---
title: Columns - OCTLA President
description: Advocate Magazine articles on Columns - OCTLA President, from the Subject Matter Index.
---

## [TOP GUN honorees 2025](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-october/top-gun-honorees-2025 "TOP GUN honorees 2025")

Our fall momentum continues the traditions of education, service and celebration

[Aaron Hicks](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/aaron-hicks "Aaron Hicks")

From Issue: [2025 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-october)

## [Top Gun awards honor our top courtroom advocates](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-october/top-gun-awards-honor-our-top-courtroom-advocates "Top Gun awards honor our top courtroom advocates")

Live awards ceremony November 13 at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort

[Cynthia Craig](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/cynthia-craig "Cynthia Craig")

From Issue: [2021 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-october)

## [Top Gun Award for PI Lawyer of the Year goes to Eric Traut](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-october/top-gun-award-for-pi-lawyer-of-the-year-goes-to-eric-traut "Top Gun Award for PI Lawyer of the Year goes to Eric Traut")

Medical Malpractice – Dan Hodes; Employment – Bijan Darvish; Distinguished Achievement Appellate Law – Jeffrey Ehrlich; Young Gun Award – Michael Jeandron

[Lindsey Aitken](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lindsey-aitken "Lindsey Aitken")

From Issue: [2023 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-october)

[![The unexamined life . . .](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Socrates-istock-491911620_054a03f65eb841f06063c5433768eba3.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-december/the-unexamined-life "The unexamined life . . .")

## [The unexamined life . . .](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-december/the-unexamined-life "The unexamined life . . .")

A segue from being an Orange County trial lawyer to the philosophy of Socrates

[Douglas Vanderpool](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/douglas-vanderpool "Douglas Vanderpool")

From Issue: [2022 December](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-december)

## [The reluctant president](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-november/the-reluctant-president "The reluctant president")

Reflecting on an incredible year that is about to come to an end

[Douglas Vanderpool](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/douglas-vanderpool "Douglas Vanderpool")

From Issue: [2022 November](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2022-november)

## [The Neptune incident](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march/the-neptune-incident "The Neptune incident")

Changing the public’s perception of trial lawyers

[Shaina Colover](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/shaina-colover "Shaina Colover")

From Issue: [2017 March](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-march)

## [Top Gun awards winners announced](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-october/top-gun-awards-winners-announced "Top Gun awards winners announced")

Five top attorneys selected for the 2020 awards, ceremony will be broadcast virtually

[Jonathan Dwork](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jonathan-dwork "Jonathan Dwork")

From Issue: [2020 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-october)

[![Top Gun Awards gala](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Bertch-honorees-web_d7ed2f5813ddd8191645fd18ab42bdd9.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/top-gun-awards-gala "Top Gun Awards gala")

## [Top Gun Awards gala](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october/top-gun-awards-gala "Top Gun Awards gala")

Honoring outstanding legal achievement in 2024: Arash Homampour, John Manly, Ricardo EcheveRria, Jason Argos and Garrett Chambers

[Whit D. Bertch](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/whit-d-bertch "Whit D. Bertch")

From Issue: [2024 October](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-october)

## [The Year of the Rabbit](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-february/the-year-of-the-rabbit "The Year of the Rabbit")

A look at the Summer Internship Program and an informative seminar on how to make your focus group smarter and more cost effective

[Lindsey Aitken](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lindsey-aitken "Lindsey Aitken")

From Issue: [2023 February](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2023-february)

## [The Uber fight: OCTLA’s collective voice](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august/the-uber-fight-octla-s-collective-voice "The Uber fight: OCTLA’s collective voice")

And a word from War Council Member Greg Bentley

[Clare Lucich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/clare-lucich "Clare Lucich")
[Greg Bentley](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/greg-bentley "Greg Bentley")

From Issue: [2026 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2026-august)

## [The OCTLA new normalcy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/the-octla-new-normalcy "The OCTLA new normalcy")

Top Gun Awards ceremony canceled, but the awards will still be made

[Jonathan Dwork](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jonathan-dwork "Jonathan Dwork")

From Issue: [2020 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august)

## [The Minecraft Compromise: Finding new ways to get what you want](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-august/the-minecraft-compromise-finding-new-ways-to-get-what-you-want "The Minecraft Compromise: Finding new ways to get what you want")

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” ― Henry Ford

[Shaina Colover](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/shaina-colover "Shaina Colover")

From Issue: [2017 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-august)