As I was pinning my new calendar to the wall, I was reflecting on what stood out to me from the past year as the executive editor of Follow Our Courts: That the people practicing law in the Inland Empire inspire me with their dedication to mentorship.
I came into this position having had hardly any exposure to or knowledge of the legal industry. I had libel law down, and whatever suspect education I had picked up from watching “Better Call Saul,” singing “Hurricane” and reading John Grisham books.
I quickly learned what I expected to – process, vocabulary, distinctions – and I also learned about the culture of the profession.
Like members of the media, lawyers are usually vilified in popular culture.
But I have spent many hours with both kinds of professionals – especially at events that celebrate their goodness – and I know these portrayals are wildly unfair.
From the Desert Bar Association’s Hall of Fame Awards dinner in March* to the Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association’s volunteer recognition dinner three weeks ago, one person after another was celebrated for helping others, and the word “mentor” was part of almost every speech.
In 2018 I watched a fantastic short film that talked about the importance of mentorship. The ending had an impact on me:
“When you get to the top of a mountain, pull the next one up. Then there will be two of you, tired and proud. And when the second one has finished taking in the view, let her pull the next one up. Room enough for all on the mountain peaks to pull the next woman up, pull the next man up. Pull the next up. Up. Up. Up.”
50/50
So before the ball (or in my town, the orange) drops on 2023, I’m giving another round of applause to all the people Follow Our Courts watched walk on stage to be recognized for pulling the next ones up, up, up.
*I can’t find my notes from the DBA event. If you have the names, please email me so I can add them in.
Honorees
- Ruby Addison – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. Wiley Certificate
- Judge Khymberli Apaloo – Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Access to Justice Award
- Tom Casparian – Inland Counties Legal Services Volunteer of the Year
- Susie Carrillo – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Legal Assistant of the Year
- Megan Demshki – Riverside County Barristers Attorney of the Year
- Fenwick & West LLP – Inland Counties Legal Services Law Firm of the Year
- Carlos Rodrigo Flores – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. Wiley Certificate
- Claire Furness – Assemblymember Eloise Gómez-Reyes outstanding service recognition
- Commissioner Michael Gassner – San Bernardino County Bar Association Kaufman Campbell Award
- Michael Gouveia – Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire outstanding service recognition
- Lisa Hamlett – Riverside County Barristers Courtroom Assistant of the Year
- Inland Counties Legal Services – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. volunteer special award
- Amy Kennedy – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Mitchell Roth Service Award
- Eugene Kim – Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Access to Justice Award
- Jesse Melgar – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. volunteer special award
- Jonathan Mendoza – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. Wiley Certificate
- René Pimental – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. Wiley Certificate
- Judge Manuel Ramirez – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award
- Pablo Ramirez – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. Wiley Certificate
- Assemblymember James Ramos – Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino Access to Justice Award
- Judge Craig Riemer – Riverside County Bar Association E. Aurora Hughes Meritorious Award for Service
- Kaley Rivanis – Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire scholarship
- Laura Robles – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. Wiley Certificate
- Elaine Rosen – Inland Counties Legal Services Leader for Justice
- San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates – ABOTA Small Chapter of the Year
- Jennifer Schinke – Inland Counties Legal Services Outstanding Advocate for Pro Bono
- Judge Wilfred Schneider – San Bernardino County Bar Association Kaufman Campbell Award
- Phoenicia Schuhmeier – Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire scholarship
- Judge Emma Smith – Riverside County Barristers Judge of the Year
- Donnasue Smith Ortiz – San Bernardino County Bar Association John B. Surr Award
- Donnasue Smith Ortiz – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Charles Althouse Lifetime Achievement Award
- Brett Watson – Inland Counties Legal Services Volunteer of the Year
- Cory Weck – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Jennifer Brooks Lawyer of the Year
- Judge Glenn Yabuno – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association Judicial Officer of the Year
- Ofelia Valdez Yeager – Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association, Inc. volunteer special award
Read our coverage of the people and events:
A conversation with California Supreme Court Justice Groban
Hispanic Bar Association holds 2nd Winter Dinner
Inland Empire ABOTA named Small Chapter of the Year
Latino pro bono group honors attorneys
Legal Aid gives awards for supporting access to justice
Riverside Bar honors judge Riemer, installs new officers
Riverside judges, attorneys, clerks honored at Barrister’s reception
Riverside legal nonprofit honors volunteers, employees
San Bernardino Bar honors judges at annual dinner
SBCBA honors Donnasue Smith Ortiz
SB Judge Schneider, Commissioner Gassner, honored at annual dinner
WSBCBA honors attorneys, paralegal
