Barristers Column — July/August 2026

By Sharon Ramirez

Sharon Ramirez

As I sit down to write this, my final message as Barristers President, I find myself returning to where it all began. In the fall of 2021, my brother Kenny handed me a copy of this very magazine and pointed me toward the New Attorney Academy. I was nervous, not yet officially an attorney, and unsure if I belonged. What I found instead was a community that welcomed me with open arms.

This past term as Barristers President has, without question, been the most rewarding chapter of my professional career so far. I say that not because of any single event or milestone, but because of what this year has confirmed for me: that Barristers is, at its heart, a family. A family that shows up for one another, celebrates one another, and lifts each other up in a profession that can otherwise feel isolating.

As a first-generation attorney, I have always believed that Barristers is the kind of organization that does not just open the door for young lawyers, it pulls up a chair and makes room at the table. Getting to lead that effort this term, alongside a board and membership I deeply admire, has been a true honor.

Honoring Tradition and Creating New Memories

When our board set out at the beginning of this term, our goals were simple: grow participation, offer experiences that genuinely add value, and, above all, have fun. Looking back, I am so proud of how fully we embraced these goals.

We continued the traditions that make Barristers what it is, including our monthly happy hours, volunteering as wrapping elves for the RCBA Elves Program, our annual Disneyland Day, Wine Tasting in Temecula, just to name a few. We also continued our amazing partnership with JAMS to host a CLE with Judge Chad Firetag (Ret.) and made serving our community a priority through our partnerships with UC Riverside, La Verne Law School, and the Riverside County Mock Trial Competition. And our 7th Annual Judicial Reception at Grier Pavilion was one of the most well-attended to-date, a beautiful full-circle moment honoring Judge Sophia Choi and Public Defender Steven Harmon in front of our Riverside community.

We leaned into new ideas such as Puppy Yoga and Barristers Brunch, both of which became an instant favorite for our members. We also launched a five-week group golf lesson series that sold out. None of these existed a year ago, and each one is now a memory shared by various members who showed up for something different.

But more than any single event, what has meant the most to me is the connections that were made through Barristers. Watching new faces from this year's New Attorney Academy walk into a happy hour and leave with new friends. Watching longtime members bring their colleagues, and seeing members join us again and again, because the Riverside legal community understands something powerful, that we are stronger together. That growth did not happen by accident. It happened because our members chose, month after month, to show up for one another.

Congratulations to the 2026-2027 Barristers Board!

President - Nolan B. Kistler
President Elect - Sara E. Truitt
Treasurer - Derek Diemer
Secretary - Elia Vazquez
Members at Large - Briana Heiting, Faran Imani, Edgar Lopez, Amanda Perez, Erika Perez Past President - Sharon P. Ramirez

I could not be more excited to pass the torch to our President-Elect, Nolan B. Kistler. Nolan has served this board with dedication for three years running and his genuine desire to make sure our members feel welcome make him exactly the kind of leader Barristers needs. Nolan, I cannot wait to watch you and the incoming board build on everything this community has created.

To the incoming 2026-2027 Board, congratulations, and welcome. You are inheriting a community with real momentum, and I know you will carry it forward in ways that make Barristers even better.

To the 2025-2026 Board, Nolan Kistler, Kevin Collins, Henry Andriano, Derek Diemer, Faran Imani, Amanda Perez, Sara Truitt, Elia Vazquez, and Summer DeVore, thank you. Thank you for the early mornings scoring mock trial, to the time spent planning out and attending our new events, the sponsors you reached out to, and the members you personally invited. None of what we accomplished this term happened without every one of you. I am grateful to have served alongside you, and proud to call you friends and colleagues.

Thank you to our 2025-2026 Sponsors

The events organized during this term would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors. One of our other goals this year was to grow our sponsor partnerships, and I am proud to share that we closed out the term with a record number of sponsors, the most in Barristers history. To each of you, thank you. Thank you for believing in this organization and in the young attorneys who make it up. Your support does not just fund a happy hour or a reception, it tells our members that the Riverside legal community is invested in their growth, and that means more than you know. We are endlessly grateful for your support.

• Platinum Sponsors: Costa Vista Chiropractic, Integrated Medical Center, Kenny Ramirez Law Firm, Law Offices of Harlan B. Kistler, Maasumi Headache and Spine Care, Riverside County Bar Association, Rizio Lipinsky Heiting
• Gold Sponsors: Alleviate Institute of Spine and Pain,Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire, Herrera Law, Imani Injury Firm, Lord & Booker, APC, Varner & Brandt
• Silver Sponsors: Aitken Aitken Cohn, HCN Bank, JAMS, Proceed, Stream Kim Hicks Wrage & Alfaro, PC
• Bronze Sponsors: Cal-Lawyer, Doctors on Liens, Focus Litigation Solutions, Latina Lawyers Bar Association
• Judicial Reception Bar Sponsor: Moving Forward Legal Services, LLC
• Judicial Reception Raffle Sponsor: Veritext Legal Solutions

Final Events of the 2025-2026 Term

Before this term officially closes, we have a few more events, including some new ones on calendar, and I hope to see you there:

• Barristers July Happy Hour – Thursday, July 9, 2026, 5:30pm, Killer Queens, appetizers sponsored by Varner & Brandt
• CLE with Riverside DA Mike Hestrin and Riverside PD Steven Harmon -- Thursday, July 23, 2026, 5:30-7pm, RCBA Building, RSVP here: https://barristers-july2026-cle.eventbrite.com
• Joint Bar End-of-Summer Mixer, Thursday, July 30, 2026, Lake Alice, RSVP here: https://hbaie.wildapricot.org/event-6743103, use code "Barristers" to register for free
• Bowling Social – Wednesday, July 29, 2026 – more information coming soon!
• Top Golf Social – Wednesday, August 19, 2026 – more information coming soon!
• August Happy Hour – August 2026 – more information coming soon! Appetizers sponsored by Integrated Medical Center
• Tech & AI CLE – August 2026 – more information coming soon!

Barristers Board Spotlight: Derek M. Diemer, 2025-2026 Member-at-Large

Last up is Derek!

Derek M. Diemer is an attorney with Thompson & Colegate LLP in downtown Riverside where he is a member of the firm's commercial department, specializing in trust and estates administration and litigation, conservatorships, financial elder abuse litigation, real estate and construction disputes, and business transactions and litigation. This is his first year serving on the Barristers Board. In his spare time, Derek enjoys writing screenplays, playing golf, and watching football.

Thank You

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." That quote, often attributed to Maya Angelou, has stayed with me throughout this term. Events end, boards turn over, and details fade. But the feeling of walking into a room and being genuinely glad to be there and connect with others, that is what people remember. That is what Barristers has given so many of us, myself included.

To every member who showed up to a happy hour, wrapped a gift for the Elves Program, laughed with us at Disneyland, hiked Mt. Rubidoux at sunrise, or simply took a chance on a new event, thank you. You are Barristers. You made this the most rewarding year of my career, and I will carry this experience, and this community, with me for the rest of my professional life. It has been a true honor to serve as Barristers President. Thank you, RCBA. Thank you, Barristers. See you at the next happy hour!

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.