February 2018 Barpasser include (L to R): Kuljit Singh, Michael Haw, Jeremy Dobbins, and DuShawn Johnson. Also passing but not pictured: Pardeep Bains.
It was two hours after Bar results had been sent out, and Megan Brown anxiously called her former classmate to see if he had passed. DuShawn Johnson answered the phone.
“Heeeeey,” he said in a downbeat tone. That sorry tone continued for about a minute, after which Megan could hear someone yelling in the background. It was his fiancé, Jaime Hernandez, screaming at him to stop torturing Megan.
“He passed! He passed!”
When Michael Haw’s mother, Maylien, called him, he initially let out a tortured sigh, but then couldn’t hold back his joy. This journey was over, and a bright new one was about to start.
There were those who didn’t think they would make it to the Bar Exam.
Kuljit Singh was graduating San Joaquin College of Law at the same time his vision was failing in his left eye. He underwent a cornea transplant, but the eye drops needed in both eyes produced a cataract in his right eye, requiring more surgery. He would have to postpone taking the Bar until his eyes would handle the strain of studying, but he used the time for a joyful purpose; he and his brother visited 26 relatives in India. His family moved to the U.S. about 20 years ago, when he was only about ten-years-old.
There were those who didn’t think they would make it through law school.
Michael Haw suffered a divorce and heart failure during his education at SJCL. His heart condition halted his studies for a while, meaning he had to repeat classes, and it took him five years to graduate. There were times when he wondered if he should not have shut down Haw’s Automotive, where he was owner and mechanic extraordinaire for years.
Singh and Haw were among the five February Barpassers feted at the Barpassers Champagne Reception on May 21st. The others included Pardeep Bains, Jeremy Dobbins, and DuShawn Johnson.
Haw was not the only second-career Barpasser.
Jeremy Dobbins was still working as a Registered Nurse at Community Medical Centers when it came time for the Champagne Reception, but that’s about to change. He has been working as a clerk at the Law Office of Keven G. Little, who has agreed to mentor him in opening his own law practice.
Meanwhile, DuShawn Johnson also intends to open his own practice. He spend about 15 years as a Police Officer for the Visalia Police Department and wants to do criminal defense. He also doesn’t want to work for a boss, unless it’s himself. Or maybe Jaime.