Graduate Spotlight: Omeed Askari ’23 Specializes in Health Care Law

Omeed Askari-Behbahani ’23 managed a pharmacy for 12 years, an experience that led him to pursue a concentration in health care law.

This story is part of a series of profiles featuring some of this year’s outstanding law school graduates from UC Law San Francisco.

Omeed Askari-Behbahani ’23 intended to start law school earlier, but that plan was delayed when his parents fell ill and he stepped in to manage a family-owned pharmacy in Southern California. A demanding workload kept him there for 12 years.

“As our business reached its 10th anniversary, I began to contemplate my next steps, and my experiences in the healthcare industry led me to a newfound passion for addressing legal issues within this sector,” he said.

After graduating with a JD from UC Law San Francisco in May and passing the bar, he plans to work at the law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP.

As a law student, he took part in the Medical Legal Partnership for Seniors Clinic, where he helped seniors with wills, advance care planning, and public benefits. He also worked with Kaiser Permanente’s legal team through the law school’s Corporate Counsel Externship Program. While there, he researched and wrote memos on health care regulations, reviewed contacts, and helped consolidate purchase agreements.

He also served in several leadership roles on campus. He was the internal vice president for the Iranian Law Students Association and served on the Moot Court Board as a member and team coach.

“During my summer internship with Fisher Phillips, I realized how these experiences helped prepare me for a ‘big law’ work environment.” he said.

Askari credited the law school’s dedicated faculty and Career Development Office, which offers career counseling and interview coaching, with helping him lock in a position at a major law firm by the time he graduated.

Before stepping in to run his family’s pharmacy prior to law school, he earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Boston University.

He said having worked full time in a demanding position for 12 years helped prepare him for the rigors of law school. His experience running a pharmacy also opened his eyes to the important role that laws and regulations play in the health care industry, he said. “Witnessing firsthand the dysfunctional aspects of the healthcare system and the negative impact on patients solidified my desire to pursue a career in health care law.”

Askari said he was drawn to UC Law San Francisco by the large number of graduates who serve as judges in California, along with the law school’s emphasis on providing opportunities for hands-on training and real-world practice, “I think UC Law SF is a school that genuinely prepares students for the practical realities of working as an attorney.”

Askari, who graduated with a concentration in Health Law and Policy, said the law school provided many avenues to help him grow his professional network and bridge to the next stage of his professional life, “UC Law SF’s health law concentration program is highly regarded and has given me the opportunity to meet numerous attorneys in the field.”

His advice to those just starting or considering law school? “Treat it like a professional degree program and remember to be respectful of your peers and colleagues. And don’t forget to prioritize your mental and physical health. Finally, have fun and explore your passions while in school.”