Hugo Gomez, Founder (Abogados NOW): “This was started in 2019. Why was it important to bring a cohort of Hispanic legal professionals together? Is there a story behind its foundation?”
Michael Ortiz, President (Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland Empire): “In the Inland Empire, which is inland Southern California, we’re bordered by LA County to the west and Orange County to the southwest. Networking and building your professional network are crucial for lawyers, but the Inland Empire has often been overlooked. For major events or gatherings, people usually had to travel to Orange County or LA, which can be burdensome for those living and working here.
We didn’t have a local affinity organization focused on the Hispanic community. And of course, when we talk about ‘Hispanic,’ it encompasses the broader diversity—Latino, Chicano, and so forth. There was nothing here dedicated to fostering that sense of community.”