Zahra Bocek

Biography

Zahra began her legal career clerking for Magistrate Judge Robert M. Illman at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.  As a clerk, she researched and drafted Reports and Recommendations, helping the magistrate judge advise district judges on how they should rule on dispositive motions.  As an Appellate Fellow at GMSR, she will perform legal research, cite-check briefs and other filings, and assist in drafting briefs and articles.

Zahra graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she was named the David E. Snodgrass top appellate advocate of the Class of 2021, as well as Regional Champion of the National Moot Court Competition.  During law school, Zahra served as a judicial extern for Judge Robert M. Illman, for Justice Barbara J.R. Jones (Ret.) at the California Court of Appeal, and for Justice Debra L. Stephens at the Washington Supreme Court.  She also represented a pro bono asylum applicant before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as part of the Hastings Appellate Project.

In her free time, Zahra coaches a middle- and high-school speech and debate team, enjoys speed-skating, and reads speculative fiction.