By: Herring Imming Legal Assistant, Arshiya Sanduria
It is powerful for a young woman to realize the future she once admired from afar is one she can build for herself.
Herring Imming has long financially and otherwise strongly supported Santa Barbara Women Lawyers. Recently, SBWL and Girls Inc. joined to host their annual courthouse experience. Their aim was to open doors for young women to explore the judicial system from the inside, while connecting with women who have carved meaningful careers in law.
Students from Santa Barbara and Carpinteria spent their morning touring the iconic Santa Barbara courthouse, while learning about the different roles that keep our justice system running. This was followed by a presentation from remarkable women whose careers — and the stories that shaped them — were as resonant as they were distinct. Included were judges, an Assistant District Attorney, court reporters, and judicial clerks. Each conveyed that, no matter where one comes from or what tools she may have in her arsenal, there is nothing one cannot achieve. The key is approaching goals with an unwavering belief in one’s own potential.
As someone who is far removed from high school days, but not close enough to “practicing law in a fitted suit” days, I found this event invaluable and indelible. While the students were the intended audience, I walked away feeling equally inspired. The curiosity, confidence, and ambition filling the room reinforced a reality often too easily overlooked: before attorneys, judges and legal professionals became the leaders we know today, they were all once students searching for guidance, opportunities, and spaces affirming that careers in law are not reserved for someone else. They are within reach.
Although I may be a few years past the uncertainty of high school and a few leaps away from the courtroom I hope to one day call home, I find myself reflecting on how transformative moments like these can be. Sometimes, all it takes is one conversation, one mentor, or one glimpse into what was previously unknown to change the trajectory of a young person’s future.
I am grateful to SBWL for creating spaces where women can see what is possible, and for reminding us that sometimes, changing a future begins with opening a door — and showing someone they belong on the other side.