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ship. In 2017, Los Abogados commenced the annual Los Abogados LSAT Fellow- ship Program, which provides 10 aspiring lawyers with a Kaplan LSAT prep course and mentorship through the law school application process. is mentorship pro- gram is critical to increasing the pipeline of diverse attorneys to the legal profession. Once an individual becomes a law student, Los Abogados continues assisting stu- dents successfully navigate through law school and transition to the practice of law. At the start of each semester, Los Abogados pairs interested students with attorney mentors. O en, these connections develop into strong professional and personal relationships that last well beyond the law school years. Los Abogados continues to expand its reach to the undergraduate, high school, and even middle school level to provide programming and inspiration to diverse students to consider a career in law, who might not otherwise be exposed to Latino lawyers.
Los Abogados’ goal of increasing diversity does not stop in the schools; the ef- fort continues as it provides support for attorneys who are interested in serving as judges. e Los Abogados Appointments Committee is dedicated to identifying and encouraging attorneys to apply to be judges and to serve in other leadership roles in the government and legal community, providing regular programing to demystify the judiciary and application process, being active in the committees and commis- sions involved in the appointment process, and to providing members’ support and even mock interviews through the application process.
e Los Abogados Civil Rights and Legislative Committees have focused in many areas over the years, responding to the needs of the community. More recently, Los Abogados partnered with the ACLU to provide a free clinic on how to obtain legal compensation for members of the immigrant community victimized by MCSO’s un- lawful raids. In response to the family separation crisis, Los Abogados developed a mentorship program through which immigration attorney members mentor non- immigration pro bono attorneys on actual asylum cases. e Legislative Committee is a voice for our community at the State capitol, and is proud to have had its rst bill signed into law in 2017 (SB 1422). Los Abogados continues to be actively involved in the policy-making processes that impact the community.
In addition to advocacy and philanthropy, one could almost forget that Los Abo- gados is a bar association. It hosts regular luncheon CLE programming on legal topics of current interest, and regular social and family events for members to con- nect and mingle. While it functions like many other bar associations, it is certainly unique in the impact it is making in the legal community and greater community in Arizona. e tremendous work of Los Abogados has not gone unnoticed. In 2018, Los Abogados received the Diversity and Inclusion Award by the Arizona State Bar, and the A liate Organization of the Year Award from the HNBA (also awarded in 2009 and 2010).
“We are a relatively new organization, but our achievements are a testament to the organization and to the many students, attorneys, judges, rms, and community partners at large who support our mission,” Dávila says.
LOS ABOGADOS
P.O. Box 813
Phoenix, Arizona 85001 www.losabogados.org
Daniel Arellano
Arturo Gonzalez
Brandon Kavanaugh
Steve McCarthy
Michael Valenzuela
Shayna Fernandez Watts
Carolina Lopez
Alexis Arellano
Elizabeth Gonzalez
William Knight
Araceli Rodriguez
Krizia Verplancke
Cindy Villanueva
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kristian Garibay
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