The February Barpassers pose for the traditional staircase shot. Back row (L to R): Kyle Zimmer, Nicolas Urgesi, Jorge Gallegos Jr., and Kyle Martin. Front row: Marco Aguiar, Jennifer Nguyen-Bui, and Brittany Hines. Also passing but not pictured: James “Preston” Castleman, Andrea Chapman, Vismaad Gondara, Kelsey Seib, Preetpal Toor, and Jennifer Michelle-Arnold Wharton.
SJCL Toasts 13 February Barpassers
As if years of law school, studying for the Bar, and awaiting results weren’t enough of a rollercoaster, Andrea Chapman hit an extra bump. There was a glitch in the computer, which initially showed she had not passed. And then she did. Anxiety turned to jubilation.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Nguyen-Bui felt the same anxiety. She put extra time into studying the MBEs, but walked away from the Bar Exam stunned at the complexity of the essay questions. She was also in the winners’ circle.
Thirteen San Joaquin College of Law grads who passed the February Bar were toasted, hugged, congratulated, and applauded at the traditional Champagne Reception on May 20th. Dan Martin was among those in attendance. He recalls being so excited during his first year of law school that he called his brother, Kyle, and told him he needed to check this out immediately. Kyle enrolled the following year, and graduated one year after his brother. Dan, who is currently an Associate Attorney at White Canepa, was there to celebrate Kyle’s Bar passage.
Also in attendance were Charlie Palmer and Professor Andy Kucera, senior partners of Palmer Kucera. Charlie initially joked he was there to “Pick up chicks,” but later admitted he came to congratulate Barpasser Nicholas Urgesi, who had clerked for their firm. Palmer expressed regret that Urgesi had already accepted a “you pass, you’re hired” offer from the Law Office of Darryl B. Freedman.
Others holding those offers included Kyle Zimmer, who accepted the offer from the State Compensation Insurance Fund; Jorge Gallegos Jr., who becomes an Associate Attorney for Stammer, McKnight, Barnum and Baily LLP; Kelsey Seib, who accepted a positon as Associate Attorney at Coleman & Horowitt, LLP; and Marco Aguiar, who accepted an offer from Peel Garcia LLP. Marco says the order for his new business cards and door sign went in first thing that morning.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Nguyen-Bui continues clerking for the City Attorney’s Office as she awaits an opening for an attorney position, which she expects in a couple weeks.
We raise a glass to all of them. Sometimes “champagne wishes” do come true!