Special thanks to our Alumni Panel Forum participants, including (L to R) Personal Injury Attorney Tim Mazzela (Law ‘93), Fresno County Superior Court Judge Alan Simpson (Law ‘83), SJCL Dean and Panel Moderator Jan Pearson, Wills and Trusts/Elder Law Attorney Teresa Petty (Law ‘07), Criminal Defense Attorney Katherine Hart (Law ‘77), and Bankruptcy Attorney Eddie Ruiz (Law ‘95).
By Missy McKai Cartier, Public Information Officer
There are three stories I want to tell you, in no particular order, and being as those involved weren’t told they were “on the record,” I’ll leave out the names. However, the common theme is hard to miss.
Story #1
A certain adjunct SJCL professor queried her class on what to do when part of a case jumped into a specialty of law outside their area of expertise. She waved off several students suggestions of quick research tools, saying students needed to go to the Legal Directory instead.
“You find that area of law and scan down the page until you see an attorney with ‘San Joaquin College of Law’ after their name. You call them. You tell the receptionist you are an SJCL grad and want to speak to that attorney. She will put you through. That attorney will help you. I have never heard of a case of an SJCL alumnus refusing to help another alumnus.”
Story #2
At a recent SJCL Legacy Luncheon at the Downtown Club, participants were shocked into silence when the door suddenly burst open, and a sitting Superior Court Judge loudly bellowed into the room “I know who you are and I know why you’re here!”
Silence in the room. Forks in hand frozen above plates. He continued. “And I just want you to know how proud I am every time one of you appears before me in court. You are always so professional, and so prepared."
The judge, of course, is an alumnus.
Story #3
I recently ran into a member of the Alumni Circle and took the occasion to tell him how impressed I was with a radio interview he had granted at my request. He happens to be among the best in this area of legal expertise, yet both he and his wife were laughing about how he prepared at least as much for the interview as he would have for a jury trial. When I asked why, he answered, “I felt as if I were an ambassador for San Joaquin College of Law.”
Aren’t we all?
It’s almost impossible to mention every SJCL grad who has contributed to this Law School just since the last Inter Alia publication, but those who participated in the Alumni Panel Forum on April 28th deserve special mention. Despite the many other commitments of their busy schedules, they committed the evening to speaking to dozens of prospective students. One such prospect has a twitter account and tweeted that the forum was “interesting and motivating.” She has been accepted for the Fall of 2011.