Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County

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Vol. 2011, No. 5
In this issue...
OC HBA News
Community Calendar & News
Job/Volunteer Opportunities
May 11, 2011

Meet Genoveva Meza TalbottA Note From The President

By: Genoveva Meza Talbott

Happy belated Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo! Many thanks to all that joined us at our annual 5 de Mayo de Barranda held at Pablo's Cantina on May 5th to celebrate Mexico's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. We have the
event pictures posted on our website, so please feel free to peruse them.

We're now gearing up for our Annual Travel Seminar to Belize, which will take place over Memorial Day Weekend. Not only are we sold out, but have set a record for attendance! We look forward to sharing tales (and maybe even pictures!) of our travels in next month's Newsletter.

In local news, the HBA will proudly support and attend OCAABA's 18th Annual Installation Dinner on May 12th. And June will be just as exciting. The HBA will be supporting the PLC's Volunteers for Justice Dinner as Bronze Sponsors. We'll also take in an Angel's game courtesy of Judicate West. And we'll also be captivated by the brilliance of Dean Chemerinsky who will give the HBA an exclusive U.S. Supreme Court Review CLE in the Mark P. Robinson, Jr. Courtroom at UCI School of Law. Read below and visit our website for all the details.

Many thanks. Hope to see you soon!

~GMT

OC HBA News

Judicate West HBA Fundraiser Brings Us The Angels Vs. Royals

 

Judicate West is sponsoring an Angels baseball fundraiser for the HBA on Friday June 10th, this year, when the Angels square off against the Kansas City Royals.  Attendees will be able to watch from Var Fox's exclusive box at Angel Stadium, and program committee will release details on how to purchase the ultra exclusive tickets in the near future.  Stayed tuned for more information!  Visit www.ochba.org for the latest details.

  

Angels vs. Royals Game 

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SPONSORED BY:

Judicate West 

 

Questions? Email us at [email protected] 

Legal Community Celebrates Cinco De Mayo With The HBA

Cinco de Mayo de Barranda
The Orange County Hispanic Bar Association's Annual Cinco de Mayo de barranda celebration was held this past Thursday, May 5th at Pablo's Cantina in Tustin. The revelers included old friends and new, as well as VIP guests from the bench and elected officials, together with HBA leaders, including HBA President Genoveva Meza Talbott and President elect Jos� Gonz�lez, among others. Guests enjoyed hosted appetizers and happy hour drink prices in a festive atmosphere celebrating an ethnic holiday that has taken a greater hold in the U.S. than even in Mexico.

Among the VIPs in attendance were Orange County Superior Court judges Hon. Frederick Aguirre, Hon. Gail Andler, Hon. Franz Miller, and Hon. Luis Rodriguez, as well as Santa Ana council member Vincent Sarmiento. In addition to many current board members, the attendees included former HBA President Monica Lukoschek and former HBA board member Jos� Alfredo Hern�ndez. "Our signature de barranda events are a service the HBA provides not just to our members, but to our local legal community," said President Talbott. "They are a gathering place for HBA members, leaders from the bench and from other bar associations to meet, raise a glass to toast alliances and friendships, and to network, which is great for the bar associations, for politics, and for business development."
All Aboard For Belize & The HBA's Memorial Day MCLE Seminar

Belize
Trip committee Chair Jos� Gonz�lez and co-chair Carlos X. Colorado are putting the finishing touches on the 28th Annual Memorial Day Travel Seminar heading to beautiful Ambergris Caye in fabulous Belize. The travelers head out on May 26 for 5 days/4 nights of CLE travel seminar to Ambergris Caye, Belize, at the Ramon's Village hotel, including excursions to local cultural sites. In addition to planning social events, the Trip Committee is working hard on the seminars being presented this year, which feature retired California Supreme Court Justice the Hon. Carlos Moreno as "the headliner."
Happy Mothers' Day!

No, there is nothing wrong with your computer (or with our calendar). Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador feast their mothers on May 10. Although most Latin American countries have gotten on the "second Sunday in May" bandwagon, there are still a few stalwarts who are holding out for traditional dates according to their own custom. For example, Paraguay celebrates Mothers' Day on May 15, Bolivia on May 27, and Nicaragua on May 30. But, before you feel too badly for Nicaraguan mothers, consider that Costa Rican moms have to wait for August 15, and Argentine moms until the third Sunday of October! I think we'll all agree that Panama takes the cake with their December 8th Mothers' Day.  
Western State Latino Law Students Wine Mixer

The Latino Students Bar Association at Western State University College of Law held their first Wine Mixer on Tuesday, April 12th on WSU's campus. The event was hosted by WSU professor Donald Daucher.

It was a hit with both students and lawyers who came to the event to network and learn about fine wines. "During the event Professor Daucher was a great host and teacher," Kristen Zierhut reports. Being the wine connoisseur that Professor Daucher is, he taught the students and others present all about fine wines, where they come from, and how the grapes should taste in comparison to each other.

The event concluded with an auction featuring wines from Professor Daucher's wine collection and a rock bottom entry fee-of a dollar. "I had the great fortune to wine a fifty dollar pinot noir that was absolutely amazing, and so far out of my budget I would not have had a chance to taste such a great wine if it were not for his generosity," said Zierhut.

In other student news, OCHBA member and WSU 2L student David Rubalcava fought a fierce election campaign and we are proud to announce he is the new Student Bar Association President for Western State University College of Law. "We cannot wait to see all the great things he brings to the table this coming school year," said HBA News Student Editor Kristen Zierhut. Congratulations to Dave for his accomplishment.
HB-A's @ MABA Softball Tournament For 2nd Year Running

MABA 2011The Orange County Hispanic Bar Association's softball team, the HB-A's were reconstituted again this year for MABA's Annual Softball Tournament at Whittier Narrows Park on Saturday, April 16. President Elect Jos� Gonz�lez coached the HB-A's again this year in a round-robin 3 game qualification in the morning followed by lunch provided by MABA for everyone in attendance. Elimination games followed in the afternoon leading up to a final.

The HB-A's gave it their all and had a great time, winning two out of their three games. "Each year the HBA's team gets better with practice and they look forward to bringing home the trophy," said HBA President Genoveva Meza Talbott. "The annual MABA event is a great way to socialize with other lawyers and judges, ask questions about their professions, and make new friends in an open and relaxing setting."

In addition to the HBA president, Coach Gonz�lez's roster this year included board members Mayte Santacruz Benavides, Ivan Cisneros, Lyo Figueroa and Martin Fontes. The team was rounded out with enthusiastic help from HBA member Robert Maciel and Western State law students Kristen Zierhut, Jimmy Cabral, Dave Rubalcava and Guillermo Tello. (Western State law students Christa Riggins and Martha Suarez played on the all students team and also had a blast meeting new people and eating tacos, they assure us.)
Western State Latino Law Students Wine Mixer

The Latino Students Bar Association at Western State University College of Law held their first Wine Mixer on Tuesday, April 12th on WSU's campus. The event was hosted by WSU professor Donald Daucher.

It was a hit with both students and lawyers who came to the event to network and learn about fine wines. "During the event Professor Daucher was a great host and teacher," Kristen Zierhut reports. Being the wine connoisseur that Professor Daucher is, he taught the students and others present all about fine wines, where they come from, and how the grapes should taste in comparison to each other.

The event concluded with an auction featuring wines from Professor Daucher's wine collection and a rock bottom entry fee-of a dollar. "I had the great fortune to wine a fifty dollar pinot noir that was absolutely amazing, and so far out of my budget I would not have had a chance to taste such a great wine if it were not for his generosity," said Zierhut.

In other student news, OCHBA member and WSU 2L student David Rubalcava fought a fierce election campaign and we are proud to announce he is the new Student Bar Association President for Western State University College of Law. "We cannot wait to see all the great things he brings to the table this coming school year," said HBA News Student Editor Kristen Zierhut. Congratulations to Dave for his accomplishment.
Meet The HBA Board: Ivan Cisneros
Ivan Cisneros
Ivan Cisneros is a new member of the Board of Director of the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association who started on the Board this year. HBA board members serve for a two year term before they have to step down or come before the HBA membership to seek reelection to another two-year term (or run for an officer spot). Ivan is one of five board members starting their board terms this year. The others are Lyo Figueroa, Aaron Flores, and Jasmine Velasquez.

He is an attorney with the Michaels Law Group, a boutique business law firm in Newport Beach providing advice and representation for complex civil litigation, venture capital financing, corporate structuring, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and other business law needs and services. In his practice, Ivan has gained considerable experience in complex civil litigation.

"Ivan brings a fresh prospective and positive energy to our firm," said Jonathan Michaels, the founder of the Michaels Law Group. Ivan got his JD at Whittier Law School where he excelled academically. While in law school, Ivan served as Associate Editor of the Whittier Law Journal of Family Law and Child Advocacy and he completed an internship with the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Before law school, Ivan earned his Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from Chapman University with a minor in Comparative Literature. At Chapman University, he was a member of the cross-country team, and he received the Provost's Award multiple semesters for academic excellence, and graduating with Honors from the Political Science Department.

In addition to his HBA involvement, Ivan is a member of the American, Los Angeles and Orange County Bar Associations, Long Beach Inn of Court, Orange County Trial Lawyers Associations, and Mexican American Bar Association. We look forward to his service and leadership on the HBA Board.
Members In The News: Talbott Picked For 40-Under-40

OC Metro MagazineOrange County Hispanic Bar Association President Genoveva Meza Talbott was included in the Forty Under Forty feature in the current issue of OC METRO (May 2011). "Genoveva Talbott has been a lawyer for only nine years," OC METRO observes, "but she has packed a lifetime of service into her career." As the name of the feature implies, OC METRO's list is limited to forty individuals who are identified as overachievers in their field-the list is not restricted to the legal field, and thus Talbott was in the company of a designed-turned-CEO, a digital media guru, and "rising stars in every field imaginable."
HBA Schedule of Events

 

Download Tentative 2011 Calendar Here

Community Calendar & News
'Community Calendar & News' is a courtesy bulletin board service provided by the HBA to its community partners.  The posters of these bulletins, not the HBA, are solely responsible for their content.  Unless otherwise noted, by publishing these billboard posts, the HBA does not endorse the views, services, products, causes, or candidates referenced therein.
OCBA College of Trial Advocacy (CIVIL) programs
April 6 - May 21, 2011
Weekday Sessions, 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Sessions, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Chapman Law School, Kennedy Hall 370 N. Glassell, Orange, CA 92866

19.25 MCLE Credits (Includes 0.5 Legal Ethics)

Unique Program and Workshop Approach
� Learn the fundamentals of Civil Trial Advocacy
� Get hands-on training at the Saturday workshops
� Experienced litigators and distinguished judges provide guidance from Voir Dire to Closing Argument
� Benefit from personal evaluations of your performance
� Completion of this program is accepted as one of the alternative experience requirements of the
    Personal Injury Panel of the OCBA Lawyer Referral & Information Service

Download Form | More information

Return form by March 30, 2011. For more information about CLE Seminars visit www.ocbar.org.
OCAABA 18th Annual Installation Dinner
Thursday, May 12 at 6:00pm
The Villa, 15081 Beach Blvd., Westminster

The Orange County Asian American Bar Association Announces its 18th Annual Installation Dinner honoring Carol Lam, Keynote Speaker; Hon. Arthur Nakazato, Lifetime Achievement Awardee; and Kia Motors, Corporate Service Award Recipient. For more information go to: ocaaba.org.
OCWLA 35th Anniversary Dinner
Thursday, May 19 at 5:30pm
Newport Marriott in Fashion Island

The Orange County Women Lawyers Association Announces its 35th Anniversary Dinner Featuring Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Keynote Speaker; The Honorable Jamoa Moberly, Judge of the Year; and Wylie A. Aitken, Attorney of the Year. For more information go to: ocwla.org.
Anaheim Family Justice Center Foundation's (AFJC Foundation) inaugural Spring Reception, A Celebration of Strength
Thursday, May 19 at 6:30pm
Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802

All proceeds from our Reception benefit the AFJC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports much-needed services and programs for survivors of family violence.
If you have any questions, please contact Kerith Dilley at [email protected], or by phone at 714.765.1618.
ACCA-SoCal Diversity Scholarship

ACCA-SoCal through its Diversity Committee has created a scholarship program to pay for a limited number of bar review preparation courses for financially challenged minority students that might have otherwise had to forgo taking such courses.

ACCA-SoCal believes that it is incumbent upon the legal community to assist in alleviating the economic burden faced by these students as they prepare for their bar exams and their future in the legal profession.

A limited number of recipients shall be selected from qualified minority applicants who demonstrate high moral character and financial need.

Eligibility is limited to full time and part time minority law students who (a) have experienced financial hardship during their law school career and may have had to forgo taking a bar review course if not for this program, and (b) will graduate with a JD at the end of the Spring 2011 semester from an Accredited Law School in ACCA-SoCal's Southern California region, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Email [email protected] to receive a copy of the application or for more information
DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship

DRI announces its annual Law Student Diversity Scholarship program open to incoming second- and third-year African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pan Asian and Native American students. Incoming second- and third-year female law students are also eligible, regardless of race or ethnicity. Incoming second- and third-year law students who also come from backgrounds that would add to the cause of diversity, regardless of race or gender are eligible to apply. Students who are members of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), law school or law student members of AAJ or students otherwise affiliated with or employed by AAJ are not eligible for DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarships. To qualify for this scholarship, a candidate must be a full-time student or evening student who has completed two-thirds or more of the total credit hours requirement for a degree by the applicant's law school. The goal of these scholarships is to provide financial assistance to two worthy law students from ABA accredited law schools in order to promote, in a tangible way, the DRI Diversity Statement of Principle.

Two scholarships in the amount of $10,000 each will be awarded to applicants who best meet the following criteria:
  • Demonstrated academic excellence
  • Service to the profession
  • Service to the community
  • Service to the cause of diversity
Download the Law Student Diversity Application for complete details.
Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC) is hosting a weekly clinic every Thursday afternoon for Legal Genie

Legal Aid Society of Orange County (LASOC) is hosting a weekly clinic every Thursday afternoon for Legal Genie, a simple, affordable, and reliable online legal document preparation service for self-represented middle-income litigants who do not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford to hire an attorney. Legal Genie not only asks questions in a straightforward manner and completes the necessary legal documents about Family Law and Bankruptcy/Chapter 7 based on the client's answers, but also connects the client to LASOC's panel of attorneys who will review the documents and give one-on-one consultations by telephone.
 
Clients are invited to use Legal Genie on LASOC computers during the clinic, and staff will be available to assist with any questions about the service.  For more information, visit www.legalgenie.com or call (714) 489-2719.  By appointment only.
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