Erik Israel is a 1L student at UC Law San Francisco. Raised in rural North Carolina, he is a proud first-generation high school and college graduate. Erik graduated from East Tennessee State University and worked in healthcare as a radiologic technologist before pivoting to finance and working as a self-employed securities trader. As an accredited investor, he expanded his portfolio by making an angel investment in a promising startup- a process that inspired his pursuit of a career in business law. Concurrently with his 1L studies, he interns at a VC fund, assisting with fund operations and regulatory compliance.
Erik’s entrepreneurial spirit developed out of necessity. The lack of educational and economic opportunities in Appalachia made his family reliant on food stamps and creative solutions to make ends meet. At nine years old, his first job was to cut down trees as part of his family’s small business. He brings that blue-collar work ethic to everything he does.
As a CBL Scholar, Erik is excited to continue building relationships in venture capital while developing the business acumen necessary for effective corporate practice. He will be joining Kirkland & Ellis as a 1L Summer Associate.