Asaf Orr ’02

Overview

Assistant Chief Counsel, California Civil Rights Department
Oakland, CA

• BA, Sociology, Vassar College
• JD, Rutgers School of Law-Newark

Asaf Orr (he/him) is a civil rights attorney with nearly twenty years of litigation experience in nonprofits and as a government lawyer. He currently serves as Assistant Chief Counsel for the California Civil Rights Department, where he protects Californians from discrimination in many aspects of their daily lives, including in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Prior to joining CRD, Asaf directed the Transgender Youth Project at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights and was a national expert on legal issues affecting transgender youth for more than a decade. In that role, Asaf represented transgender youth and their families in a wide range of legal matters, strengthening legal protections for transgender youth. He also has extensive experience developing legislation and anti-discrimination policies as well as conducting trainings. Asaf began his career representing low-income children with disabilities throughout Los Angeles County who needed special education supports and services. Following his graduation from law school, Asaf clerked for the Honorable Virginia A. Long on the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Advice to Students:

I highly encourage you to take time after college to figure out what you want to do for a career, especially if the options you are considering require additional schooling. There is no rush, and taking that time will help you make the most of the next phases of your professional growth and greatly increase the likelihood that you will be happy with your career choice. Relatedly, be open to new experiences; knowing what you don’t want to do is critical to identifying your career path and finding your purpose on that path.