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Former Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association President Renee Galente ’08 Becomes President of California Women Lawyers

October 5, 2017

On October 5th, Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s  former Alumni Association President Renee Galente ’08, began her term as President of the California Women Lawyers (CWL). Ms. Galente’s term as President will run from October 2017 to September 2018. 

Renee Galente ’08 is a trial lawyer with Galente Law, APC focusing on personal injury, criminal defense, and military law.

Ms. Galente received her undergraduate degree in Business and Marketing from Park University in 2004. In 2008, she earned her JD degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law .  Ms. Galente later served on the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors as President from 2012 to 2013.

She began her legal career with large and complex cases right from the start. In 2006, she worked on the military war crime case “The Pendleton 8” as part of the defense team for PFC John Jodka. In 2007, she wrote a Supreme Court brief which changed the law in Construction Defect in the state of Arizona. In 2008, Ms. Galente worked on three different teams (personal injury, business, and eminent domain/real property) for a boutique plaintiff’s litigation firm in San Diego. In that capacity, she helped recover over $40 million dollars for clients.

In 2011, Ms. Galente started her own firm and reestablished her practice area in criminal defense after years of focusing on civil litigation. She handles plaintiff’s serious personal injury cases and serious criminal defense cases, including cases in state and federal court and military bases throughout San Diego.

Ms. Galente works up each case as if it were going to trial by jury while simultaneously working the settlement track if that is an option her clients would like to pursue.

In the legal community, Ms. Galente has established herself as a leader with a strong work ethic through her work in various organizations including San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association, Lawyers Club of San Diego, the San Diego County Bar Association, California Women Lawyers, and The State Bar of California.

“I am honored to serve as President of California Women Lawyers, whose mission is just as relevant today -unfortunately- as it was when founded in 1974. I count myself extremely fortunate to work with strong, inspiring female leaders from across the state and across the breadth of the legal profession,” said Renee Galente ’08. “My goal for the organization in the coming year is three-fold: to continue to provide exceptional programming to our members, to increase activity with our legislative priorities and amicus opportunities advocating for those issues that fall within our mission, and to educate. The focus of our education and outreach this year will be increasing the spotlight on the struggles and barriers facing women of color in the legal profession as well as educating the legal community and the community at large about human trafficking in California what can be done to combat it.”

California Women Lawyers is the only state wide women’s bar association. It promotes the advancement of women in the legal profession and is an active advocate for the concerns of women in society. We represent the interests of the over 70,000 women in all facets of the legal profession.