EXCLUSIVITY in Practice
INTEGRITY in Performance
RESULTS-DRIVEN Divorce Attorneys
Community Outreach
Feinberg & Waller is committed to supporting and serving the Greater Los Angeles community.
Feinberg & Waller attorneys have been drawn to the law out of a deep moral sense of social justice and a devotion to the welfare of others. Our firm serves the Greater Los Angeles area, and a law firm goal is to expand our relationship with the local community with service in our philanthropic work. We have pursued opportunities to use our firm’s resources to serve as leaders in our community through nonprofit organizations, civil and social initiatives, public policy advocacy, and furthering education. Our law firm is taking action on our commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity by further investing in transforming the lives of young people. Feinberg & Waller is pleased to establish an annual award to honor a high school leader involved in the Constitutional Rights Foundation Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition.
The Feinberg & Waller Mock Trial Leadership Award
The Feinberg & Waller High School Leadership award/mentor program will amplify teen voice and action by highlighting one student each year who has made an impact on their team and community.
The mock trial program is an academic competition in which students acquire knowledge of the American judicial system. Students have the opportunity to experience the drama of the courtroom as they learn the importance of civic participation in a democratic society through values expressed in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The firm wishes to support students involved in the program who are leaders in their communities for they will be our future attorneys, judges, activists, and public figures.
The Los Angeles Constitutional Rights Foundation mock trial program is a non-profit, non-partisan educational foundation. It is co-sponsored by:
Daily Journal Corporation
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Feinberg & Waller would like to award one recipient:
- Three (3) mentor sessions leading up to the LA County competition in November (dependent on COVID-19, either in person or through virtual communications).
- One (1) meeting with the recipient’s entire team before the LA County competition (dependent on COVID-19, either in person or through virtual communications).
- One (1) mentor session after the LA County competition for the recipient to ask any questions they may have, such as further advice on becoming a lawyer, what the field of law looks like, networking, establishing a resume, etc. (dependent on COVID-19, either in person or through virtual communications).
- If the team advances to the State competition, an additional meeting with the entire team will be offered if they so choose.
- $500 for expenses related to the competition (i.e., printed materials, courtroom attire, travel, food).
- An offer to the recipient for a college letter of recommendation.
- Leadership Award title for college applications and future resumes.
Applicant Criteria:
This Award preferences students who have:
A love of the law
Leadership both on the mock trial team and in their community
An Attorney/Pre-Trial role on their team
A validated high school grade point average of a minimum 2.8
An affiliation with a registered Los Angeles County Mock Trial team and enrollment at the team’s school
This Award will preference students who are:
Rising juniors in high school; and
BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and/or Disabled students*; or
Active allies to the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and/or Disabled community
Application Requirements:
- 1 personal statement of 500-1000 words (PDF format)
- Applicant must describe why they became involved in mock trial, how they have acted as a leader on the team, what that entailed, and what they want to do in the future. While students with a love of the law are preferred, it is not required for the answer to be “lawyer”. Applicant will also describe how they have displayed leadership in the community with a description of any volunteer work or service activities, any school groups, or extracurriculars. In addition, if applicant is applying as an active ally of any of the communities described above, applicant must detail the work they have done to become to be an active ally.
- Resume (PDF format)
- Mock Trial Coach or Advisor’s name and email must be listed as a reference
- 2 Recommendations (PDF format)
- From Mock Trial Coach or Advisor
- From an Educator or Mentor
Application deadline is September 28, 2020 and the winner will be chosen by October 5, 2020.
Please submit all application materials or questions to Lauren Waller, Feinberg & Waller social media coordinator through email:
Subject line for the submission should be:
(First and Last Name), (High School), “Leadership Award”
Please note, Marshall Waller and Lauren Waller are currently volunteer coaches for the Oaks Christian Mock Trial Team competing in Ventura County, California.
*Feinberg & Waller is constantly growing, self-educating, and learning when it comes to the nuances used to describe one’s race, ethnicity, or identity. For example, while we have chosen to use the term BIPOC, we understand this may not be your personal preference of language. When using that term, we use it to encompass the many varied and distinct Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latino/Latinx, and Asian identities. If you feel misrepresented or underrepresented, please reach out with any concerns so we can reflect on our speech in the future.
Firm Volunteer History of Passion and Investment in our Community
Feinberg & Waller is pleased to share the efforts that attorney members of Feinberg & Waller have voluntarily taken outside of the firm’s substantive practice area and also in the family law community.
Produced a digital referral database of law resources for low-income families in Los Angeles and Ventura County https://www.feinbergwaller.com/family-law/family-law-resources/ and a free online video library of family law topics
https://www.feinbergwaller.com/in-the-media/. – The firm (spearheaded by Mary Ellen Waller)
Helped form the Oaks Christian high school mock trial team (competing through the Ventura County Office of Education, partnered with the Constitutional Rights Foundation) in 2008. Continues to volunteer at Oaks Christian high school as attorney coach teaching student about the law, presentation, and courtroom demeanor. Guest speaker for Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) – Regents of the University of California on a variety of family law topics. Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and member of their LGBTQ Committee, a group committed to better education and representation of LGBTQ matters as it pertains to family law. Served on the Board of Directors of the Pacific Lodge Youth Services, a residential rehabilitation facility for juvenile offenders – Marshall Waller
Lobbied extensively for the cleanup of the Santa Susanna Field Laboratory due to environmental justice concerns over radiological risk to local communities. A track record of more than a decade advocating for equal civil rights for the LGBTQIA community. Advocated on behalf of victims of sexual abuse for stringent scrutiny and accountability within the Catholic church. Held the City of Calabasas accountable for responsible leadership in the land use context to foster both orderly development and environmental quality. Led a call for COVID-19 safety compliance within the California Courthouses to safeguard the well-being of the public. Active member of several community organizations including the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities, National Charity League, Inc., Pierce Community College, Ahmanson Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Pepperdine Friends of the Theatre, and ARTSReach at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts. – Mary Ellen Waller
Guest speaker for Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) – Regents of the University of California for The Basics Conference regarding child and spousal support issues, The Family Law Conference – “Custody and Support Issues for Highly Mobile and International Families,” and webinars such as Family Law Intensive Courses regarding property, procedure, and support issues. – Sandy Salinas
Volunteered as a Judge Pro Tem on numerous matters such as family law restraining orders and small claims appeals. Volunteered through the Voluntary Attorney Settlement Team involving mediation and alleviating court congestion. – Brian Moore
Legal extern for Loyola Law School’s Project for the Innocent, assisting California prison inmates who requested legal assistance and has had volunteer affiliations with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Sova Food Pantry. – Adina Rosenfeld
Led a weekly mentorship program through iMentor Global for inner-city high school girls and boys in South Central, Los Angeles. Assisted high school youths in developing social-emotional and critical thinking skills and guiding students through the college application process, scholarship opportunities and provides ongoing mentorship after graduation. – Elizabeth Guerin Dickinson
Volunteered at the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law; Street Law instructor at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services; and volunteer for Lawyers for Good Government. – Sarah Diane Gorrell
Aided the local community and businesses of Sacramento by utilizing lobbying as a tool to effectuate statutory changes and reform. – Hunter McMillan
We are proud of our firm’s dedication to social impact; however, we must continually do more to responsibly address inequality and disparities in our society. We remain committed to bettering ourselves, our firm, and our community.