Chalak Richards, C'2007, is a justice advocate. She earned her J.D. at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in 2012 and B.A. from Spelman College, where she was a Phi Beta Kappa and Theta Alpha Kappa scholar.
Richards currently serves as assistant dean for Student Life, Diversity, and Belonging and director of the Parris Institute for Professional Excellence. She was recently appointed to the State Bar of California's Council on Access and Fairness. She is dedicated to bringing diversity, equity, inclusion and a true sense of ownership and belonging to the law. All of this is rooted in her experience with religious studies and her belief that God created all of humanity equal in God's image and worthy of love, respect, and honor.
Before working at Pepperdine Caruso Law, Richards worked as an immigration attorney for several years. She was named in 2016 and 2017 as a “Top 100 Lawyer in Las Vegas” for her outstanding work and has won numerous Advocacy and Trial awards.
While a law student, Richards was an award winning member of the Trial Advocacy and Moot Court teams, Western Regional Chair of the National Black Law Students Association, and participated in many volunteer activities in the community. Prior to law school, she worked with Urban Promise, a non-profit organization supporting the academic and spiritual development of five to ten year old children and mentoring teenagers in high risk communities.