HBZ is proud to support three passionate and driven individuals in their pursuit of diversity and community thinking within the field of law. Congratulations to Trinity Balla, Alondra Lopez, and Jenny Jeon for their superb efforts and dedication. We wish you the best in your endeavors!
Trinity Balla is a student at UC Davis School of Law seeking to advocate for marginalized communities and address inequalities in the legal system. From her volunteer work to founding Grace Period, an organization providing feminine hygene packages to the homeless, Trinity has a history of giving back to her community and is eager to continue her work in the field of law.
Alondra Lopez is attending Columbia Law School in pursuit of immigrant rights. She aspires to diversify the legal field and encourage those like her to work towards their goals, regardless of background or race. After graduation, Alondra intends to return to Contra Costa County and apply her values to public interest law.
Jenny Jeon is studying at UC Law San Francisco with the desire to work within East Bay juvenile dependency agencies. Having overcome her own trials with the support of nonprofits and community members, Jenny wants to pay it forward and empower other youths with knowledge, resources, and support.
Principal Ryan Szczepanik presented on “What We Learned from COVID Period” at the April 2021 UCLA Estate Planning Advisory Program. Topics discussed included practicing law after COVID-19, new technologies and the challenges they bring, confidentiality risks, and the future of trials and estate planning.
John Hartog explains Common Estate Planning Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
High property values in California highlight the need for careful property tax planning. If you have owned your property for many years, it is likely that your property's assessed value for property tax purposes is significantly lower than today's fair market value. If your property should be reassessed, you or your family members could be faced with a significant increase in the annual property tax.