From the Dean
One of the things I have come to appreciate most about Lincoln Law School is that our story is ultimately a story about people.
It is a story about people who refuse to give up on a goal. People who continue moving forward despite obstacles. People who believe in the potential of others and are willing to invest their time, talent, experience, and resources to help others succeed.
As you read the stories in this issue, I hope you will see the qualities that have defined Lincoln for generations: perseverance in the face of obstacles, belief in human potential, and a commitment to helping others create opportunities for success.
You will meet graduates who have achieved long-held dreams, students who are balancing careers and families while pursuing ambitious goals, alumni who have returned to mentor and teach, and friends of the school who are creating opportunities for future generations. Each story is unique, yet all reflect the values that make the Lincoln community so special.
No one succeeds alone.
Behind every graduate, every professional achievement, and every milestone are people who offered encouragement, guidance, opportunity, and support along the way.
Thank you for being part of the Lincoln family and for the many ways you help create opportunities for others. Together, we continue a tradition of service, perseverance, and community that has changed lives throughout the Bay Area since 1919.
Warm regards,
Mary Fuller
President and Dean
Celebrating the Class of 2026
On May 9, Lincoln Law School proudly celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026.
Graduation marks the culmination of years of determination, sacrifice, and perseverance. These graduates earned their law degrees while balancing careers, families, and significant personal responsibilities, all while pursuing dreams years in the making.
This year’s commencement ceremony featured keynote remarks from Chief Paul Joseph of the San Jose Police Department and brought together graduates, families, faculty, alumni, and friends to celebrate this important milestone.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity to recognize several outstanding members of the Lincoln community.
Peter Wilson received the Valedictorian Award.
Amanda Bach-Schabert was recognized as Outstanding Graduate.
Judge Erik Johnson received the Professor of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to our students and academic program.
Hatixhe earned her first law degree in war-torn Kosovo, where she shared that she carried her diploma hidden beneath her coat. After immigrating to the United States, she continued pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney, earning a law degree from Lincoln Law School. Like many successful lawyers, her journey was not without setbacks. After multiple attempts at the California Bar Exam, she ultimately achieved her goal and became a licensed attorney.
Her story reminds us that success is often less about how quickly we achieve a goal and more about our willingness to keep moving forward.
To the graduates of the Class of 2026, congratulations. We are proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing the impact you will make in your communities, professions, and the legal field.
Although your time as a student has come to an end, your connection to Lincoln does not. You are now part of the Lincoln family, and we look forward to celebrating your future successes, staying connected throughout your career, and watching you help inspire and support the next generation of Lincoln students.
Student Spotlight: Joanna Molina
Lincoln students often inspire me with their determination, resilience, and commitment to long-term goals. Joanna Molina is one such student.
Joanna is entering her third year at Lincoln Law School while balancing a demanding professional life and raising five children ranging in age from one to thirteen.
Her journey toward a legal career has been marked by steady progress and perseverance. While attending law school, Joanna recently earned her Paralegal Certificate and continues to grow professionally as a paralegal with Gomez Edwards LLP.
When asked about her experience, Joanna shared:
“Law school has been challenging, but every step has brought me closer to the future I want for myself and my family.”
Joanna invited me to attend her firm’s May 2026 networking mixer, where attorneys, professionals, and members of the community gathered to build relationships and celebrate the firm’s continued success. Seeing Joanna in that environment was a reminder that Lincoln students are not waiting until graduation to begin building their legal careers. They are already creating professional connections, gaining practical experience, and developing the skills that will serve them throughout their careers.
What I admire most about Joanna is not any single accomplishment. It is her commitment to continuing forward while balancing work, family, and the many responsibilities that come with everyday life. With the support of her family and her own determination, she continues to invest in herself and her future one step at a time.
Joanna’s story reflects the experience of many Lincoln students who are pursuing ambitious goals while balancing careers, families, and significant responsibilities. Her perseverance, professionalism, and commitment to growth embody the spirit of Lincoln Law School.
We look forward to celebrating Joanna’s continued success in the years ahead.
Continuing the Journey: Bar Preparation with Kristen Merriman
One of the strengths of the Lincoln community is the willingness of alumni to help those coming behind them. Kristen Merriman, a 2025 Lincoln graduate and first-time California Bar Exam passer, is already doing exactly that.
Last Spring, Kristen assisted with Lincoln’s Bar Preparation course, where students quickly came to appreciate her practical approach, enthusiasm, and commitment to helping others succeed. Building on that experience, Kristen will lead Lincoln’s Fall and Spring Bar Preparation course.
The course is designed to help graduates build confidence, strengthen exam skills, establish meaningful performance baselines, and improve through practical exercises, structured feedback, and guided preparation.
In addition to her legal training, Kristen is an experienced educator who has taught complex subjects, including Physics and Respiratory Sciences. Her combination of teaching experience, academic success, and recent firsthand experience with the California Bar Exam makes her uniquely qualified to guide graduates through the bar preparation process.
Lincoln alumni are encouraged to join the course and continue their journey toward bar admission with the support of a fellow graduate who understands both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Alumni interested in participating should contact Lincoln Registrar Kim Zea at registrar@lincolnlawschool.edu for additional information.
Creating Opportunity
Sometimes the most meaningful acts of generosity begin with a simple conversation.
When Stan and Karen Chism attended Lincoln Law School’s Open House this Spring, they had an opportunity to learn more about the school’s students, mission, and community. What they discovered was a group of determined individuals working to improve their lives and create new opportunities for themselves and their families through legal education.
Inspired by what they saw, Stan and Karen established the Dean’s Fund, a resource dedicated to helping continuing students facing financial hardship remain on track toward graduation.
For Stan and Karen, supporting students is a natural extension of lives spent helping others. Stan practiced medicine for many years, and Karen devoted her career to serving others through clinical consulting. While law was not their profession, education has always been important to them because they understand its power to transform lives.
The Dean’s Fund is intentionally focused on students who have already demonstrated commitment and perseverance.
Their generosity reflects a belief that resonates deeply with Lincoln’s mission: talent, determination, and potential are everywhere. Opportunity is not always equally available.
As Lincoln continues to grow, opportunities exist for alumni and friends of the school to create similar impact. Whether through mentoring, internships, networking opportunities, scholarships, or financial support, investments in students can create opportunities that last for generations.
We are deeply grateful to Stan and Karen for their friendship, generosity, and belief in Lincoln students.
Learning from Experience
Some of the most valuable lessons in a legal career are not found in textbooks. They are learned through experience, perseverance, and the willingness to keep moving forward when the path is not always easy.
On May 26, Lincoln Law School hosted a special panel discussion on bias in the legal profession featuring retired Judge Dora Padilla, a Lincoln Law School graduate and professor, and Kelvin Vivian, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Marvell Technology. The discussion was moderated by leadership coach and attorney Gina Steele.
Drawing on their own professional journeys, Judge Padilla and Mr. Vivian shared personal experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for navigating challenging situations while building successful careers.
For Judge Padilla, the discussion reflected a lifetime dedicated to service, advocacy, and education. As a young girl, she often translated for her father and witnessed firsthand the challenges families can face when they do not have access to legal representation.
Mr. Vivian shared perspectives from a distinguished career in the technology sector, including his journey to becoming the first African American Vice President at Marvell Technology.
The discussion was recorded and will be featured as part of the 2026 Thriving in the Law Summit. The Summit will be released June 25-28 and will be available free of charge through June 30. Extended access will be available through a modest donation supporting Lincoln Law School.
Additional information and registration details are available at: steeleleadership.com/2026-thriving-summit-page
We are deeply grateful to Gina Steele for her vision and leadership and to Judge Padilla and Kelvin Vivian for generously sharing their time, wisdom, and experience with Lincoln students, alumni, and friends.
Lincoln Connections in the Legal Community
One of the greatest strengths of a legal education is the relationships built along the way.
Recently, members of the Lincoln community attended the APABA Silicon Valley Judges Reception, an event that brought together judges, attorneys, law students, and legal professionals from throughout the Bay Area.
Among those attending was retired Judge Roberta Hayashi, who will re-join Lincoln’s faculty this Fall to teach Professional Responsibility and will teach Family Law and Community Property in the Spring.
Also in attendance was Lincoln alumnus Jamel Wright, whose participation reflects the many paths available to Lincoln graduates as they build successful careers and contribute to the legal community.
Events such as these remind us that the legal profession is built on more than knowledge of the law. Relationships, mentorship, professional networks, and a willingness to support one another all play important roles in professional growth and success.
We are grateful to the many members of the legal profession who continue to support, encourage, and invest in the next generation of lawyers.
Help Us Find the Next Generation of Lincoln Students
One of the most meaningful ways to support Lincoln Law School is to help identify and encourage future students.
As members of the Lincoln family, we invite you to think about the people around you who might thrive in law school.
If someone comes to mind, we encourage you to reach out to them. Share your experience. Tell them why legal education mattered to you.
And, if you are in a position to do so, consider supporting their journey. Sponsorship can take many forms. It may be mentorship, encouragement, flexibility in a work schedule, financial assistance, or simply helping someone believe that a legal education is within reach.
Lincoln is currently in its Summer Session, and for the next two weeks prospective students are welcome to sit in on a real class and experience law school firsthand. There is no sales presentation and no obligation.
Prospective students are also welcome to visit the school, tour the campus, attend MCLE events, and meet members of the Lincoln community at any time.
Fall classes begin in mid-August, and the summer will pass quickly.
Individuals interested in visiting a class, touring the school, or learning more about admission should contact Registrar Kim Zea at registrar@lincolnlawschool.edu or Assistant Registrar Alma Zermeno at studentservices@lincolnlawschool.edu.
Together, we can help create opportunities for the next generation of Lincoln students and lawyers.
Upcoming Event: AI Tools and AI Governance
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the practice of law, creating new opportunities, new challenges, and new professional responsibilities for attorneys and organizations alike.
Lincoln Law School’s next MCLE program will explore these issues through a moderated conversation featuring Arthur Rothrock, Co-Founder and CEO of Legion AI, and Linsey Krolik, a recognized technology attorney, educator, and leader in AI governance.
Attendees will see demonstrations of emerging AI litigation tools and discuss the opportunities and responsibilities these technologies create for legal professionals. The program will also explore practical applications of AI, emerging governance frameworks, ethical considerations, and the evolving role lawyers play in helping organizations responsibly adopt and manage AI technologies.
This program is expected to qualify for Technology in the Practice of Law MCLE credit.
The event will be held on June 24 at Lincoln Law School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will include a one-hour MCLE program followed by networking and refreshments.
Final details, including registration information, will be announced soon through Lincoln’s website and social media channels.
Supporting Lincoln’s Next Chapter
Lincoln’s story has always been written by people who believe in the power of education to change lives.
Throughout this issue, you have met students pursuing ambitious goals, graduates achieving long-held dreams, alumni returning to teach and mentor, and friends of the school creating opportunities for future generations.
As we look ahead, there are many ways to support Lincoln’s mission. You can mentor a student, encourage a prospective applicant, provide an internship or employment opportunity, attend an event, share your expertise, volunteer your time, or make a financial contribution to support students and programs.
No matter how you choose to engage, your involvement helps create opportunities for others and strengthens the Lincoln community.
To learn more about Lincoln Law School, upcoming events, admissions, and opportunities to get involved, visit https://lincolnlawschool.edu.
Thank you for being part of the Lincoln family and for helping write Lincoln’s next chapter.
Stay Connected
- Refer a prospective student
- Attend an upcoming event
- Sponsor an event
- Mentor a student
- Hire an intern
- Support scholarships
- Donate
- Visit lincolnlawschool.edu
Thank you for reading The Fuller View!
