Lawyers e-Journal
Thursday, May. 6, 2010
Photograph by
Elizabeth O'Neil
From left to right: MBA President Valerie A. Yarashus, MBA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Hon. Angela M. Ordoñez, MBA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair April C. English, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz and MBA Civil Litigation Co-Chair Kimberly Y. Jones.
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz speaks at MBA Tiered Community Mentoring Program event
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, the first woman and Hispanic to hold
the job of the state's top federal prosecutor, delivered the
keynote address at an event to celebrate the first year of the
MBA's Tiered Community Mentoring Program. The April 29 wrap-up was
held at Suffolk University Law School, and also featured remarks
from Bernard Keenan, Suffolk's interim dean and professor of
law.
"You want to make an impression, wherever you are," said Ortiz,
who recommended staying in touch with mentors and colleagues - even
from internships - because you never know when those relationships
will be revisited. Ortiz first met her new boss, U.S. Attorney
General Eric Holder, when she was as a student at George Washington
University Law School interning at the Justice Department's Public
Integrity Section and Holder was a trial lawyer in the
section.
Ortiz advised the group that they surround themselves with people
who believe in them, remain confident in themselves, utilize
education as a path to success and work hard. "The bottom line is
you can do what you set out to do with hard work and
determination," she said.
The program, which kicked off in October, matched up four tiers of
individuals: practicing lawyers and students from Suffolk
University Law School, Roxbury Community College, and John D.
O'Bryant High School in Roxbury. The innovative program was the
idea of Norfolk and Family Court Associate Justice Angela M.
Ordoñez, who also delivered remarks.