UCI Law Alumni, Staff and Community Members Recognized for DEI

09-01-2022

Orange County Coalition for Diversity in Law (OCCDL) recognized Desirae Hutchison, UCI Law ’14, Judge, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB), as one of the Top 10 Young Diverse Lawyers of OC. Hutchison was the first UCI Law alumni to be appointed to the bench. She received the UCI Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2022 Lauds & Laurels awards ceremony.

Estuardo R. Ponciano, Executive Director of Community Programs, UCI Law and Reza Torkzadeh, UCI Law Dean’s Circle Chair and Founder of TorkLaw, were also honored by OCCDL as top 10 Champions of DEI in the Law in OC.

Ponciano is recognized for his achievements in championing diversity, equity and inclusion in the Orange County legal community. He is active in the Pathway to Law curriculum for community college and high school students and oversees UCI Law’s other pipeline programs. Ponciano is credited for exceptional leadership in DEI with his work on seminars, workshops and community engagement.

Torkzadeh, a nationally known plaintiff trial attorney, has dedicated his career to the pursuit of justice by exclusively representing victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Awards will be handed out on September 29 at the OCCDL DEI Awards Gala.

About Orange County Coalition for Diversity in Law

The Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law (OCCDL) is a collaborative effort of professionals from leading Orange County law firms and other community partners committed to achieving cultural diversity in recruiting and retaining law students and attorneys in Orange County.

About the University of California, Irvine School of Law

The University of California, Irvine School of Law is a top, visionary law school that provides an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, prioritizes public service, and demonstrates a commitment to diversity within the legal profession. UCI Law students have completed more than 135,000 hours of pro bono work since 2009. Forty-eight percent of UCI Law's J.D. graduates are people of color. At UCI Law, we are driven to improve our local, national, and global communities by grappling with important issues as scholars, as practitioners, and as teachers who are preparing the next generation of leaders. The collaborative and interdisciplinary community at UCI Law includes extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni and enthusiastic supporters. More information on UCI Law is available here. Please follow us on Twitter @UCILaw, Facebook @UCIrvineLaw and Instagram @ucilaw.