A few thoughts from 2009 Armonica Law Student Grant recipient Jacqueline Alarcón:
I have been an attorney since 2011; however, my involvement with OWLS goes back to my second year as a law school student (2008-2009), when I was awarded the Armonica Law Student Grant by the OWLS Foundation. As part of that award, I was to be appointed a judicial mentor and attended the OWLS Roberts & Deiz Awards Dinner. I was paired with the Honorable Darleen Ortega who has provided me with invaluable mentorship and has helped define the type of attorney I am and want to be. The Roberts & Deiz Awards Dinner is a special event for me as two influential women have been awarded the Mercedes Deiz award, specifically; Armonica Gilford was awarded the Mercedes Deiz award in 1997 and Judge Ortega in 2011.
I have served on the OWLS Fall CLE Committee, and the OWLS 25th Anniversary Committee, and currently serve on the OWLS Roberts & Deiz Awards Dinner Committee. In addition to my involvement with OWLS, I am very involved with the Clackamas County chapter of OWLS, Clackamas Women Lawyers. As a lawyer committed to working towards providing broader access to justice for a diverse pool of people, I am also a member of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion of the Oregon State Bar.
Ever since I received the Armonica Grant, I have tried to remain involved with OWLS, whether by attending events planned by OWLS or by being involved in different committee groups. As an attorney, I believe that I have a duty to improve the legal community. Being the recipient of generous mentorship, I understand the importance of mentoring others, and being part of continuous change for the better within our legal profession. I believe I can be part of that change and help effectuate change through OWLS.
Currently, I am a family law attorney at Yates Matthews Family Law, P.C. I received my J.D. from Willamette University College of Law and my B.A. in Politics and French from Willamette University. When I am not working, you can find me volunteering my free time with Adelante Mujeres, a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowering Latina women and helping them with social, professional and educational advancements. Also, I recently started an informal mentoring group for newer Latina lawyers and Latina law students (Oregon Latina Lawyers/Law Students Association). This group of about 20 women meet once a month at a restaurant and address any challenges faced or achievements. I always invite an established legal professional to attend our gatherings so that there is a networking component to our meetings. Our past guests have included Judge Ortega and Judge Villa-Smith.
