Western State Alumni Making A Difference
Western State is proud to be the oldest law school in Orange County, California. Being around for more than 55+ years has allowed us to educate more than 12,000 students. Our alumni are well represented across public and private sector legal practice areas, including more than 150 that have been elevated to the bench and about 15% of Orange County’s Deputy Public Defenders and District Attorneys.
Therefore, we are excited to spotlight three of our alumni who have used their J.D. to make a difference in the community.
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Pearl G. Mann (Class of 1985, Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award) has dedicated her career to supporting greater access to justice for the elderly, the poor and the disabled, she has established a successful practice in Orange County that specializes in elder law, conservatorships and estates. She offers pro-bono services and speaks frequently to lawyers and the public about elder abuse, identity theft, estate planning, diversity and gender bias issues. | | | |
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Kimberly Valentine (Class of 1997, Hall of Fame) has leveraged her law degree to form Operation Helping Hands (OHH), a nonprofit organization on a mission to help the homeless. OHH works with youth and helps open their eyes to see how fortunate they are and instill the importance of giving back to those less fortunate. In addition, OHH works with Southern California Community Colleges to provide students a monthly housing stipend each year so that they can focus on their educational goals. | | | |
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Jessica Hubbard (Class of 2014) dedicated her career to helping those in need. She was recently appointed CEO of Casa Youth Shelter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Los Alamitos, California, providing emergency temporary shelter for runaway, “throwaway”, trafficked and abandoned children. In this role, she is inviting a new era of growth, developing programs and strengthening community partnerships. | | |
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Wish Dean Easley A Happy Retirement
As part of the farewell mixer/reception for Dean Easley, there will be a slideshow with well wishes. To leave a message for Dean Easley, please click the button below.
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2023 WSCL Commencement
On Thursday, May 25th, the Western State community gathered for the College of Law’s 53rd Commencement Exercises. This year’s ceremony honored over 50 graduates who were cheered on by family and friends, and saw the induction of commencement keynote speaker, the Honorable Erick L. Larsh (Class of 1986), into the Western State Hall of Fame. An honor only bestowed upon 84 other Western State alumni.
Dean Allen K. Easley, who announced his retirement late last year, was recognized by Dr. Anthony Lee, President and CEO of Westcliff University, the Western State Board of Advisors, and the Faculty and Staff of the College of Law. In addition to being presented with an honorary degree and the naming of the Allen K. Easley Tenacity Award, he also received a surprise virtual visit from Los Angeles Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, who wished him a happy retirement.
Click Here to view the 2023 WSCL Commencement Ceremony
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Hon. Erick Larsh (Class of 1986, Hall of Fame) delivering his commencement keynote speech. | |
Dr. Anthony Lee presenting Dean Easley with an honorary degree from Western State. | |
Bill Shapiro (Class of 1978, Hall of Fame, Board of Advisors) addressing the audience. | | |
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Western State
Alumni Referral Scholarship
Western State alumni are best positioned to identify potential prospective law school candidates who can meet the academic rigors and have the character necessary for success. Referred candidates by Western State College of Law alumni are eligible to receive a one-time $1,500 scholarship. Learn More
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George Adams, Jr. (Class of 1984, Hall of Fame) was recently named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Orange County Business Journal. George is the CEO of SA Recycling, which operates more than 125 recycling centers across the country.
Congratulations, George!
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Kenneth E. Lako (Class of 1996) has been named President & CEO of Members Trust Company, a trust and investment firm that provides services to credit union members. Prior to his appointment, Kenneth served as Managing Director of Specialty Fiduciary Solutions at Comerica Bank and Sr. Director of Investments and Fiduciary Services at Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management.
Best of luck in your new role Kenneth!
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George Marquez (Class of 2005) was recently elected as Imperial County District Attorney and sworn into office by the Hon. Michael Domenzain, Imperial County Superior Court.
Congratulations, George!
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Michelle Reinglass (Class of 1978, Board of Advisors, Hall of Fame) was recently selected as a Thought Leader in Commercial Mediation by Who's Who Legal in their inaugural edition of Thought Leaders: USA 2023.
Congratulations, Michelle!
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Rose Tsai (Class of 1996) was honored at this year's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Empowerment Summit, hosted by Senator Dave Min at the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center in Irvine on May 6th.
Congratulations, Rose!
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Keep Us Updated
We want to hear from you, our alumni, on your most recent accomplishments. Update us with your successes and contact information to stay in touch with your alma mater and fellow alumni.
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Law Review
Symposium A Success
On April 15, 2023, the Western State Law Review Board was proud to host the 2023 Annual Law Review Symposium. With over 170 attendees made up of alumni, students, and supporters, this year’s topic, “The Future of California’s Criminal Justice System and the Debate Between Traditional and Progressive Laws,” featured a balanced and informative discussion led by a panel of experts, including:
Todd Spitzer (OC District Attorney); Clark Kelso (Professor, McGeorge School of Law); Paul S. Meyer (Paul S. Meyer, APC); Hon. Kimberly Menninger (Superior Court of Orange County); Hon. Kyle Brodie (Superior Court of San Bernardino County); Sheriff Don Barnes (OC Sheriff); and Mark Brown (Attorney & Professor, Western State College of Law).
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Publish in the Western State Law Review Journal
Western State Law Review is currently seeking lawyers, professors, judges, and other legal professionals who are interested in publishing a legal scholarly article in the 50th Edition of the Western State Law Review journal. All articles published by the Law Review undergo meticulous research and pass through multiple rounds of grammar, citation, and content-based scrutiny. The students of the Law Review lead and carry out each stage of the writing, editing, and publication process.
For more information and questions, please contact lawreview@stu.wsulaw.edu.
Outside Articles Dates | Outside Articles Manual
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Considering a career move? Simply log onto Symplicity to have access to all postings on our exclusive in-house job board. If you need assistance in logging in or your password reset, please contact James Gilliam, Director of Career Development, at jgilliam@wsulaw.edu or 714.459.1139. | | |
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Firm: JSM Injury Firm, APC
Audience: Recent Graduates & Alumni
Position: Attorney
Apply to: Indeed
Description: This is a great position for a new(er) attorney looking to gain valuable experience. With us, you will manage a diverse caseload from pre-litigation to trial. Our firm offers an opportunity to gain in-depth insight and cultivate your skills in all aspects of a case, from inception to trial.
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Interested in teaching at WSCL?
Join Western State as an adjunct faculty member, teaching electives and specialty courses. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and dependent on curriculum needs.
To learn more, please email Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Paul Arshagouni, at parshagouni@wsulaw.edu.
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Resources for Employers
It is Western State's goal to develop a robust alumni network that plays an active role in supporting alumni and student career exploration.
To learn more, please visit the WSCL Alumni Career Development page: Click Here
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Janelle Pedersen
Class of 1987
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Mildred Donoghue
Class of 1979
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