usclaw - USC Gould School of Law - University of Southern California

N E W S
FROM THE LAW SCHOOL
Bar Admission Ceremony Bridges Years Between Generations of Alumni
Students take the oath; below, Dean Matt Spitzer
with Judge Margaret Hay and Judge Dick r a n
Te v r i z i a n .
Nearly 100 recent USC graduates launched careers as lawyers in the state of California during
the annual bar admission ceremony held at USC in De c e m b e r.
The final triumphant step tow a rd a career in the law for many USC law grads, the cere m o n y
a l l ows those who have passed the state bar exam to be formally admitted to the bar among
f e l l ow graduates, family and friends. Almost two-thirds of all graduates who passed the bar this
year participated in the cere m o n y. As is tradition, two USC law graduates conducted the
p roceedings: Judge Ma r g a ret M. Hay of the Los Angeles Superior Court admitted graduates to
the State Bar of California; U.S. District Court Judge Dickran M. Tevrizian, Jr. admitted graduates
to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Central
District of California.
“ I ’m glad that USC throws this for us,” said Eric Wang ’00. “We we re a small class, and when
e ve ryone knows each other and has been through these three years together, it’s especially
nice to be able to celebrate together, too. This is a big deal for us.”
The event brought multiple generations of USC law alumni together. As he we l c o m e d
the crowd of nearly 350 graduates, friends and family members, Dean Ma t t h ew L. Sp i t ze r
— a 1977 grad — noted the symbolism of the moment. “It is the fabled USC law network
in action,” he said with a nod to Judge Ha y, a 1980 grad, and Judge Tevrizian, a 1965 grad.
“The prior generation is helping a new generation begin a life in the law. ”
Noting that the past three years had been “e x t remely gru e l i n g” for many of those pre s e n t ,
including family members, Judge Hay welcomed the new admittees with words of advice,
cautioning them to avoid letting work frustrations seep into their personal lives. She also
reminded them that while “some might say your first duty is to Legion Lex” — a re f e rence to
the USC Law School’s annual fund that met a round of laughter — “I submit that your fir s t
duty is to your client, to uphold the law, to encourage respect for the law, and to prov i d e
good and wise counsel.”
She also pleaded for civility in the court room — and the office. “Charity and love begin
at home,” she said. “Be pleasant, polite and nice to your own staff. They are not your flunkies.”
Appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to the Superior Court in 1993, Judge Hay now presides ove r
both criminal and civil trials. She also serves as justice pro tem in Division Se ven of the 2nd
District Court of Ap p e a l s .
Judge Tevrizian also offered advice to the new lawyers, noting that each of them would likely
reach a point in their careers when they would be challenged to compromise their integrity.
“I urge you not to cast aside the code of ethics to which you are sworn,” he said. “You will neve r
be sorry.
“You are entering a profession that needs your guidance,” he added. “Correct the mistakes
my peers have made.”
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. District Court in 1985, Judge Te v r i z i a n
has been honored by the California Trial Lawyers Association and the Los Angeles County
Bar Association for his work on the bench.
The 2000 bar admission ceremony and reception we re sponsored by the Law School’s
Legion Lex Annual Fund.
3 4 USCLAW s p r i n g 2001