Paul Igasaki, deputy chief executive officer of Equal Justice Works and an alumnus of UC Davis, will deliver the keynote address at the sixth annual graduation ceremony for the Public Service Law Program at the university's School of Law on Thursday, April 26.

The law program is oriented toward students who want to pursue careers in public service. In addition to taking a specific set of coursework, students who want to be certified must commit to at least 175 hours of legal work in public interest and government organizations to give themselves the necessary legal experience of working for the community.

During the ceremony, a total of 84 law students will receive certificates, one student will be presented with the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award, and 20 others will be recognized as award nominees. The event begins at 5 p.m. in the Wilkins Moot Courtroom of King Hall.

The law school and, likewise, the certificate program are housed on campus in King Hall, named for Martin Luther King Jr. Following the inspiration of its namesake, the school takes pride in its emphasis on community service.

"The Public Service Graduation Ceremony and the Public Service Law Program have been around since 1994," said Kim Thomas, public interest coordinator at the law school. "We've also presented the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award, which honors a graduating student for their commitment to serving the public, for more than 20 years."

Igasaki, who graduated from the law school in 1979, will speak to the public service graduating class about the importance of public works in the legal fields.

At Equal Justice Works in Washington, D.C, he leads an organization that trains and promotes the next generation of lawyers committed to combating injustice and solving social problems. Igasaki points to his experience at UC Davis' law school as a key motivation to his career in public service.

"I'm truly proud of the progress King Hall has made, and that it embraces what it has always been, an academy for those serving the heart of the legal profession," said Igasaki. "Clearly, [UC] Davis is better than most, but could still do more. All schools should take their pro-bono obligation more seriously."

Igasaki has also served as executive director of the Rights Working Group, a nationwide coalition of civil liberties groups, and vice chair for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an appointee of President Bill Clinton. He also helped found the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, D.C., the Chicago Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

The regular commencement ceremony for the law school will be held on May 19.