UC HASTINGS LAW — Working with a start-up company, increasing diversity at companies, and advocating for clients are some of the goals of the new recipients of the Center for Business Law Scholarships. UC Hastings law students Lilia Kazemi ‘24 and Sharareh (Sheila) Zerang ‘24 were named this year’s Center for Business Law (CBL) Scholars in March. They are the second wave of scholars in the program that was launched in 2021. “The CBL Program is a unique program that provides both substantial financial assistance and professional mentorship thanks to CBL’s network of advisors and business-focused alumni,” said Evan Epstein, Executive Director of the Center for Business Law at UC Hastings. The program also helps place scholars with summer internships so they can get experience working in corporate law settings. “Being interested in business law, Hastings was my top choice,” said Kazemi. She recalled working at a venture capital firm as an officer manager in my undergraduate years. The first in her family to attend college, she said she was inspired to do more, “At the time I didn’t know anything about investing or venture capital. The more I learned, the more interested I became in the start-up ecosystem. Instead of scheduling meetings, I desired to have a seat at the table.”