New attorneys, here’s something no one tells you in law school: Judges are just people. Sure, lately it feels like they’re the last line keeping the legal dam from bursting, especially when judges stand up to government overreach and insist on playing by the rules. But your job is not to worship or to fear the robe. It’s to pay attention to the process and the small, human details everyone else misses.Read More
Ask the Mentor: How to Organize Your Desk and Office
By LesaChristenson, Esq. ABC Family Law & Mediation Center
Dear Mentor:
Why is my desk such a mess? There are papers and files everywhere, and it causes me so much anxiety. I clean it up to try and organize it, but it quickly becomes a mess again. I feel like I have no room to work, and I don’t know how to fix it. Help!Read More
This Veterans Day, I carved out some time to revisit the history of what was originally Armistice Day and to look through old artifacts from family members who served in the U.S. Navy and Air Force. A day of remembrance does not feel complete without reflecting on those we love who answered the call to serve.Read More
It’s October, and in our beautiful city that means the pumpkin spice is flowing and the calaveras are glowing. As we celebrate Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos, it is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the multi-cultural canvas that makes San Diego America’s finest city. Read More
Legal Life: How to Replace a Lawyer in Ten Easy Emails
By Stephanie S. Germani, Esq. Germani Law
Legal Life: The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of the Everyday Attorney” is your monthly invitation to laugh, commiserate, and connect with the real stories behind life in the law. Read More
Tips from the Bench: Judge Michael D. Washington Discusses the Importance of Mentorship
By Derek Dente
In a recent conversation between San Diego County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Washington and his longtime mentee, Derek Dente, the two reflected on the transformative power of mentorship and how these relationships shape legal careers and personal growth. Their discussion, candid and filled with practical advice, offers unique insight into what it truly means to walk alongside someone on their professional journey. What follows are highlights from their exchange, capturing Judge Washington’s heartfelt philosophy on what real mentorship looks like and why it matters in and beyond the courtroom.Read More
Betting On Freedom: Poker Tournament Backs Wrongful Conviction Advocacy
By Claudia Salinas, Esq. The Innocence Center
October 2 is Wrongful Conviction Day, a global effort to recognize the reality and enduring impact of innocent people serving time for crimes they did not commit. The Innocence Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to criminal justice reform, marks the occasion with events that build awareness, raise funds, and support exonerees as they rebuild their lives.Read More
By Arianna Lara Bonilla California Western School of Law 2L
As a teenager, Lorena Tejeda’s after-school job at a criminal defense firm began with a simple task: mailing letters to incarcerated clients, aka “jail mail.” For many, it would have been just another student job. For Tejeda, it sparked a calling that would later define her career.Read More
