Ms. Park and Ms. Fryar have long served as leaders, mentors, and volunteers in the legal and civic community. They are proud that their law firm is one of the few minority and women owned law firms in
California.
MICHELLE S. PARK, ESQ.
LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE BAR
Ms. Park is a past nominee of the “Women Who Mean Business Award” sponsored by the San Diego Business Journal. She has appeared as a frequent speaker and panelist on a variety of bar and employment-related events, and has conducted employment law seminars for employers on topics such as Effective Hiring and Firing, How to Avoid a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit, Conducting An Effective Investigation, Proper Documentation for Employers, and Diversity issues.
San Diego County Bar Association
Ms. Park served for two years on the Leadership Outreach Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association, whose mission is to promote outreach to underrepresented members of the bar, and encourage those members to run for the Bar Board. She served as a Bar Leader Representative on the Ethnic Relations Diversity Committee (“ERDC”) of the San Diego County Bar Association. In collaboration with ERDC and the Bar, she spearheaded events such as the Judge-Law Student Mixer and Tsunami Relief Fundraiser in 2005 which raised donations for victims of the tsunami disaster.
Pan Asian Lawyers of
San Diego
Ms. Park is the past President, Vice-President, and Board Member of the Pan Asian Lawyers of
San Diego (“PALSD”). PALSD is an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of Asian Americans and other underrepresented attorneys, judges, and law students in the legal and civic community. As President of PALSD, she promoted diversity initiatives and events to foster inclusion, access, and positive relationships with other bar organizations, judges, lawyers, and law students. She participated as a speaker at an informative program for new lawyers on deposition skills entitled, “How to Conduct An Effective Deposition.” She coordinated the Mentor-Mentee Program, Judge-Law Student Mixer, and Annual Dinner, which were attended by hundreds of individuals, including local bar leaders, elected officials, judges, lawyers and law students. She has long served as a mentor to underrepresented law students and new lawyers.
Southwest Center for Asian Pacific American Law
Ms. Park has been a longtime supporter of the
Southwest Center for Asian Pacific American Law (“SCAPAL”), which is an organization that provides underrepresented community members with legal assistance and guidance through the legal system and protects human and civil rights through advocacy, research, policy analysis and education.
Legal Aid Society of
San Diego
Ms. Park has participated in the Legal Aid Society of San Diego’s peer mediation program aimed at middle school and elementary school kids. She has contributed pro bono hours to Legal Aid through her support of, and participation in, the
Southwest Center for Asian Pacific Law (“SCAPAL”).
Lawyers Club of
San Diego
Ms. Park has been a longtime member and supporter of Lawyers Club of San Diego, an organization dedicated to advancing the interests of women in the law and in society. She served on its Boards and Commissions Committee, and participated in its Mentor-Mentee program, which provides mentorship and support for law students and new lawyers.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & MENTORSHIP
Ms. Park is proud that her firm, Park Fryar LLP, was a sponsor of the 2007-2010 Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association (“EBGBA”) and Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego Annual Tribute and Scholarship Dinners. EBGBA is an organization that promotes the interests of African-American lawyers, judges, and law students throughout
San Diego. Ms. Park is also proud that her law partner, Tina Fryar, was installed as President of this esteemed organization.
She has long served as a formal and informal mentor to underrepresented law students and new lawyers. She has participated for several years in the Mentor-Mentee Programs sponsored by the local specialty bar associations. She has volunteered as a Judge in the oral argument competitions for the local law schools. She also participated in the University of San Diego School of Law’s mock interview program aimed at assisting law students prepare for on-campus interviewing. She participated in the 2007
San Diego Unified School District’s “Principal for A Day” Program, which provides an opportunity for community and business leaders to gain insight into the life of an educational leader for a day.
Ms. Park has participated in the annual Women Lawyers of Color in the Law Program, spearheaded by Judge Vallera Johnson. That program provides ongoing support and mentoring to female law students and young lawyers.
Ms. Park served as a Stakeholder at the California State Bar’s Meeting on Access and Fairness in
San Francisco. She was a participant in the Wingspread Pipeline Diversity Conference in
Cleveland,
Ohio, which was attended by other bar, education, and business leaders.
TEACHING AND EDUCATION
Ms. Park is currently an Adjunct Professor at
National University teaching graduate level courses on Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, and Organizational Leadership.
Ms. Park received her Juris Doctorate degree in 1998 from U.C. Davis School of Law where she was a Law Review Editor and a Moot Court Advocate.
TINA M. FRYAR, ESQ.
BAR ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP & SERVICE TO THE BAR
Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association
Ms. Fryar is a past President of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association (“EBGBA”). EBGBA is an organization that represents the interests of African American lawyers, judges and law students throughout
San Diego. EBGBA is committed to: defending the legal and human rights of African Americans; preserving the high standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession; and promoting the advancement of African American attorneys in the legal field. Before serving as President of the organization, Ms. Fryar served as its President Elect and as a member of its Board of Directors and Judicial Evaluation Committee. She also serves as a mentor to African-American law students and young lawyers. During the 3 months Ms. Fryar has been in place as President of EBGBA, the organization’s Committee Chairs have planned and executed the following events and programs:
• EBGBA 31st Annual Awards and Scholarship Dinner attended by approximately 300 community members, bar leaders, elected officials, judges, lawyers and law students;
• EBGBA High School Mentor-Mentee Program & Shadow Day Program in partnership with Crawford and Patrick Henry High Schools, the judges of the San Diego Superior Court, the lawyers of the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the California Department of Transportation’s Legal Department and the attorneys of several private local and national San Diego firms;
• EBGBA Mock Interview Workshop in partnership with Thomas Jefferson School of Law with participation by attorneys from several public agency and private practice law departments;
• Community forum entitled “Hate Crimes in 2010: Where Do We Stand?” in partnership with the NAACP, Urban League of San Diego, National Council of Negro Women, Malcolm X Library with participation by speakers and representatives from San Diego State University, the Concerned Parents Alliance, the District Attorney’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office, the San Diego Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Civil Rights/Hate Crimes Division.
EBGBA’s community events have recently been featured in local media publications such as the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, the San Diego Monitor and the Lawyers Club News. EBGBA’s recent hate crimes forum was attended by several television news reporters and covered by the local media.
Pan Asian Lawyers of
San Diego
Ms. Fryar is a past President of Pan Asian Lawyers of
San Diego (“PALSD”). Before serving as President of the organization, Ms. Fryar served as its Vice President and member of its Board of Directors. She also serves as a mentor to Asian American law students and young lawyers. During her tenure with PALSD, Ms. Fryar received the State Bar of California’s Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services for her organization’s outstanding work in the community in partnership with the Legal Aid Society of San Diego.
Filipino American Lawyers of
San Diego
Ms. Fryar is also a member of Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego (“FALSD”), an organization committed to: ensuring the availability of equal opportunities for attorneys of color; developing multi-cultural solutions for fostering diversity in the legal field; and sustaining multi-cultural coalitions in all channels of the legal system.
Southwest Center for Asian Pacific American Law
Ms. Fryar previously served as an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the
Southwest Center for Asian Pacific American Law (“SCAPAL”), an organization that provides community members with legal assistance and guidance through the legal system and protects human and civil rights through advocacy, research, policy analysis and education.
Lawyers Club of
San Diego
In addition to the activities above, Ms. Fryar twice served as the past Chair of the Lawyers Club of San Diego’s Equality Committee. The Lawyers Club of San Diego is a voluntary bar association comprised of attorneys, judges, law students and community members seeking to advance the interests of women in the law and in society. The Lawyers Club’s Equality Committee is dedicated to combating bias and discrimination. As the Chair of the Equality Committee, Ms. Fryar was tasked with the duty to address various issues related to gender bias in the legal community. For two years, she led the Committee’s annual survey of public agencies and private firms within the legal community for purposes of assessing the progress of women in the law and encouraging
San Diego public agencies and private firms to recruit, develop, retain and promote qualified female attorneys. Ms. Fryar continues to support Lawyers Club’s mission as a member of its Diverse Women’s Taskforce.
Lastly, Ms Fryar has, and continues to be, a participant in the “Women Lawyers of Color in the Law” program spearheaded by Judge Vallera Johnson. That program provides ongoing support and mentoring to female law students and young lawyers.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & INVOLVEMENT
International Visitors Council of
San Diego
Ms. Fryar was previously the Vice President of Membership for the International Visitors Council of San Diego (“IVC”), now known as the Citizen Diplomacy Council of
San Diego (“CDCSD”). CDCSD links public and private businesses and institutions in the
San Diego area with hundreds of rising and established global leaders each year by arranging professional meetings and public receptions for delegations sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. The international visitors who participate in the program include professionals and leaders working in the areas of: leadership development, foreign policy, freedom of the press, prevention of human trafficking, AIDS/HIV awareness, arts and culture, education, and many other fields.
California Western School of Law
Ms. Fryar is one of the Founding Members of the California Western School of Law Alumni Diversity Coalition, which seeks to facilitate the exchange of resources, expertise and opportunities among alumni.
The leadership roles Ms. Fryar occupied within organizations dedicated to advancing the goals of gender and ethnic diversity and equality in law and society illustrate her long-standing commitment to empowering others. Additionally, Ms. Fryar has attempted to inspire others in their pursuit of professional excellence and achievement by serving as a mentor to local law students and young lawyers, including, but not limited to, those who matriculated through her alma mater, California Western School of Law.
