Name and title: Alex M. Calero, Senior Counsel, California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
Undergraduate and law school: California Polytechnic University Pomona and University of San Diego School of Law
Years in practice: 15 years
Why do you serve?
I volunteer in the legal community because I am fortunate to have the time and ability to do so. Not everyone is as fortunate. I also serve because so many people have given their time and support to me over the years, I feel that it is incumbent upon me to give back.
What/Who inspires you to serve?
I am inspired to serve by the volunteers who served before me, who accomplished much and have made their community a better place. The San Diego legal community has many great role models and they inspire me to give back.
What advice would you give others to inspire them to serve?
Each one of us has skills and experience that can benefit others. Harness your gifts and make a difference. Every little bit counts!
Please list three noteworthy people (living or dead) you’d want to have dinner with and why.
The SDCBA’s New Lawyer Division gave me my first volunteer leadership opportunity as a young lawyer in San Diego. It was great serving with such energetic and optimistic new leaders. Since then, families, careers, and a global pandemic have made it hard to stay in touch. I would like to reconnect and have dinner with all of those good people again.
What is one item on your bucket list?
It is one of my goals to visit every national park in the United States. My partner and I have visited national parks in Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming, Florida, Utah, Arizona, and all but two parks in California. But we have dozens more to go.
What is your favorite quote?
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” is powerful to me. It motivates me. I often recite this quote to my children to explain why people support social causes.
Favorite place on earth?
There is something special to me about the Redwood groves in Northern California. The contrasting colors, the sounds of life, and the sheer size and age of some of the trees. To me, it’s awe inspiring that some trees are hundreds of years old, older than the United States itself. I think it’s an amazing place.
Favorite place in San Diego?
It is hard for me to choose just one place in San Diego as my favorite. But if pressed to do so, I would say it’s Balboa Park. Its 17 museums and attractions are a gift that we should all enjoy.
Cherished advice that you have received from a loved-one, mentor or colleague?
My father and mother have often told me never to give up. Their encouraging words helped push me to become the person I am today.
If you could magically change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Injustice.
How can others make giving back part of their daily lives?
Do one random act of kindness every week. I believe the cumulative effect of our good deeds and the impact they have on others can be great. It may sound cliché but every little bit counts.
In what ways does serving the wider community benefit the legal profession?
To many people, the courts are mysterious. If you do not have a legal background, the judiciary is the nameless and faceless third branch of government you once learned about in school. To bridge this gap, lawyers can act as ambassadors of the courts and legal profession by engaging in pro bono work or other volunteer service. Through civics engagement and advocacy, we can help members of the community understand that the legal system plays a critical role in our democracy and truly is the people’s court.
Over the past decade, I have served on the planning committee of the San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition, which is a great civics engagement program for high school students. Every year, we receive feedback about the profound effect the mock trial program has on students. And in 2021, the pandemic did not stop us. Under the leadership of Judge Laura Birkmeyer and Julie Myres from the Superior Court, we were able to hold the competition virtually and had over 220 attorney and 50 judicial volunteers.
The SDCBA Law Day theme this year is “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.” What does this theme mean to you in your work and in your daily life?
Recent national events highlight the importance of the rule of law. I believe these events also demonstrate the importance of an independent judiciary and the need for more civics engagement and education in our society. Lawyers can advance the rule of law through professional and personal actions. I strive to advance the rule of law by volunteering my time in civics engagement and outreach activities such as like the San Diego High School Mock Trial Committee and the California Lawyers Association’s Civics Engagement and Outreach Committee.
As a recipient of a 2020 Service Award, who would you like to thank?
When I first started my career in San Diego, I was fortunate to meet numerous judges and lawyers who took the time to mentor me as a new attorney. And, their support continues to this day. Judge David Rubin, Judge Michael Groch, Magistrate Judge Jill Burkhardt, Heather Rosing, Jerri Malana, Pat Hosey, Judge Dan Link, and Judge Marcy McLaughlin to name a few. I want to thank them all for their support and guidance.