3L Cayden Lumbad Builds Policy and Legislative Skills Through Government Law Concentration 

3L Cayden Lumbad wearing a suit and tie in front of a dark gray gradient background.

3L Cayden Lumbad prepares for a career in government and public policy at UC Law SF.

3L student Cayden Lumbad reflects on how UC Law SF’s Government Law Concentration helped him understand how policy is shaped and how lawyers can drive change beyond the courtroom. 

 

  • Gained hands-on experience researching, drafting, and analyzing legislation. 
  • Strengthened legal writing, policy analysis, and professional advocacy skills. 
  • Built the foundation to pursue a career shaping policy in government and public interest roles.

 

3L Cayden Lumbad: 

I decided to pursue the Government Law Concentration because of the significant role that government law plays in society — from the streets we walk to the food we eat. Through government law, I feel I can have a significant impact on improving people’s lives.  

I took the Legislation Clinic, which fulfills an experiential learning requirement for the concentration, in my 2L year and gained hands-on experience with the state legislative process. Working on bills that would affect how local governments operate, and having those bills signed by the governor, was an incredibly rewarding experience.  

Through the clinic, I was placed with the Office of California State Senator Tom Umberg ’80. My legislative issue areas included Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and Military and Veterans Affairs. I also worked on consumer protection bills. On top of researching and drafting bill language, I also met with stakeholders and constituents for either Senator Umberg’s bills or bills heading to his committees or the Senate floor. I also attended committee hearings and Senate floor sessions.  

The Legislation Clinic shaped my career goals and plans by showing me another way legal education can be used to affect change. I utilized my legal knowledge and skills to develop and scrutinize bills. Furthermore, the connections that I made working in Sacramento opened a whole new path for me to effect positive change.

I also took other classes for the concentration, including Administrative Law, where I learned the law by which government agencies operate, and State and Local Government, where I learned about the laws that govern municipalities and the relationship between the federal, state, and local governments. Guest speakers, such as San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey and City Attorney David Chiu, made the course especially interesting and valuable. 

After law school, I plan to work on government policy with offices such as the California Office of Legislative Counsel or municipal governments such as the City of Oakland. My long-term career goals are to work in the California policy space, either for a lawmaker, legislative committee, state agency, or public interest group.   

UC Law SF provides many opportunities for students to gain skills and experience that one can use to better serve the public interest. The Government Law Concentration specifically provides a better understanding of how agencies along with federal, state, and local governments operate. If one wants to work in public service or anticipates working with government entities, I highly recommend UC Law SF and the Government Law Concentration. 

The Evidence of Success series highlights UC Law SF students as they share how the college’s opportunities equip them with the experience, skills, and confidence to excel in the legal profession.