Jessica Lujan is a Trial Attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys, where she focuses on catastrophic personal injuries, premises liability, ADA enforcement, and wrongful death cases. She has experience litigating personal injury matters for victims and insurance defendants in state and federal court. Passionate about supporting diversity efforts in the San Diego legal community, Jessica is a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of San Diego, the La Raza Lawyers Association, and the American Association of Justice, among other notable organizations.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [2:22] How Jessica Lujan’s upbringing in Ciudad Juárez shaped her legal career
- [6:55] Jessica talks about her family dynamics and values
- [17:37] From Notre Dame to law school to a community advocate and board member: Jessica’s transformation
- [24:24] The impact of Jessica’s daughter on her legal work and Latino advocacy
- [27:18] How Jessica’s Latina background influences her position at Gomez Trial Attorneys
- [32:05] Overcoming stereotypes as a Latina in law
- [35:33] Jessica’s involvement with the La Raza Lawyers Association and her commitment to mentorship
- [42:33] Tips for addressing systemic oppression and advocating for Latino representation in law
- [45:08] The future of Jessica as a leading Latina trial lawyer and her plans for community impact
In this episode…
The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing demographic in the country, yet Latinos are vastly underrepresented as lawyers. Integrating cultural roots into a legal career can pose unique challenges. How can you navigate the complexity of two worlds, merging identity and passion to cultivate change?
Growing up on the border of Ciudad Juárez and El Pasa, Texas, Jessica Lujan and her family made a desperate escape across the border to start a new life. Having to navigate a new environment as a young child without fully grasping the magnitude of her reality, Jessica now recognizes how familial bonds, traditional Hispanic values, and a strong sense of justice shaped her legal journey. As a nationally recognized trial lawyer and influential Latina leader, Jessica advocates for equal representation through organizations that promote Latinos in leadership positions.
Listen to this episode of The Lawtino™ as John Gomez hosts Jessica Lujan, a Trial Attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys, to talk about her path to becoming an esteemed advocate for Latino lawyers. Jessica shares personal anecdotes from her childhood, discusses systemic oppression, and highlights the importance of Latino representation in the legal field to ensure a fair justice system.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- John Gomez on LinkedIn
- Gomez Trial Attorneys: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
- Jessica Lujan on LinkedIn
Quotable Moments:
- “You need to be better than us. You need to take advantage of the opportunities we’re giving you.”
- “Empathy is so powerful… it goes a lot further than sympathy.”
- “It’s all about paying it forward and helping generations after.”
- “I believe in the importance of helping young Latino leaders, you know, grow their career.”
- “It’s incredibly important for us to actively combat [systemic oppression], to help the numbers even out so we can have more equality in our legal system.”
Action Steps:
- Mentor the next generation: Share your expertise with students or young professionals to foster growth in your field. Mentoring creates a supportive network that can uplift individuals to overcome systemic barriers.
- Embrace biculturalism: Use your cultural background to connect deeply with community members to advocate for fairer outcomes. Being bicultural can enhance empathy and understanding, which is crucial when serving diverse populations.
- Address unconscious bias: Actively work to recognize and counteract your own biases to promote inclusivity and equity. Systemic oppression often stems from unconscious biases, and addressing them can lead to a more just society.
- Advance Latino representation: Support or join organizations like La Raza Lawyers to help increase Latino representation in the legal system. Jessica Lujan emphasizes the need for representation that mirrors the demographic makeup of our communities for fairness in justice.
- Engage in political advocacy: Get involved in political activities that align with justice and equality for Latinos. By advocating politically, we can influence change and address disparities in the legal system.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by Gomez Trial Attorneys, a personal injury law firm based in San Diego.
Award-winning attorney John Gomez developed a nationally recognized legal team that goes above and beyond for injured clients.
With numerous designations, distinctions, and top-notch resources, we have what it takes to fight and win against major corporations.
For a free case evaluation, visit https://www.thegomezfirm.com/contact/.