DAVIS, Calif. — Over the course of her basketball career, former UC Davis women's basketball standout Dani Nafekh has been caught breaking a few of the sport's laws. Maybe a travel here, a double dribble there, despite her most fervent objections.
Now, those officials might think twice for calling her on something as the two-time All-Big West Conference selection and three-time all-academic team honoree could probably put forth an air-tight case to the contrary.
Currently in her second year as a law student at Pepperdine's Caruso School of Law, Nafekh has traded the grind of classes, weights, and long afternoons of practice, for statutes, case files, and long nights in the law library.
"Life post-basketball is very different," Nafekh said. "It's so funny because, before I got to law school, I would always say to people that I was so excited to have more free time during the day without weights or practice. I was looking forward to just being a student and having time to relax and explore Southern California and Santa Monica where I live. Little did I know… I probably have less free time now than I did as a student-athlete at UC Davis. Law school is pretty demanding.
"So yes: I miss the grind of basketball life! Because now the grind is just reading and studying 24/7, which is decidedly less fun."
Although law school wasn't initially in the plans for the 2018 managerial economics graduate, Nafekh's academic career learning the ropes in the courtroom mirrors the success she had on the court at The Pavilion.
The winner of the department's W.P. Lindley Award and the UC Davis Big West Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a junior in 2017, Nafekh is currently ranked in the top 10 percent of her law school class (slated for graduation in 2021), coming off a summer when she served as a judicial extern for the Honorable John A. Mendez in the United States District Court in Sacramento.
This year, the accolades continue to roll in as the Oakville, Ontario, native has been selected for the school's moot court team alongside her fellow second- and third-year classmates as well as the Pepperdine Law Review, and has been selected for a position at Downey Brand LLP in Sacramento this coming summer.
Not bad for someone whose career path did not initially include the law.
"By the beginning of senior year, it was pretty clear to me that, one, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my degree and, two, I didn't want to be done with school yet," Nafekh admitted. "My brother was in law school at the time and it sounded like what he was doing was really interesting.
"I ultimately made a very last-minute decision to take the LSAT and apply to law school because I thought it would be a great way to continue my education and also continue pursuing the aspects of managerial economics and business that I found really interesting; Mainly, all of the 'behind the scenes' of businesses like building your business, mergers and acquisitions, et cetera."
Even through all that, basketball runs deep in Nafekh's blood, having found some time to squeeze in some work ON the court as well.
"I did play intramural basketball in the spring with five other law students and we won the league that we were in, which was pretty fun," Nafekh said. "I still cherish any chance I get to be on the court."
Nafekh finished her career among the top 10 in school history in three-pointers made (154), three-point percentage (.414), and assists (376), while posting a pair of single-season top-10 marks for three-point shooting and three of the top-10 single-season assist totals in the program's Division I history. She helped the Aggies to 87 wins in her four seasons as well as a pair of postseason WNIT appearances, including a run to the "Elite Eight" as a senior in 2018.
With the Aggies coming to town on Thursday for a 2 p.m. tip-off at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, Calif., Nafekh took some time out of her busy schedule to help fill us in on her post-UC Davis life and assured fans that she will break out the blue and gold one more time to cheer on the Aggies in person.
What kind of law are you interested in pursuing?
"I want to do transactional work. I really liked all of the business/finance courses I took as a managerial economics major at Davis, but I wanted to pursue them from the legal side. Next summer, I will be working at a law firm in Sacramento, which will be my first opportunity to try transactional work. I am really excited to finally be able to experience the transactional side of the law rather than litigation — which is all I have done so far — because that was definitely my main interest going into law school!"
Read that you had been selected to the 2019-20 Pepperdine Moot Court Team… what's that experience like? Does that fill the competitive void of basketball?
"The Moot Court team is a group of second- and third-year students. Each semester, we get partnered up with someone on the team and assigned to a competition. You then work together to write an appellate brief for that competition and practice your oral arguments that you will eventually be making in front of the judges. I definitely signed up for it because I thought it would fill a bit of the competitive void of basketball! And it does — a little. Getting to stand up there in front of the judge can be thrilling, and it requires a lot of preparation and confidence. But it doesn't fill the void completely; I miss the camaraderie and exhilaration of competing on the court with my teammates a lot!"
What are your plans post-law school? Practice in the United States? Return home to Canada?
"Immediate plans are to stay in the States. I really like California and want to be here for a while! My brother also lives here in Southern California, so my parents have a lot of incentive to come visit us both, which is nice. I also love Canada though, so that might be in the cards in the future. But there are some hurdles to get over before you're able to practice in Canada with your American J.D., including another bar exam, which I would like to put off for as long as possible. One is going to feel like enough, I'm sure."
Favorite classes so far?
"I feel really lucky to be able to say that it's easier for me to list my least favorite classes than my most favorite, because I have really enjoyed the majority of them. Pepperdine has really fantastic professors who are passionate, engaging, and make going to class a great experience. So, to answer the opposite of your question: My least favorite class was property. Couldn't tell you a single thing I learned from that class. It was really hard."
I know you've been back a few times, but what do you miss the most about Davis?
"I know, I can't stay away. You're all stuck with me. I just miss the community of it. Walking through town and feeling like I know people on every corner, seeing the same great faces at all of our games, biking through campus with friends, etc. Nothing beats the Davis community."
What experiences at UC Davis helped prepare you for the rigors of law school?
"The time management skills I learned as a student-athlete have definitely helped me the most so far. Law school is a lot. Especially being on both the moot court team and law review. It feels like there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done that needs to get done but, somehow, it does get done, and I attribute that to the soft skills I learned as a basketball player at Davis. Time management of course, but also just being dedicated to something you care about, building relationships with people so that you can support each other through the tough times."
Do you have a scouting report for us on the Waves?
"Unfortunately, not. I tried to infiltrate the team last year by being a practice player but apparently you need to have eligibility left to do so. I'll be there cheering for UC Davis as loud as I can though!"
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 15 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
AGGIE EVO
Launched in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.
