New Attorney Spotlight: Stella Gerson Champions Inclusion in Law

When the tools of your profession suddenly change, how do you adapt? For Stella Gerson, staff attorney at the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and vice president of the Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association, it has meant forging a new path in advocacy and leadership.

Just before learning they had passed the California bar exam, Gerson experienced sudden and profound hearing loss. Now profoundly deaf in their left ear and navigating hearing loss in their right, Gerson is preparing for cochlear implant surgery. “In a field built on words, on argument, on sound, I was forced to find a new way to exist,” they say.

Gerson’s journey is deeply personal and powerfully public. As a queer, nonbinary, and neurodivergent attorney, Gerson stands at the intersection of several marginalized identities — an experience that informs their work and advocacy every day. “But I don’t stand there quietly,” Gerson says. “I stand there with pride, and with purpose.” Their story is especially resonant this Pride Month, as they continue to challenge outdated norms about who belongs in the legal profession.

A first-generation attorney and graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, Gerson has always been driven to serve vulnerable populations. Their background in psychology and child advocacy has shaped a career focused on expanding access to justice for those too often overlooked. At SDVLP, Gerson leads the Guardianship Program, assisting dozens of families in just over a year of practice. In April and May 2025 alone, Stella had 19 cases heard in court, with nearly all granted.

“As someone who is in this sphere of intersectional identities, I understand what it means to exist in spaces not always built with you in mind,” Gerson says. “That’s why public interest work feels so personal, because it’s about challenging those systems, expanding access, and fighting for those whose rights are often overlooked or not given a voice.” 

For Gerson, disability has not been a limitation, but a catalyst for deeper empathy and creativity in advocacy. “Disability doesn’t limit advocacy, it reshapes and enriches it,” they say. “I discovered a deeper sense of empathy and creativity in how I advocate — for myself and for others. There’s no one way to be a successful attorney. Your challenges don’t make you less capable — they make your voice even more vital in the pursuit of justice.”

Gerson’s commitment to mentorship is equally central to their work. As vice president of the Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association, they lead efforts to connect with and support local LGBTQ+ law students. “Mentorship is not just about offering advice — it’s about building connections and creating space,” Gerson shares. “When I connect with local LGBTQ+ law students, I’m reminded that our visibility matters. These students are talented, resilient, and ready to lead. By mentoring, not just helping them navigate law school or job interviews, I’m helping them imagine a legal career where they don’t have to minimize who they are to succeed.”

Gerson’s advocacy extends beyond the courtroom. They have presented nationally on neurodivergence in the legal profession and are outspoken about mental health and disability rights. Their leadership and openness inspire colleagues and community members alike, as reflected in the outpouring of support and gratitude from peers and mentors.

“I didn’t go into law to just practice it,” Gerson says. “I came to help reimagine what the law and justice can look like. Public interest law gives me that opportunity every day.” 

Bobbie Medina is a rising 2L at Thomas Jefferson School of Law interested in mental health law and recently selected to be on Law Review.