The Women Lawyers of Ventura County (WLVC) will honor attorney Barbara Macri-Ortiz with its Fourth Annual Legacy Award, and attorney Jessica Arciniega as the recipient of the Holly Spevak Memorial Award at an October 21, 2010 Dinner at Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard.

The Legacy Award honors a pioneer woman attorney, one of our “founding mothers” who was an early leader among women lawyers, a strong supporter of women’s rights, and an advocate for the underrepresented. 

Barbara Macri-Ortiz is a solo legal practitioner in Oxnard working on behalf of affordable housing and most recently justice for juvenile offenders and their families.  She specializes in housing, education, civil litigation and labor and employment issues.  Ms. Macri-Ortiz started her career working for the United Farm Workers Union, as a contract negotiator; then became an attorney working as an apprentice in their office.  Her law degree is actually signed by Cesar Chavez!  Barbara Macri-Ortiz deserves this recognition because she has courageously and successfully represented so many people who are disrespected by our society, including farm workers and young Latino men and women.

The Holly Spevak Memorial Award honors the memory of a woman whose short time as an attorney brought lasting contributions to the community and access to justice through pro bono work.  This award is presented to a new or “newish” attorney who exemplifies the commitment to serve others.

Jessica Arciniega is a new attorney with Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten, LLP.  She is the current President of the Ventura County Mexican American Bar Association, a member of Women Lawyers of Ventura County and a member of the Ventura County Inns of Court.  Her practice has been focused on wage and hour class action cases, employment issues, and personal injury cases.  Some examples of Ms. Arciniega’s pro bono work include: representing tenants facing uninhabitable living conditions, advising employees suffering sexual harassment on the job and leading workshops for parents about their rights and their children’s rights in the education system.  Ms. Arciniega exemplifies the principals that Holly worked for, to make a better way for others and to dedicate her law practice to the greater social good.

Please join us on October 21, 2010 to honor these remarkable and inspirational women. 

The Tierra Sur Restaurant is located inside Herzog Wine Cellars at 3201 Camino Del Sol in Oxnard.  Wine tasting and hors d’ oeuvres will start at 5:00 PM and dinner will be served at 6:15 PM.  The cost of the dinner is $60.00. 

Please R.S.V.P. to Nancy Goldstein at (805) 496-6565 or nancy@gr8calilawyer.com.  Checks can be made payable to “WLVC” and sent to Nancy Goldstein at 3625 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 209, Westlake Village, CA 91362.