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Jack Weiss '92
Los Angeles City Councilmember
To many of its alumni, UCLA School of Law is more than the sum of its parts: stellar academics, exceptional faculty and international reputation. For them, the law school also holds special importance as a place that encourages and nurtures students in their pursuit of distinguished and meaningful careers. Two-term Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss '92 is one such graduate.
"My time at UCLA Law literally has meant everything to me," says Weiss, who is currently a member of the UCLA Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. It was the skills he gained - and the relationships he built - in law school that paved the way for the achievements that followed. "I can draw a direct line from [then Dean] Susan Prager's efforts to get me a clerkship with U.S. District Judge Lourdes Baird '76, to Judge Baird's efforts to get me a position at the U.S. Attorney's office, to my successful entry into politics," he notes.
From a young age, Weiss knew he was meant for a life of public service. "It's what I always wanted to do," he says. "My parents met each other while they were federal prosecutors in Robert F. Kennedy's justice department; I got the bug from them." Growing up in Los Angeles, he also knew he wanted his contribution to be on behalf of the city he loved. It was these twin passions that led Weiss back to Southern California - and to UCLA - after finishing his undergraduate degree at Princeton.
Weiss excelled in law school, earning a coveted spot on the UCLA Law Review and going on to serve as its editor in chief. His two years working on the publication are still some of his fondest law school memories. "I'm very proud of the volumes we put out," he says. "We had great editors, and it was fascinating working with the professors whose articles we were publishing." Weiss's respect for, and friendship with, his own professors was also a defining part of his UCLA Law experience. He cites faculty members Jesse Dukeminier, Peter Aranella, Gary Blasi, Ken Graham and Norm Abrams as particularly influential, and has the highest regard for Dean Prager, "who took such a personal interest in all of us."
Weiss has brought the same leadership and collaborative spirit that characterized his years at UCLA to his time representing L.A.'s 5th Council District, with impressive results. Among his many accolades and achievements, he feels most gratified by the work he has done on the issue of the testing of rape kits for DNA evidence. "When I started here," he says, "the LAPD was literally throwing these pieces of evidence out. Through my efforts, and the efforts of others, we've changed that, and now, scientifically, rape is being treated as a priority."
After more than seven years on the City Council, Weiss is eager to find new ways to serve his fellow Angelenos. Today he is running for city attorney, a position that would enable him to combine his legal background and political experience to strengthen "what should be the greatest public law office in the state." It's a job that Weiss hopes will provide him a chance to give back to UCLA by creating joint programs with the law school, including internships and job placement opportunities. As he looks to the future, one thing is clear: Weiss will continue to be a vital part of the UCLA Law community.
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