Selected Alumni Profiles
This is who we become:
Leaders in the practice of law. Career advantages begin before you even search for a job, and continue long after you receive your degree. From our Alumni Mentor Lunch in your first year which introduces you to the USC Law Alumni Network, to our Career Services support throughout your career, USC Law networking epitomizes a collegial approach to career-building.
Jen Flory ’05
Staff Attorney
Western Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP)
Los Angeles, California
Jen Flory joined WCLP as a law clerk in 2003 and was a Skadden Fellow from 2005-2007. As a clerk, Flory coordinated a project to increase access to health care for immigrants. Her fellowship project focused on health care for low-income Californians by monitoring the implementation of new reforms, identifying best and worst practices of providers, and advocating on affordability issues.
Flory continues her work in WCLP’s health unit. "My primary substantive areas are access to health care services for low-income persons and dealing with medical debt," explains Flory. "I work on impact litigation, administrative advocacy with state and county agencies, provide technical assistance on legislation, and train legal services advocates around the state." While a student at USC, Flory also worked at Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, and in the USC Immigration Clinic. She was president of USC’s Public Interest Law Foundation and recipient of the Miller-Johnson Equal Justice Prize for her commitment to social justice. Prior to attending law school, Flory earned an M.A. in Comparative Literature from Penn State and taught at Cerritos and Fullerton colleges.
When asked about her transition from teacher to attorney, Flory says, "I saw public interest law as an opportunity to combine my interest in social causes, research and advocacy." USC made it possible for Flory to get experience while still a student. She received funding through the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) and a private grant to work summers at public interest agencies. Flory notes, "I don’t know that other law schools make it as easy to get so much hands-on experience."
Ben Wang ’03
Associate
Irell & Manella LLP
Los Angeles, California
"USC, of course, taught me the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system, including subjects that impact my life on a daily basis, such as constitutional law, civil procedure, contracts, and professional responsibility," states Ben Wang. "USC also exposed me to the multitude of policy considerations that guide our legal system and shed light on what we expect from our government and peers. It also prepared me for the demanding and challenging nature of the legal profession. Successfully juggling classes, extra-curricular activities, and jobs prepared me well for the long hours that come with being a lawyer."
While at USC, Wang was the Executive Notes Editor of the Southern California Law Review. Additionally, Wang was a teaching assistant for Professor George Lefcoe’s Real Estate Transactions and Real Estate Finance classes, and a legal writing instructor. After graduation, Wang joined Irell & Manella LLP as an associate working in the firm’s litigation workgroup. Within a few months of arriving, Wang participated in a four week trial in Federal district court during which he conducted the direct examination of a witness, assisted in the opening and closing statements, prepared direct and cross examination questions, and was specifically mentioned during the Judge’s bench ruling as a positive example of allowing young lawyers to participate in trials. Further, the Judge ruled in Wang’s client’s favor on all issues.
Prior to Irell & Manella, Wang served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and to the Honorable George H. King, United States District Court for the Central District of California. Both judges are also USC Law alumni.
Norma García Guillén ’02
Associate
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLC
Costa Mesa, California
Norma García Guillén specializes in business law and has been at the center of intellectual property cases, as well as unfair competition, securities, business torts and breach of contract claims. She has successfully prosecuted and defended cases in both state and federal courts. García Guillén is also a founding member of Sheppard Mullin's Latino Business Practice Group, a unit charged with providing representation to the emerging Latino business sector. To further support these goals, García Guillén serves as President of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County.
Born and raised in Santa Ana, California, to immigrant parents from Guerrero, Mexico, García Guillén graduated Smith College with a B.A. in Government and Latin American Studies. While at Smith College, she co-founded the national award-winning mock trial team and headed the on-campus Latina organization, Nosotras.
At USC, García Guillén was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court program, the Immigration Clinic, and president of La Raza Law Students Association. She was awarded USC's Shattuck Award for her leadership, dedication and service.
Numerous publications have recognized García Guillén's accomplishments and humble beginnings: the Orange County Register; Latina magazine; Selecciones; and La Opinion. OCMetro named her one of 20 Women to Watch.
In her current role as President of the Hispanic Bar Association (HBA), García Guillén works tirelessly to diversify the legal profession, build bridges with the Hispanic legal communities in both the U.S. and other countries, and help increase opportunities for HBA members and Latino law students. Activities include: Annual MCLE Travel Seminar to Mexico, roundtables with Mexican and U.S. legislators, Immigration Law Clinic, and monthly bar reviews.
Dana S. Treister ’94
Partner
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Los Angeles, California
As a real estate partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, Dana Treister's practice focuses on all forms of real estate transactions, with an emphasis on the acquisition and sale of commercial properties, loan transactions, land use and entitlement work, real estate finance, and leasing transactions. He also has extensive experience representing developers and in forming joint ventures.
Treister received his B.A. degree from Stanford University and J.D. degree from the USC Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. At USC, he was managing editor of the Law Review and a legal writing instructor. Following law school, Treister served as a law clerk to the Honorable John G. Davies in the Central District of California.
Currently, Treister teaches Real Estate Transactions as an adjunct professor of law at USC Law. He is a founder of the Adam Freeman Scott ’93 Memorial Endowment, which awards a summer grant to students working in public interest. Treister is also very active in the community, serving on the board of trustees for the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, the Los Angeles Chapter of Facing History and Ourselves, and the Pacific Oaks College and Children's School. Treister has also served on the steering committee of the Construction and Development Committee of the State Bar of California and is an active member of the Real Property Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
"Enjoy law school," advises Treister. "Students who focus too much on their career while still in school will miss a lot of the enjoyment that comes from being in an environment where learning and education are the goal without the everyday pressures of a busy practice."
Suzanne L. Bell ’90
Deputy Director for Legal Recruitment and Outreach
Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.
Before becoming a lawyer, Suzanne Bell was an assistant treasurer for Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. Since graduating from USC, she has worked in just about every legal environment, except a corporation. Bell served as a Research Attorney for the Los Angeles Superior Court, and was an associate at the law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Since 1995, Bell has worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, first as an Assistant United States Attorney, then as Deputy General Counsel.
Currently Deputy Director, she provides general oversight of the DOJ's legal recruitment programs and retention and diversity initiatives and works with DOJ components in developing a strategic plan for enhancing the DOJ's outreach and recruitment efforts to ensure continued success in attracting and retaining highly-qualified legal talent from diverse backgrounds.
Bell has a challenging job—the U.S. Department of Justice is the largest legal employer in the world with more than 9,500 attorneys nationwide. Annually, the DOJ hires approximately 120-150 entry-level attorneys through the Attorney General's Honors Program, 100 second-year law students through the Summer Law Intern Program, 650 lateral or experienced attorneys, and 1800 law student volunteers. In addition to conducting the Honors Program interviewer training for the attorneys in the DOJ, Bell's team has also expanded management training initiatives, including workshops lateral or experienced attorneys.
"My career has evolved," says Bell. "I had no idea that I would be involved in recruitment for the Department of Justice. It's important to develop a reputation for excellence. Excellence helps create opportunity. I recognized and landed this great opportunity because I was flexible and open to new ideas."
Karen B. Wong ’86
Partner
Global Project Finance
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Los Angeles, California
Karen Wong has been a Milbank partner since 1996. Her practice focuses on the representation of sponsors and financing parties in connection with the development, acquisition, financing and/or restructuring of power, petrochemical and other infrastructure facilities in North America, Asia, and Latin America. In her over twenty-one years of practice, she has led numerous development, financing and acquisition transactions involving electric generation assets (including large scale coal, gas and LNG fired cogeneration plants, as well as solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, biomass, waste energy and other renewable energy facilities), transmission lines, and oil and gas pipelines.
Wong's current transactions include several developments of coal and petroleum coke gasification poly-generation and substitute natural gas projects, and financing transactions in the renewables (wind and solar), ethanol and biofuels sector throughout the United States. "Find a career path that will make you happy," Wong advises young attorneys, "because your best work doesn't come out when you don't like what you're doing. After practicing for over 21 years, I am happy to say that I am still find the legal work I'm doing to be interesting, challenging and fulfilling."
Hailing from a Trojan family, Wong received her B.S. in Business Administration from USC magna cum laude, then received a J.D. from USC Law. She served on the editorial boards of Major Tax Planning and the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal (formerly known as the Computer/Law Journal). She is listed as a leading lawyer in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA for Projects in California and was recommended in PLC Which Lawyer? for banking and finance.
On the international arena, she is representing the sponsors of a mine mouth power project in Lao PDR that will sell electricity to the Thai and Lao state-owned utilities.
Mark L. Karasik ’81
Principal
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Chicago, Illinois
Mark Karasik has defended and prosecuted scores of commercial civil litigation matters. He is a trial lawyer who has defended products manufacturers in product liability cases, employers in wrongful termination and employee discharge cases, and professionals in breach of fiduciary duty litigation. Karasik has been involved in jury trials, bench trials, national and international arbitrations. He also has significant trial experience in the areas of negligence, product liability, contracts, and professional and fiduciary litigation.
Karasik specializes in complex litigation that helps insure success for his clients. He has worked for U.S. health care conglomerates and insurers and handled litigation matters for national and international product manufacturers as well. Karasik's litigation clients include AH Robins, Addison-McKee, Inc., Ford Motor Co., Intercraft, McDonald's Corp., 6 N. Michigan Avenue Trust, Hubbell, and The Beitler Company.
In addition to his litigation work, Karasik is also a frequent speaker and author on topics relating to areas in his particular practice expertise. He has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates. Karasik is also a current appointee to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Hearing Board, and acts as a Hearing Board Chairman, appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Karasik received his B.A. at USC in 1978, before continuing his studies at USC to receive his J.D. in 1981. "My education at USC Law was intense and far-reaching," says Karasik. "It exposed me to most areas of the law. My education at USC Law showed me that, as a trial lawyer, one can be successful in many different areas of the law, following my philosophy that variety is the spice of life."
Joyce L. Kennard ’74
Associate Justice
Supreme Court of California
San Francisco, California
Court Watch calls Judge Joyce Kennard, "possibly the most individualistic justice on the Supreme Court." Kennard has a legacy of dissent and championship of liberal-leaning causes. She has a record of significant rulings, including Sands v. Morongo Unified School District regarding religious observance in public schools, Kasky v. Nike regarding labor practices and commercial speech, and Stevenson v. Superior Court, regarding age discrimination and public policy. Kennard works hard to look through the formalities to discover the real people at the heart of important issues.
Born of a Dutch father and a Chinese-Indonesian mother, Kennard has braved internment in World War II Japanese and New Guinea prison camps, the early death of her father, the amputation of her leg due to infection as a teenager, and on-going discrimination due to being mixed-race. She eventually moved to California, attending USC and receiving a B.A. magna cum laude in German, then simultaneously attaining her J.D. from USC Law and an M.P.A. from USC's School of Public Administration. Prior to her position on the Supreme Court of California, her previous judicial experience includes serving as Associate Justice on the state Court of Appeal in Los Angeles; judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court; Associate Justice pro tempore on state Court of Appeal in Los Angeles; judge on Los Angeles County Municipal Court; senior attorney on state Court of Appeal in Los Angeles; and Deputy Attorney General in Los Angeles.
Kennard has received numerous awards and accolades for her many accomplishments over the years, including the Alumni Merit Award from USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development; the Public Service Award from the Asian Pacific American Bar Association; and inclusion in the Marin Women's Hall of Fame. She was included in The Counselors, conversations with 18 courageous women who have changed the world, by Elizabeth Vrato, and the law review article entitled Joyce L. Kennard: An Independent Streak on California's Highest Court (65 Albany Law Rev., p. 1181, July 2002).
