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Summer is in full swing but our voluntary bar associations are still at work. Here are some of the amazing events that our voluntary bar associations have had this Spring.

The Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida

On February 28, 2023, the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida (HBACF) hosted their first in person luncheon of the year at the Orange County Bar Association. Then on March 21, 2023, HBACF hosted a complimentary virtual luncheon titled “Challenges to Ethical Legal Practice” with speaker Juan Carlos Arias.

On March 23, 2023, the HBACF hosted a “Conozca Sus Derechos Penales” session at the Orlando Public Library where members fluent in Spanish provided legal information to Spanish speakers needing legal help.

Then on March 25, 2023, members of the HBACF participated in the Orange County Bar Association’s Law Day 5K. Finally, on April 26, 2023, the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida hosted a Path to the Bench luncheon moderated by the Honorable Gisela Laurent.

The Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association

On January 26, 2023, The Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) hosted a Lunar New Year celebration at Dim Dim Sum.

Then on February 23, 2023, GOAABA joined the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers (CFAWL), and The Paul C. Perkins Bar Association (PCPBA) for a “Love Yourself, Love Others, Love Among the Voluntary Bar Organizations” Wall Crawl Event. Finally on March 2, 2023, GOAABA hosted a Coffee with the Court with Judge Steve Jewett, Judge Jeanette Dejuras Bigney, Judge Gisela T. Laurent and Judge Luis F. Calderon at the Orange County Bar Association.

The Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers

On March 3, 2023, CFAWL teamed up with the Orange County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section (OCBA YLS) and hosted a panel on preparing and having a family as a lawyer at the Citrus Club. A special thank you to panelists: Sarah Rodriguez, Charity Tonelli and Judge Denise Beamer for sharing your words of wisdom.

In honor of the 2023 National Women’s History Month’s Theme “Celebrating Women who tell Our Stories” CFAWL hosted a courthouse tour and lunch with the PACE center for Girls on March 24, 2023. The event included a tour of the courthouse lead by Judge Denise Beamer and concluded with an interactive lunch session. The luncheon featured panelists: Judge Gisela T. Laurent, Judge Tarlika Nunez Navarro, Trial Clerk Meisha Lawrence, and attorneys Sharlene Stanford and Alena Baker. Thank you to Leia Leitner for moderating the luncheon and thank you as well to CFAWL members Meranda Landes, Ruchi Kapadia and Kay Phatprasit who joined the girls on their tour and answered questions.

Then on March 26, 2023, CFAWL members attended the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) Lobby Days in Tallahassee. On March 30, 2023, CFAWL members Marina Ellis and Vanessa Clark hosted a “Friends” themed Table for 8 at Tuttu Café (aka Baldwin Perk) in Baldwin Park with food and trivia.

Alena V. Baker, Esq., of Alena Baker Criminal Defense, P.A., is a solo practitioner who practices primarily in the area of criminal law throughout Central Florida. She has been a member of the OCBA since 2011.

GOAABA Lunar New Year Celebration

First row: Onchantho Am, Christine Berk, Judge Vincent Chiu, XiXi Li, Cynthia Winter, Orange County Major Jerry L. Demings, Cathleen Winter, Kenway Wong, Vanessa Braga, Vi Ma, S. Joe Panyanouvong; Second row: Jay Shah, Kim Gray, Amy Akamine, Alisha Haste, Alicia Chiu, Joe Braga; Third row: Scott Leitner, Jim Chung, Annie Kwong, Leia Leitner, Eric Bensen, Ani Newbern, Scott Newbern, Kevin Fedotov, Katie Nguyen; Fourth row: Andrew Reath, Anthony Thompson, David Yau, Eugene Stilianopoulos, Jimmy Pham, Stephen Chong, Judge Andrew Bain

GOAABA’s Coffee with the Court

First row: XiXi Li, Judge Luis F. Calderon, Christine Berk, Cynthia Winter, Judge Jeanette Dejuras Bigney, Cathleen Winter, Andrew Reath, Kenway Wong, Sharlene Stanford; Second row: Ayana Barrow, Judge Steve Jewett, Judge Gisela T. Laurent, Jessica Travis