MoForever Alumni News Winter 2021

MoForever Winter 2021 | 22 PRO BONO UPDAT E something positive can come from what are often incredibly damaging and painful experiences,” Beth says. “Victims often see justice as a kind of salve for their wounds. That really motivates me.” Developing expertise on the MoFo team From 1999 to 2002, Beth worked as a Morrison & Foerster associate in the areas of commercial law, intellectual property, international law, and human rights. She frequently worked with MoFo Palo Alto litigation partners Ken Kuwayti, Bryan Wilson, and Anna White. “I’m so grateful to have worked with people who were deeply committed to producing their best work and attaining the best outcomes for clients,” Beth says. “They were also highly focused on mentoring young lawyers. I always felt like the firm was supportive, especially as a young working mother.” Beth credits early training at MoFo for developing her federal civil procedure expertise (a subject she later taught at Santa Clara University). Bryan Wilson brought Beth in on a litigation case and gave her the independence to pursue the case in the way she felt would achieve the best outcome. “At law school, you learn the civil procedure rules in the abstract. At MoFo, I learned to apply them. I dealt with motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgement, and depositions—all the things ‘real’ lawyers do,” Beth says. “I always felt part of a team, but I also learned how to manage both a case and a client and to always plan four or five steps ahead.” A transformational pro bono case When Beth first came to MoFo, she brought with her the pro bono case Romagoza v. Garcia . Beth says, “I still think it’s amazing that an incoming associate said, ‘I have a pro bono case. You want to take it?’ And MoFo took it.” Romagoza was filed with co-counsel Center for Justice & Accountability under the Alien Tort Statute and the ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF GLOBAL JUSTICE BETH VAN SCHAACK, LEAH KAPLAN VISITING PROFESSOR IN HUMAN RIGHTS AT STANFORD LAW SCHOOL