, CA
Alma Mater: UCLA
Professional Interests: Art law, public interest
Hobbies: Reading about graffiti art, reading blogs, watching YouTube, traveling, donuts, and hanging out with my dog Eevee
Co-Curricular: 2L Student Bar Association Rep, Veterans Advocacy Society, Public Interest Law Fund
Claire-Lise Kutlay
(Class of 2015)
Hometown: Nigeria and Canada
Alma Mater: University of Victoria
Work Experience: Taught Health and Safety in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Professional Interests: Estate planning, corporate law
Hobbies: Coffee, baking, board games, traveling, dancing, belting out Spice Girls at karaoke
Co-Curricular: Vagina Monologues, Women's Law Society
Mandy Luper
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Temecula, CA
Alma Mater: UCLA
Professional Interests: Civil litigation - appellate, government, or international
Hobbies: Playing soccer, hiking, baking, and reading!
Co-Curricular: Motion to Strike intramural soccer team, Women's Law Society, Trial Advocacy Group
Morgan McCombe
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Martinez, CA
Alma Mater: San Francisco State University
Work Experience: United States Marine Corps
Professional Interests: Business law
Hobbies: Science fiction, backpacking, and baseball
Co-Curricular: President of the Veteran's Advocacy Society
Micah Morris
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Fairfax, VA and the SF Bay Area
Work Experience: Taught high school for the past 10 years in the Bay Area
Professional Interests: Public law (specifically including government/administrative, education, employment, immigration and constitutional)
Hobbies: Crossfit, cooking and home-canning, gardening
Co-Curricular: Street Law, Student Bar Association Faculty Appointment Committee, OutLaw, Black Law Students Association
Michael Olson
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Woodland Hills, CA
Alma Mater: UCLA
Professional Interests: Criminal law, corporate law
Hobbies: Los Angeles Clippers, playing basketball, craft beer, dance music, board games
Co-Curricular: Criminal Law Society, Law Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, Public Interest Law Fund
Aglaia Ovtchinnikova
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Worcester, MA
Alma Mater: George Washington University
Hobbies: Tennis, hiking around Orange County, discovering new music, jokes, and board games
Co-Curricular: Women's Law Society, Criminal Law Society, Admissions Ambassador
Hayley Penan
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Corona del Mar, CA
Alma Mater: UC Berkeley
Work Experience: Lonely Planet Publications and the Legal Aid Society of Orange County
Professional Interests: Litigation
Hobbies: Skiing, singing/music, yoga, art
Co-Curricular: Vice President of Law Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, Managing Editor of The Notice, pro bono
Ariela Rutkin-Becker
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Great Neck, NY
Alma Mater: Cornell University
Work Experience: DC Teaching Fellows, Special Education; AmeriCorps VISTA, Inter Tribal Sports
Professional Interests: Gender, law and sexuality; criminal law and drug policies; prison reform and constructs; international human rights law
Hobbies: The New York Yankees, running, backpacking, Nutella
Co-Curricular: Students for Sensible Drug Policy, National Lawyers Guild, Women's Law Society
Tara Schonhoff
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Tennessee
Professional Interests: Policy and law, election law
Hobbies: running, crossword puzzles, political dramas
Co-Curricular: Election Law Society, International Law Society
Nancy Sotomayor
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Costa Mesa,CA
Alma Mater: UC Irvine
Professional Interests: Criminal law, immigration law
Hobbies: Music! Going to live concerts/music festivals, wine tasting, traveling, camping
Co-Curricular: Student Bar Association, Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, American Constitution Society, Women's Law Society, Admissions Ambassador, Latina/o Law Student Association
Tanya Taylor
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Buena Park, CA
Alma Mater: UC Irvine
Hobbies: Soccer, naps, drawing, wine
Co-Curricular: Black Law Students Association, Entertainment Law Society
Ryan Tikker
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA
Alma Mater: UCLA
Professional Interests: Litigation, bankruptcy, criminal law
Hobbies: Skimboarding, skateboarding, N64 games, basketball, zombie movies
Co-Curricular: Studying in the Newport Library, UCI IM basketball
Lauren Wong
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
Alma Mater: UC San Diego
Work Experience: Laboratory Technician at Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory at UCSD
Professional Interests: Corporate law, criminal law, intellectual property
Hobbies: Photography, baking, shopping, craft beer, tennis, going to the beach
Co-Curricular: Pro bono, Street Law, Domestic Violence Declarations, Re-entry Expungement
Francis Yao
(Class of 2016)
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Alma Mater: UC Davis
Professional Interests: Intellectual property, immigration, energy
Hobbies: Trying new eateries, getting adequate sleep, co-op jigsaw puzzles
Co-Curricular: Student Bar Association 1L Rep, 100+ hours of Pro Bono, OutLaw, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association