The Lawtino™

In this episode…

Recorded live at the Hispanic National Bar Association's Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin welcome Adrian F. Snead, an attorney at Porter Wright, for a conversation about consumer protection, trial advocacy, judicial clerkships, and the power of professional relationships.

Adrian shares his journey from San Antonio, Texas, to Washington, D.C., including experiences at the Department of Justice, the Obama White House, and the federal judiciary. He reflects on how scholarships, mentorship, and unexpected connections helped shape his legal career.

The conversation explores why trials matter beyond their outcomes, the importance of understanding both sides of litigation, and how attorneys can become stronger advocates by preparing for potential appeals. Adrian also discusses the lasting impact of the Hispanic National Bar Association, from opening doors to career opportunities to building a supportive community of Latino legal professionals.

In this episode…

David Arreguin sits down with Agustin Peña, a Deputy District Attorney and President of the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Scholarship Fund, for an inspiring conversation about mentorship, perseverance, public service, and creating opportunities for the next generation of Latino attorneys.

Growing up in City Heights, Agustin didn't have many professional role models to look up to. Everything changed when a mentor encouraged him to consider law school, opening the door to a career he once thought was beyond his reach.

Agustin shares his journey from community college to becoming a prosecutor, the lessons he has learned in the courtroom, and why protecting your professional reputation matters. He also discusses his passion for teaching, training attorneys across Latin America, and supporting aspiring legal professionals through scholarships and mentorship.

Together, David and Agustin explore the importance of representation in the legal profession, the power of community organizations like San Diego La Raza Lawyers, and why young professionals should embrace challenges rather than allow fear or self-doubt to hold them back.

In this episode…

Recorded live at Celebrando Latinas in Chula Vista, John Gomez and David Arreguin welcome Adriana Reid for an inspiring conversation about conscious leadership, emotional awareness, personal transformation, and community empowerment.

Drawing from her experience in the Mexican Foreign Service, education, and human development, Adriana shares how cultural identity, personal experiences, and subconscious beliefs influence the way we communicate, lead, and navigate challenges.

She also discusses her work helping individuals and organizations develop greater self-awareness, the importance of emotional well-being in professional environments, and why lasting transformation starts with a personal decision to change.

Recorded at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with Aida Rodriguez, founder of Ascension Global Staffing & Executive Search and Ascension Legal Studies Institute.

Aida shares lessons from her career in legal recruiting and explains why emotional intelligence, executive presence, relationship building, and business development are essential skills for attorneys. She also discusses the changing legal industry, the growing importance of AI, her longtime involvement with the HNBA, and why creating opportunities for the next generation of Latino legal professionals matters to her.

Recorded at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with attorney Albert Maldonado to discuss his journey from the Inland Empire to Harvard Divinity School, Northwestern Law, and a career in municipal law.

Albert shares how activism, his father’s advice, more than 100 career rejections, and his own struggle with imposter syndrome shaped the lawyer and leader he is today. He also discusses mentorship, community, and why Latino attorneys should recognize the value and perspective they bring to the profession.

In this episode…

Recorded live at Celebrando Latinas at the Gaylord Pacific in Chula Vista, John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with financial expert and author Louis Barajas for a conversation about money, mindset, mentorship, and building wealth in Latino communities.  Pasted text

Louis explains why financial literacy alone isn’t enough to close the wealth gap. Drawing from decades of working with everyone from working-class families to multimillionaires and entertainers, he discusses the cultural beliefs that can influence how Latinos earn, spend, protect, and transfer money.

He also shares why mentorship matters, how families can prepare younger generations for a changing economy, and the philosophy behind his book Finanzas con Corazón. His central message is simple: money is a tool to help you live a better life.

In this episode…

Recorded at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with HNBA President Rosevelie Márquez Morales for a conversation about leadership, mentorship, representation, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Rosevelie shares her journey from Brooklyn’s public schools to Barnard College, law school, and eventually becoming the first Latina partner at her firm. She also reflects on her deeply personal connection to September 11, the mentor who helped her feel that she belonged in the legal profession, and how that experience inspired her commitment to opening doors for others. The conversation explores HNBA’s leadership programs, the importance of professional community, and her practical approach to integrating career, family, and service.

Recorded at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with HNBA President Rosevelie Márquez Morales for a conversation about leadership, mentorship, representation, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

Rosevelie shares her journey from Brooklyn’s public schools to Barnard College, law school, and eventually becoming the first Latina partner at her firm. She also reflects on her deeply personal connection to September 11, the mentor who helped her feel that she belonged in the legal profession, and how that experience inspired her commitment to opening doors for others. The conversation explores HNBA’s leadership programs, the importance of professional community, and her practical approach to integrating career, family, and service.

Recorded at the Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with American Bar Association President Barbara Howard and President-Elect Laura Farber for a conversation about leadership, service, mentorship, and the power of professional community.

Barbara and Laura share how their involvement with the ABA began early in their careers and eventually led them to some of the organization’s highest leadership positions. They discuss the value of building relationships beyond your immediate practice, the ABA’s work involving access to justice and the legal profession, and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of lawyers. Laura also reflects on immigrating from Argentina and her journey to becoming the first Latina president of the Tournament of Roses.

Recorded during Celebrando Latinas in Chula Vista, John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with international keynote speaker Erika Alfaro to discuss resilience, education, mentorship, and the power of sharing your story.

Erika shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Tijuana and struggling academically to returning to school, graduating from San Diego State University, and becoming a keynote speaker whose story has reached millions. She also discusses the viral graduation photo honoring her migrant farmworker parents and why she now helps other Latinas tell their own stories.