TJSL in Attendance at Lawyers Club Annual Dinner
June 12, 2013
TJSL students, faculty and staff attended “Writing the Next Chapter”, the Lawyers Club of San Diego’s 41st Annual Dinner. The dinner was held on May 16 inside the U.S. Grant hotel’s Presidential Ballroom.
“It was great evening but best of all was our table including TJSL’s Career Services Director Beverly Bracker and our students–as well as seeing our graduate Renée Galente ’08 lead as master of ceremonies,” said Professor K.J. Greene. TJSL’s SBA President Gabriel Baldini ’13, Valedictorian Walter Araujo ’13, Entertainment Law Society Vice President Najmah Brown ’13, Women’s Law Association President Tara Almazan (2L) and Women’s Law Association Vice-President Samantha Morales (2L) attended the event.
“Thirty years ago, women weren’t even allowed inside the US Grant Hotel’s Grant Grill,” said Morales. “Organizations like Lawyers Club have paved the way for women like me to enter the legal profession. That’s why it was important to me to help re-establish the Women’s Law Association at TJSL.”
Lawyers Club is a specialty bar association comprised of male and female attorneys, judges, law students and members of the San Diego community who share a commitment towards advancing the status of women in the law and society.
“Lawyers Club is a strong organization with a clear, compelling and important mission. Being a part of Lawyers Club provides me strength and support, and also gives me a way to support others and give back to the community,” said Lawyers Club Treasurer Renée Galente.
It was a very special evening for Lawyers Club. Tracy Skaddan received the Community Service Award and Elaine Alexander received the Belva Lockwood Award. Amanda Allen received the first annual C. Hugh Friedman Award in honor of the legacy behind Lawyers Club co-founder and USD Professor and Hugh Friedman. “The most meaningful part of the evening was the memorial done for Professor Friedman. He was such an important part of the formation of Lawyers Club and an incredible human being. I’m very glad that we get to honor his memory through the new award this year,” shared Galente.
From leaving Vietnam as a little girl, to becoming the first Asian American Judge appointed to the Federal Bench, Judge Jacqueline Nguyen of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals delivered the keynote address describing the many chapters she has written in her life.
Michelle Mance (1L) and Alyssa Casiple (1L) joined Lawyers Club upon arriving at TJSL and both volunteered to make the annual dinner a huge success. “The most exciting part of helping with the dinner was seeing all of the efforts come together on the night of the event,” said Casiple. “It is a little overwhelming to be at an event like the Annual Dinner and look around at how many successful attorneys and judges are in the room, but it is absolutely inspiring to know that we share a love and appreciation for Lawyers Club and that someday I will be in their shoes,” she added.
“It was so inspiring to be able to work hand in hand with such amazing people to plan the Lawyers Club Annual Dinner. To see such successful people in one room and to say that I was a part of bringing them all together for such a fun event is great,” said Mance.
During the dinner, attendees enjoyed an exquisite three course meal. “The best part was definitely the food. I found the chocolate mousse to be quite tasty,” said Araujo.
Pictured in photo: Tara Almazan, Professor K.J. Greene, Samantha Morales, Najmah Brown, Walter Araujo, Beverly Bracker, Gabe Baldini