ACBA Member Spotlight: Stephanie Gonzalez
Stephanie Gonzalez is an associate at Donahue Fitzgerald LLP with a focus on civil litigation. As a member of the Litigation practice group, Stephanie assists clients in all stages of litigation in various areas of law, including Employment, Business, Intellectual Property, Trust and Estates, and Real Estate. She is the current Chair of the ACBA Barristers Section, the Alameda County Bar’s free section for newer attorneys.
While attending law school, Stephanie was on the executive board of the Students for Immigrants’ Rights organization at the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco. While on the board, she planned and executed the organization’s annual immigration detention center trip, where law students traveled to the Southern border to provide free legal services to detainees. She also externed for the Honorable Justice Teri L. Jackson at the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District.
In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys yoga and reading.
When did you know you wanted to be a lawyer?
I wanted to be a political journalist when I began college. But one semester, I had a paralegal internship at Butte County Jail. I worked inside the jail’s law library, which was really just a small cell with a computer and some legal treatises. Inmates came in by appointment, and I helped them research various things, such as the criminal statute(s) they were charged with, how to file for divorce while they were incarcerated, how to change their name, and so on. I found the work fascinating and rewarding, and I knew I wanted to be a lawyer ever since.
If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what would you be doing instead?
I would be a political journalist, or doing something adjacent to law and/or politics.
What is the biggest challenge facing you as a lawyer today?
Finding balance between work and my personal life. It is difficult to unplug from work because technology constantly connects us to each other. There is always work to be done, and when you can work from anywhere at any time, it is hard to be present in your personal life.
What is your favorite part of being a lawyer?
I am always learning and every day feels different. Even when I am doing something that I have done many times before, there will be new facts, new rules, or an additional layer of complexity that makes it feel different. It is incredible to look back only a few months and see how much I have learned in a short amount of time.
What is your dream vacation?
My dream vacation is one that includes history, architecture, and food. I have never visited Italy or Spain and I would love to one day.
What are you reading now?
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén. It’s a beautiful story that feels personal as someone who is watching their parents age.
Why did you choose to be a member of the ACBA? What is the greatest benefit you’ve experienced as a member?
I have met amazing mentors, colleagues, and friends through the ACBA. It is a tight knit community that uplifts its members. It did not take long for me to feel at home with the ACBA.
Follow Stephanie Gonzalez example and become a member of the ACBA today! Find more information on our Why Join