{"id":147666,"date":"2026-03-30T10:17:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/03\/30\/first-generation-lawyers-special-issue\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:17:19","slug":"first-generation-lawyers-special-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2026\/03\/30\/first-generation-lawyers-special-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"First-Generation Lawyers Special Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2026
\nFirst-Generation Lawyers Special Issue<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Attorney at Law Magazine is proud to introduce its 2026 First-Generation Lawyers Special Issue celebrating attorneys who are the first in their family to build a legal career.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lawyers!<\/strong> Welcome to the 2026 First-Generation Lawyers Issue. Last year, we had the pleasure to share the stories of several family legacies in the practice of law. We were able to see how generations were inspired by their predecessors as well as the unique paths younger generations took to the practice of law or with their approach to the practice.<\/p>\n

This year, we wanted to share the other side of that coin \u2013 the story of the lawyers who set out to build a career without the guidance or mentorship of a previous generation. These first-generation lawyers were each brought to the practice of law for different reasons and have forged very different careers.<\/p>\n

Our cover story on Marcela Mercado shares the story of a personal injury lawyer who immigrated to the United States at the age of 6. She describes her foray into college and law school as working without a safety net. She worked within the system for several years before she and her partner opened Mercado Kramer, where they have built a client-centered practice with a strong reputation.<\/p>\n

We had the pleasure of talking with Kimberley Leonard, an assistant public defender turned civil lawyer in Jacksonville; Somita Basu and Zakiya Norton, co-founders of an estate planning and probate firm with offices spanning California; Steven Kunysz, a family law practitioner in Los Angeles who began his career as a paralegal; Robert Heath, a mediator who started out as a civil litigator; Sherrie Boutwell who has built a strong ERISA at her own firm over the last 30 years; and Darbie Tamsett, who has found a new approach to legacy with her real estate practice.<\/p>\n

We also invited first-generation lawyers from across the country to share their best advice with aspiring or young first-gen lawyers as well as some of the experiences that have shaped or grown their firms.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thank you to the lawyers who shared their stories with us in this issue. Looking ahead, we\u2019re excited to bring you an issue focused on lawyers who serve businesses in any practice in our Business Practice special issue.<\/p>\n

Happy reading,<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ken<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Kenneth Minniti
Executive Publisher<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Editorial<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\"Marcela-Mercado\"<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tMarcela Mercado: Finding Her Way Without a Map\t\t\t<\/a>
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\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t grow up knowing lawyers,\u201d attorney Marcela Mercado says. \u201cI grew up knowing work.\u201d A strong willed, determined, and gifted student of life, Mercado was determined to create a future that would not be determined by her past or any challenges she and her family have weathered. Today she is not only a highly respected and successful personal injury attorney<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSteven Kunysz: A Natural Progression\t\t\t<\/a>
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AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school and your time spent as a paralegal. SK: My interest in law began shortly after high school, when my father\u2014a lifelong member of the Communication Workers of America, Local 9400\u2014encouraged me to attend college-level courses on labor negotiations and arbitration that his<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSherrie Boutwell: An ERISA Practice Before Its Time\t\t\t<\/a>
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AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school. SB: I was taking general ed classes in community college and planning to be a recreation leader (a la Leslie Knope). I had no thought of law school. I was the first in my family to go to college; my parents had<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Somita-Basu-Zakiya-Norton\"<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSomita Basu & Zakiya J. Norton: A Combined Perseverance\t\t\t<\/a>
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We sat down with the founders of Norton Basu to discuss their entry into the practice of law and how they\u2019ve persevered to build a strong practice with offices in northern and southern California. AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? SB: I\u2019ve always been motivated by a need to stand up for those who cannot stand<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Darbie<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tDarbie Tamsett: Building Legacies\t\t\t<\/a>
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For Darbie Tamsett, the practice of law is both legacy and innovation. Raised in a family deeply rooted in entrepreneurship and real estate investing, she built on that foundation to forge her own path as a first-generation attorney with a dynamic dual practice in real estate and mergers and acquisitions. Tamsett began law school at the University of St. Thomas<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Kimberly-Leonard\"<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tKimberley Leonard: Forward With Purpose\t\t\t<\/a>
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AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school. KL: I have wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember. As a kid, being a lawyer looked like the coolest profession. I loved to talk and share my opinions but was also a strong listener and natural<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Robert<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tRobert Heath: Empowering Resolution\t\t\t<\/a>
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A first-generation lawyer, Robert Heath was captivated by Perry Mason as a young man. He consumed every Earle Stanley Garnder book he could find and was dedicated to becoming a trial lawyer. Today, he has transitioned to a full-time mediation practice. AALM: Tell us about your career as a prosecutor and civil litigator. RH: During law school, I interned at<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Marcela-Mercado\"<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tMarcela Mercado: Finding Her Way Without a Map\t\t\t<\/a>
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\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t grow up knowing lawyers,\u201d attorney Marcela Mercado says. \u201cI grew up knowing work.\u201d A strong willed, determined, and gifted student of life, Mercado was determined to create a future that would not be determined by her past or any challenges she and her family have weathered. Today she is not only a highly respected and successful personal injury attorney<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"Steven-Kunysz\"<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSteven Kunysz: A Natural Progression\t\t\t<\/a>
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AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school and your time spent as a paralegal. SK: My interest in law began shortly after high school, when my father\u2014a lifelong member of the Communication Workers of America, Local 9400\u2014encouraged me to attend college-level courses on labor negotiations and arbitration that his<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"Boutwell-Sherrie\"<\/div>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSherrie Boutwell: An ERISA Practice Before Its Time\t\t\t<\/a>
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AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school. SB: I was taking general ed classes in community college and planning to be a recreation leader (a la Leslie Knope). I had no thought of law school. I was the first in my family to go to college; my parents had<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"Somita-Basu-Zakiya-Norton\"<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSomita Basu & Zakiya J. Norton: A Combined Perseverance\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n
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We sat down with the founders of Norton Basu to discuss their entry into the practice of law and how they\u2019ve persevered to build a strong practice with offices in northern and southern California. AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? SB: I\u2019ve always been motivated by a need to stand up for those who cannot stand<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"Darbie<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tDarbie Tamsett: Building Legacies\t\t\t<\/a>
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For Darbie Tamsett, the practice of law is both legacy and innovation. Raised in a family deeply rooted in entrepreneurship and real estate investing, she built on that foundation to forge her own path as a first-generation attorney with a dynamic dual practice in real estate and mergers and acquisitions. Tamsett began law school at the University of St. Thomas<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"Kimberly-Leonard\"<\/div>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tKimberley Leonard: Forward With Purpose\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n
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AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school. KL: I have wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember. As a kid, being a lawyer looked like the coolest profession. I loved to talk and share my opinions but was also a strong listener and natural<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\t\t
\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"Robert<\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tRobert Heath: Empowering Resolution\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n
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A first-generation lawyer, Robert Heath was captivated by Perry Mason as a young man. He consumed every Earle Stanley Garnder book he could find and was dedicated to becoming a trial lawyer. Today, he has transitioned to a full-time mediation practice. AALM: Tell us about your career as a prosecutor and civil litigator. RH: During law school, I interned at<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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First-Generation Lawyer Spotlights<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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As a part of this issue, we invited first-generation lawyers nationwide to share to anecdotes and advice with aspiring and upcoming lawyers. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us and with your fellow lawyers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tFirst-Gen Lawyers\t\t\t<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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