Alumni Spotlight: Chris Lawrence '21, Associate, Sheppard President, UC Irvine Law Alumni Association Board
Chris Lawrence is an associate in the Business Trial Practice Group in Sheppard’s Orange County office. Chris represents clients in a variety of commercial and business litigation matters, including business torts/contracts, receiverships, and real estate litigation. Prior to law school, Chris served in the U.S. Navy Submarine force. We had the opportunity to interview Chris as the President of the Law Alumni Association.
Q. Can you tell us a little about your journey through UC Irvine School of Law and how your experience here shaped the attorney and professional you’ve become today?
My decision to attend was both strategic and personal. UC Irvine Law’s location was a major draw. Its proximity to the Los Angeles and Orange County legal markets meant access to the types of firms I was interested in applying to. I was also attracted to UC Irvine Law’s commitment to hands-on learning through its clinic programs and pro bono opportunities. UC Irvine Law gave me that from the very beginning, and the experience of working with real clients on real legal matters shaped the kind of attorney I am today.
Q. What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Without question, it was my time in the clinics. I participated in both the Domestic Violence Clinic and the Veterans Clinic. Those experiences were unlike anything I could have gotten from a textbook or lecture. What stands out most is that within the very first weeks of clinic, I was making actual court appearances, representing real clients with real stakes. It was scary and exhilarating all at once. But I learned I was capable of being an attorney.
Q. What inspired you to stay engaged with the Law School after graduation, and what ultimately motivated you to step into the role of president of the Alumni Association Board?
One of my core beliefs is that we all have a responsibility to make the world as good of a place as we can. I think one of the best ways to improve the world is to build the community you want to see, rather than simply hoping someone else will do it. I stayed connected to UC Irvine Law after graduation because the school, its alumni, and community gave me so much, and I felt a genuine need to give that back. Events like the upcoming reunion for Classes 2016 and 2021 are great ways to help build the UC Irvine Law community and ensure we stay connected. As for stepping into the role of president, I will be the first to admit it is a little clichéd, but the thought that drove me was simple: if not me, who? UC Irvine Law’s alumni community has enormous potential, and I wanted to be part of shaping what that looks like going forward.
Q. What would you say to current UC Irvine Law students or recent graduates about the importance of staying connected to the alumni community, and what do you envision UC Irvine Law’s legacy will look like 10 or 20 years from now?
My biggest piece of advice is that staying connected does not mean you have to volunteer to be Alumni Association president on your first day out of law school. It can be as simple as showing up to an alumni event, grabbing coffee with a recent graduate, or raising your hand to help lead a pro bono project back at the school. Every small step matters. Start small, start where you are, and start with what you have. That is enough. As for UC Irvine Law’s legacy, I am genuinely excited about what the next ten to twenty years will hold. If we, as alumni, stay engaged and invest in the next generation of UC Irvine Law students, I believe the Law School will continue to grow the top recognition that it has earned across the country, and be known for its incredible impact globally.