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From Courtroom to Community: How a Trial Attorney Builds Purpose-Driven Legal Impact

By /

Lara Deitz

Lara Deitz is the Senior Trial Attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys, a San Diego-based personal injury and civil litigation law firm. She focuses on personal injury, civil rights, and related plaintiff-side litigation. Before joining Gomez Trial Attorneys, Lara practiced family law litigation. She has also been recognized as a Rising Stars attorney for 2025–2026.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [2:30] Lara Deitz’s roots in San Diego and her motivation to serve the local community as a lawyer
  • [6:19] Lara shares her family’s immigration story and the influence it had on her sense of justice and responsibility
  • [15:16] How Lara transitioned into family law and gained extensive courtroom experience early in her career
  • [22:24] Lara’s recruitment into Gomez Trial Attorneys and why she enjoys plaintiff-side work
  • [27:15] High-profile civil rights and wrongful death cases that motivate Lara’s advocacy work
  • [34:12] Lara talks about her leadership role supporting future minority attorneys with La Raza Lawyers’ Association
  • [37:45] How bilingualism and cultural competence improve client trust and legal advocacy
  • [47:01] Balancing career ambition, trial work, and parenting as a female attorney
  • [54:29] Advice to young and first-generation lawyers on mentorship, networking, and gaining practical experience

In this episode…

Behind courtroom wins and professional titles are moments of doubt, pivots, and values-driven decisions that shape how attorneys show up for their clients. What does it take to build a meaningful legal career while staying grounded in community, purpose, and personal growth?

According to civil rights trial attorney Lara Deitz, fulfillment comes from alignment, not prestige. She emphasizes the importance of acquiring mentors early in your career, gaining hands-on courtroom experience rather than relying solely on grades, and leveraging cultural and language fluency to advocate for clients. A sustainable legal career requires purpose, preparation, and connection.

In this episode of The Lawtino™, John Gomez and David Arreguin sit down with Lara Deitz, Senior Trial Attorney at Gomez Trial Attorneys, to discuss building a purpose-driven trial career. Lara talks about handling high-profile civil rights cases, the importance of bilingual advocacy, and balancing demanding litigation with leadership, mentorship, and motherhood.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

  • “It’s hard not to care, especially like in this recent situation, seeing two wonderful people lose their son.”
  • “I felt that if I continued doing family law, it would take over my life.”
  • “If you speak Spanish and you have kids, teach your kids [to] speak Spanish.”
  • “I love what I do, and it’s part of who I am.”
  • “I think relying on mentors and really making those connections is so important.”

Action Steps:

  1. Seek mentors early and intentionally: Building relationships with experienced professionals provides guidance, perspective, and opportunities you may not access alone. Mentors help you navigate career pivots, avoid common mistakes, and build confidence faster.
  2. Prioritize hands-on experience over perfection: Courtroom time, internships, and real-world exposure develop practical skills that grades alone cannot teach. These experiences make you more adaptable, effective, and prepared for high-stakes work.
  3. Leverage cultural and language skills in your work: Bilingual and cultural competence build trust and improve outcomes for the people you serve. It allows for clearer communication, deeper understanding, and stronger advocacy.
  4. Choose work aligned with purpose, not just prestige: Fulfillment comes from work that reflects your values and motivations, not titles or expectations. Purpose-driven careers are more sustainable and emotionally rewarding over time.
  5. Create boundaries to protect long-term success: Recognize emotional strain and make thoughtful career adjustments to prevent burnout. Balance enables you to show up fully for clients, colleagues, and family without sacrificing effectiveness.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Gomez Trial Attorneys, a personal injury law firm based in San Diego.

Award-winning attorney John Gomez developed a nationally recognized legal team that goes above and beyond for injured clients.

With numerous designations, distinctions, and top-notch resources, we have what it takes to fight and win against major corporations.

For a free case evaluation, visit https://www.thegomezfirm.com/contact/.