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TJSLers Meet FTC Chair Edith Ramirez at Latinas in the Law

March 25, 2013

Latinas in the Law

TJSL students and faculty attended an inspiring Q & A session at USD on March 21 with the recently appointed chairperson of the Federal Trade Commission, Edith Ramirez.

The event was sponsored by Latinas in the Law, an unaffiliated association consisting primarily of Latina judges and lawyers in San Diego whose purpose is to provide support and mentorship to each other and to law students.

Professor Herrera, Alumna Rosa Perez ’11 and Olga Gonzalez 3L were in attendance.

Chairwoman Ramirez graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1992 and magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1989 with a AB in History. She served on law review with President Obama and served as the Director of Latino Outreach in California for the 2008 Obama Campaign. Before joining the FTC in 2010, she clerked for the Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals from 1992-1993 and has extensive appellate litigation experience. She served as an associate at Gibson Dunn & Grutcher, LLP and as partner for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP.

At the FTC, Ramirez deals with issues that touch the economic life of every American. It was created in 1914 to prevent anti-competitive or deceptive business practices that are unfair to consumers. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction, and its work is performed by the Bureaus of Consumer Protection, Competition, and Economics.

Professor Herrera reported that “Chairwoman Ramirez discussed the role of ‘serendipity’ and ‘confronting fear’as important factors in reaching her current position. She took a leave of absence from her role as partner at one of the top litigation firms in the country in order to work on Obama’s campaign in 2007. She encouraged the audience to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them even when they are afraid. She discussed her own fear about leaving such a secure position to follow her belief that her law school classmate was what our country needed.”

“It was a great experience to listen to Ms. Ramirez’ story,” shared Perez. “As a Latina, Chairwoman Ramirez gives me hope that I can someday have a successful career like hers. She was very nice and took the time to speak to us after the event. Overall, it was a great event and an awesome networking experience.” 

TJSL students Kimberly Michele, Kimberly Coulter and Michelle Evenson, all 1Ls, also got to hear Chairwomen Ramirez speak last week at the monthly meeting of the Lawyers Club of San Diego.