Barristers Column — April 2026

By Sharon Ramirez

Sharon Ramirez

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen." — John Wooden

As we move into the second quarter of 2026, this reminder from Coach Wooden feels especially fitting for the work Barristers continues to do within the Riverside legal community. Whether it's mentoring college and law students, hosting networking and educational events for our young attorneys, or simply creating opportunities to connect outside of the office and courtroom, these moments help strengthen the relationships that support our profession. It's this spirit of collaboration and community that makes practicing law in Riverside and the Inland Empire so special. Over the past months, Barristers members have come together for several events, from engaging with future attorneys to building camaraderie among colleagues, each contributing to the continued growth of our vibrant legal community.

Past Events Recap

UCR Womxn in the Law Networking Dinner – March 6, 2026
On a relaxing Friday night, UCR Womxn in the Law (WITL) held their Networking Dinner on the UCR campus. WITL created a space where legal professionals from various practices were invited to share their experiences, advice, and insight to UCR students interested in the legal profession. Barrister board members, Elia and Sharon, served as panelists and brought motivation, wisdom, and encouragement to the next generation of advocates! Thank you to WITL for the invitation and for putting together an excellent event.

Disneyland with the Barristers – March 7, 2026
The Barristers crew had a blast at the happiest place on earth! Our annual Disneyland Day has quickly become a Barristers tradition, and this year was no exception. The day began with a delicious brunch at Great Maple inside the Pixar Place Hotel before we headed into the park to enjoy some of Disneyland's most iconic attractions together, including Haunted Mansion and Rise of the Resistance. Throughout the day, members and their family and friends connected over great rides, great food, and plenty of laughs. Thank you to everyone who joined us for such a memorable day.

Barristers Happy Hour – March 13, 2026
Our March Happy Hour took place at El Patrón in downtown Riverside. A special thank you to Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler for generously sponsoring the appetizers. It was great to see both familiar faces and new Barrister members. These monthly gatherings are a great opportunity to connect and create a welcoming space for young lawyers in our community. We hope to see even more of you at our next Happy Hour!

ULV CLPS Joint Panel – March 25, 2026
Local bar associations, including RCBA Barristers, HBAIE, RTFBA, and APALIE, came onto the University of La Verne College of Law and Public Service campus for the 4th annual joint panel with ULV student organizations. Attorney members from the bar associations provided valuable insight and practical advice to law students on navigating law school, building meaningful professional relationships, and preparing for their legal careers. The discussion also highlighted the importance of mentorship, networking, and finding ways to get involved in the legal community early. Thank you to board members Nolan, Henry, and Elia who participated on behalf of Barristers as panelists and took the time to share their experiences and guidance with the next generation of attorneys.

Upcoming Events. You're Invited!

Group Golf Lessons [Sold Out] – April-May 2026, Van Buren Golf Center, Riverside
Joint Hike with HBAIE – Saturday, April 11, 2026, meet at the flagpole at 8:15am, brunch afterwards at Tio's Tacos in Downtown Riverside
Barristers Happy Hour – Friday, April 17, 2026, 5:30 p.m. at Back to the Grind – appetizers sponsored by Integrated Medical Center
7th Annual Judicial Reception – Thursday, May 14, 2026, 5-7:30pm – Tickets on sale now! Purchase here: https://rcbabarristersjudicialreception2026.eventbrite.com
Barristers Happy Hour and New Attorney Academy Graduation Celebration – Friday, May 15, 2026, starting at 2:30pm, location to be announced, appetizers sponsored by Maasumi Headache & Spine Care

We are always happy to hear suggestions and ideas for events you are interested in seeing from Barristers. Please feel free to reach out! My contact information is below.

Barristers Board Spotlight: Henry Andriano, 2025-2026 Secretary

Next up is Henry!

Henry Andriano is an associate in the municipal and litigation practice groups at Best Best & Krieger LLP's Riverside office, where he specializes in eminent domain and inverse condemnation claims. This is Henry's second year serving on the Barristers Board. He also volunteers pro bono legal services at Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association (IELLA) in Riverside. Henry joined the Barristers Board to help new attorneys recognize that their membership in the Inland Empire legal community is valued and can extend far beyond their own firm/office or practice area. In his spare time, Henry enjoys roasting green coffee beans in his small-batch roaster and then sampling the tasty results.

If you're interested in learning more about Barristers or you would like to attend one of our events, I am more than happy to connect with you and introduce you to our amazing members. Feel free to email me at sramirez@ramirezlaw.com.

Sharon P. Ramirez is an attorney with Kenny Ramirez Law Firm located in San Bernardino, where she practices catastrophic personal injury. Sharon can be reached at sramirez@ramirezlaw.com.