David Sandino to Lead New UC Davis Law Small Farmer Water Clinic

David Sandino will direct UC Davis School of Law’s Water Justice Small Farmer Clinic, an extension of the law school’s Aoki Water Justice Clinic. The new clinic will launch in July 2024.

The one-time Chief Counsel and longtime Senior Staff Counsel at California’s Department of Water Resources, Sandino also brings a wealth of experience teaching natural resources courses at the law school and undergraduate levels. Sandino has taught at Santa Clara, Texas Tech, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and University of San Francisco law schools, among others, and in UC Davis’ Native American Studies department.

The Small Farmer Clinic will provide legal assistance to underrepresented communities in implementing California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The clinic was created through a Water Foundation grant of just under $1 million. UC Davis Law Senior Assistant Dean for Administration Brett Burns, Aoki Water Justice Clinic Director Rob Mullaney and Professor and Director of Clinical Legal Education Gabriel “Jack” Chin were instrumental in securing the grant.

In 2022, the state Legislature authorized $10 million in DWR funding for a program to assist small family farmers regarding the SGMA. The Water Foundation administers the program.

Appointed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sandino served as DWR Chief Counsel from 2006-10. He has worked on significant water, environmental, tribal, financial and energy issues during his 30-year career with the department.

Sandino holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and education from UC Davis, a J.D. from Santa Clara University, and a Master of Laws from King’s College London.