WHITTIER – Rio Hondo College will host a panel discussion Thursday for students wishing to pursue a career in the legal field.  

Speakers include Judge Enrique Monguia from the Criminal Courts Building in Downtown Los Angeles; Attorney Ricardo Perez, who practices civil rights and personal injury out of Downey; and Attorney Noreen Barcena, who practices in the areas of immigration, criminal defense, and family law out of Pasadena. 

They will discuss their respective educational journeys and career paths, with an emphasis on the challenges that they faced and how they overcame them.  

The event is free for students and will be held Thursday, April 21, at 4 p.m. at the Rio Hondo College (in-person) Board Room.   

The panel is being organized by Rio Hondo College's Pathway to Law School program in partnership with Ferias Legales, a non-profit organization based out of Downey that focuses on providing resources to the community and students.

The Pathway to Law School program is one of nearly 30 such programs hosted across the state that guides students from community college, through four-year institutions and into law school.  

The program targets underrepresented, first year students and partners with multiple California law schools.  

The event is part of a larger partnership between the Pathway to Law School program and Ferias Legales.  

Other areas of collaboration include a mentorship program that pairs judges and attorneys with students; an internship program that exposes students to various different areas of law; a Mock Trial team of volunteer attorneys who provide feedback to students; and a Court Visitation Program where students visit courtrooms and witness actual legal proceedings and speak with prosecutors, defense attorneys, court personnel, and judges who invite the students to speak privately in the judge's chambers.  

The Pathway program launched in 2015 and was awarded the Diversity Champion Award from California LAW in 2018 for excellence in guiding a steady stream of students as they pursue their dreams of becoming lawyers and judges.  

To RSVP for the event, please email Maria Torres, Executive Director for Ferias Legales. Her email is: mtorres@feriaslegales.org.