Commencement 2015

Hon. André Birotte, Jr. delivers address, Dean Rasmussen urges graduates to “set the world ablaze.”

-By Gilien Silsby

Under auspicious blue skies, the Hon. André Birotte, Jr., U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California, offered praise, words of wisdom and hope to USC Gould School of Law’s new graduates.

Today is an “exciting – even thrilling time to be a lawyer,” Birotte said. To be successful, “you can not be complacent; you have to stay hungry; you have to stay engaged; you will have to be nimble and flexible; and you will have to work very hard.”

Birotte challenged the graduates to always go the extra mile in their legal career, whether they are working in a law firm, in-house counsel or public service.

“The legal world is really all about relationships,” he said. “So, when you make yourself invaluable through your efforts, then your mentor or supervisor will not plan her or his next career move or build his or her next legal team without considering how to leverage your talents and contributions…. No matter what the task is – big or small – be a star in your role.”

Hon. André Birotte, Jr. delivers the commencement address at the 2015 USC Gould commencement ceremony.

Birotte addressed the 214 juris doctor recipients, along with 200 international graduate students receiving master of laws degrees or master of comparative law degrees.  

The commencement ceremony, held in USC’s Founders Park, was flanked by sunny skies – despite morning showers and a forecast for rain during the ceremony.

Dean Robert K. Rasmussen, who is stepping down as dean next month after eight years at the helm, urged the graduates to “set the world ablaze.”

“Almost two thousand years ago, the Greek historian Plutarch observed, ‘the mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.’”

Rasmussen told the graduates that he hopes USC Gould instilled “a curiosity, nimbleness and entrepreneurial spirit that will enable you to understand the needs of those you serve, whether they be Fortune 500 companies or the least fortunate among us, and to craft innovative solutions to their problems. It is the passion for your profession that will serve as the foundation as you construct your careers.”

In closing, Rasmussen asked the graduates if USC has succeeded?

“Have we kindled your mind? Looking out at you today, and reflecting on what you have already accomplished during your time at USC, I am confident that we have,” he said.

The commencement ceremony also featured student speakers Kevin Javidzad, 3L class president, and, Hiroyuki Takahashi, an LL.M. graduate from Japan.

Javidzad said the Class of 2015 will forever be bonded by their law school journey.

“We learned that the goal wasn’t just graduating, but enjoying the ride—and we all did that here at Gould,” he said. “Yes, law school was tough. …How did we make it? Through every moment of doubt, we had our classmates by our side willing to help us and encourage us across the finish line.”

Hiroyuki Takahashi spoke on behalf of USC Gould’s foreign graduate students, who came from 33 different countries. The foreign law graduates are associates at leading law firms, employed as corporate legal counsel and as business professionals in top companies worldwide and work for the governments and ministries of their home countries.

Dean Robert K. Rasmussen congratulates an LL.M. graduate.

“Throughout our one-year experience at USC, we have become better legal professionals,” Takahashi said.  “And of course, the Trojan Fight on’ spirit is now part of our DNA. Thank you professors for sharing your knowledge and wisdom about American legal system and business practice in a concentrated manner. Thank you JD colleagues for accepting us foreigners into your communities. . Our friendships went beyond being classmates. Now I realize what ‘Trojan Family’ really means.”

-- Photos by Mikel Healey