Trial lawyers’ charities – investing in the future
Investing in young people through college scholarships and teen foster care; also, building a home in Orange County with Habitat for Humanity
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The mission of Orange County and Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities states that we “make a positive difference in the quality of life for people” in our communities. We do this by investing in organizations, families and individuals to help change the course of their future. Our work this month demonstrates this.
OCTLC and LATLC are both investing in the future of deserving young people with college scholarships. Last year, OCTLC presented nine scholarships to OC’s Project Youth, and specifically the Project SELF program where high school students receive paid internships, mentorship and work experience, which typically leads to improved confidence and skills to assist in their future college careers. This year, OCTLC will once again provide up to nine scholarships for these deserving students. Some of the past recipients have gone on to attend top-ranked Southern California schools, like UCLA.
Since 2014, LATLC has provided $315,000 in scholarships to 116 high school seniors. This year, in addition to the ten $2,500 scholarships we traditionally present, we added two more specifically for teens who lost homes in the Eaton Fires. This was part of the Fire Relief funds raised this year.
Our volunteer projects invest in the future of those in our communities. OCTLC is again helping Habitat for Humanity Orange County build a new home for a low-income, deserving family. This is one of our most popular service projects. Grab a hammer and some work gloves and join us on July 15. No construction experience necessary!
LATLC is also hosting a popular volunteer project, but this one helps “build” new families. KidSave brings foster teens and families wanting to adopt together through fun crafts and games. This allows them to meet each other in an informal setting and continue the adoption process. Think of it as “speed dating” for potential families. LATLC creates the activities and facilitates the day. You must be 18 years or older to participate in the KidSave event on July 26.
Even if you cannot attend a service event with us, you can still “invest” in our community projects.
OCTLC is proud to join OCTLA in supporting the Food From the Bar campaign for Second Harvest food bank. One in nine people are food insecure in Orange County. This is an increase from 1 in 10 just a few years ago. You can donate directly to this Second Harvest of Orange County campaign. (https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/FFTB25/team/OCTLA).
LATLC is celebrating “Christmas in July.” With tariff increases and the uncertainty around the supply chain, we are starting early to collect items for our annual Comfort & Joy signature event. Every year we give out more than 2,000 toys to low-income children in South Los Angeles. You can “invest” in this project by bringing a new, unwrapped toy or game to the CAALA Picnic on July 12. Santa might even be there to thank you personally!
Whether you donate or volunteer, you are making an investment that will pay dividends in the future of Orange County and Los Angeles.
Megan E. Klein
Megan E. Klein is an attorney at BD&J in Beverly Hills, California. She specializes in litigating catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. She is on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and is serving as Co-Chair of the CAALA Education Committee.
Michelle M. West
Michelle Marie West is a partner with the law firm of Robinson Calcagnie in Newport Beach, California where she has practiced for 18 years. Her law practice is devoted to obtaining recovery for individuals who are catastrophically injured due to defective products, including vehicles, tires, skylights, machinery, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. She also handles dangerous-condition cases, trucking cases, premises liability matters, sexual assault, and bullying cases on behalf of injured victims and survivors. Ms. West has been nominated as a Top 100 Southern California Superlawyer multiple times, Top 50 Orange County Superlawyer, and Top 50 Women Southern California Superlawyer, as well as being recognized by Best Lawyers. She is on the Board of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities, Past President of the Western Trial Lawyers Association and currently serves as President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Charities.
In her free time‚ Ms. West enjoys weightlifting, traveling, marathons (completing over 100) as well as participating in ultra-distance running events, cycling events, and triathlons, and has completed over 10 full Ironman® triathlons. She competes in the Badwater Ultramarathon running event to raise money for charity and has finished the event five times.
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