Netflix attorney endows first alumni-named scholarship at UC Irvine law

As a member of UC Irvine School of Law's pioneering Class of 2012, Jeffrey Wachs helped shape the identity of the institution. Now, more than a decade later, he and his wife Hannah said they want to help shape its future.

With a $50,000 gift--the school's first alumni-named scholarship--the couple has endowed the Hannah and Jeffrey Wachs Law Scholarship, a testament to their deep gratitude and their commitment to opening doors for the next generation of legal scholars.

"I am forever grateful to have been a part of the inaugural class at UC Irvine School of Law," Jeffrey Wachs, who is senior counsel at Netflix, said. "It was a transformative experience for Hannah and me, and we continue to benefit from it to this day."

When UC Irvine School of Law opened its doors in 2009, its mission was to reimagine legal education for the 21st century by integrating public service, interdisciplinary learning and experiential training at its core. Founded under the leadership of Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, the school sought to break from traditional law school models by emphasizing practical skills, social justice and a collaborative academic culture. Its goal was to produce not only excellent lawyers, but also ethical leaders and agents of change committed to advancing equity, innovation and access to justice in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

The first new public law school in California in more than 40 years, the law school offered free tuition to its inaugural class in a bid to attract top-tier students despite being a brand-new institution. The bid paid off; the school debuted in the U.S. News rankings at No. 30--an unprecedented achievement for such a young institution.

Wachs, who has held positions at Lakeshore Entertainment, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, and O'Melveny & Myers LLP before joining Netflix, said "I take great pride in what my classmates and our sibling alumni have achieved in their careers and their communities.

"I wouldn't be where I am without UC Irvine Law, and I am humbled by the ability to endow a scholarship to enable future students to meet founding Dean Chemerinsky's charge to 'practice law at the highest levels.'"

In 2023, Wachs was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award at UC Irvine's Lauds & Laurels ceremony, recognizing his professional accomplishments, community service and campus involvement.

Hannah Wachs, who earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from UC Irvine in 2011, expressed gratitude for the chance to support the institution that transformed their family's life.

"We wouldn't be in a position to give now if it weren't for the generosity and vision of those who gave so much to the inaugural class of 2012," she said.

Dean and Chancellor's Professor of Law Austen L. Parrish praised the couple's contribution.

"We can't thank Hannah and Jeffrey Wachs enough for their tremendous support and enduring commitment to UC Irvine Law," Parrish said. "Their thoughtful gift to support students, while recognizing how gifts from others made a difference in their lives, embodies the spirit of 'Anteaters for Anteaters' that defines our community."