Tips from the Bar: George Rios III, founder of “Running for the Law”

“What can you do for the community?”

Never has a mantra resonated with such clarity for someone, as much as it did for George A. Rios III, a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP. I recently had the opportunity to sit down and speak with George about the law, his professional career, and how a self-care hobby became the genesis for a foundation that encourages all legal professionals to—run for something.

Background
George was born and raised in San Diego. He attended San Diego State where he graduated with a business degree with a minor in economics.He worked through college, and paid for his own room and board. After school, George didn’t have the ideal internship lined up, and started working for legendary family law attorney Bob Wesley. At that time, Wesley was appointed as a special master—a family court appointed expert who would look at both sides of financials and work with the court. Seeing Wesley and how fulfilling his job was, George was inspired to go to law school. He started his career at Thomas Jefferson School of Law before transferring to Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. George credits Wesley with having a significant impact on his life—helping him both apply to, and mentoring him throughout law school. Wesley was a superhero—and that’s exactly who George wanted to emulate. A superhero for his clients. 

It was there—in Los Angeles—surrounded by skyscrapers and a skyline dotted with celebrity abodes, that George started running. He was a traditional athlete growing up, playing basketball, football, or baseball—but he wasn’t much of a runner. He would run around Echo Park and Silver lake, looking for celebrities, but probably unable to see them because of his bad eyesight, George said. 

Once he started practicing law, George would run less frequently—choosing to spend his early days grinding to become a better attorney. He was still inspired by the superhero mentality that guided him through the gruel that is law school. He started his career as a litigation and trial attorney at Stark & D’Ambrosio before joining Mulvaney Barry Beatty Linn & Mayers LLP in 2019, which later merged with Dinsmore & Shole in 2023. When the world slowed to a crawl in early 2020, George went back to running.

At first, it was just a way to stay sane—a way to cope with the isolation and unpredictability of a global pandemic. When we started coming out of the pandemic, he recalled everything picking up quickly, and swiftly. He struggled—as many did, and continue to in our profession—with his mental health. He began going to therapy, and found himself finding his footing again. That’s when he realized, he couldn’t be the only one.

Running for the Law

Mental health struggles in the legal field are often buried under layers of stoicism, overwork, and cultural stigma. But instead of quietly coping, George decided to do something about it—something that might inspire others to start running toward their own healing. 

What began as a Facebook page in 2022 quickly evolved into a private group focused on supporting mental wellness across the legal ecosystem—not just attorneys, but everyone who holds up the scaffolding of the justice system. By December 2022, the private group had grown to about 50 members. But, like many workout routines and digital communities, it began to lose steam. That’s when the idea for something more tangible—a 5K—emerged.

Then life happened. In July 2023, George’s daughter was born. Plans were paused. But the idea wasn’t shelved for long. With a renewed sense of purpose, George has worked to revive the project—this time as a formal foundation. The first “Running for the Law” 5K was held in May 2024, coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month. 

“It was just me and my family putting it together. It rained. But people showed up. And we got great feedback,” George said, smiling. 

The inaugural race supported the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association. This year, the event will benefit the local San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition students—with the hopes of offering resources like stress balls and a sports psychologist to participants all depending on the amount of funds raised. The 2025 edition of the race will take place on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. at Embarcadero Marina Park South. To register for the race, click here.

“It’s a walk/run—nothing too competitive. Bring your pets, grab a coffee. If you want, come dressed as Grogu (aka Baby Yoda), it’s Star Wars Day after all,” George said.

Mental Health, One Step at a Time

For George, running symbolizes something deeper than fitness. It’s about accessibility. Freedom. Instinct.

“You don’t need a gym membership or fancy gear. There’s something inherently instinctual about running. You can do it barefoot. It’s just about starting,” he said.

But while running is the literal activity, the metaphor runs further. Running for the Law is about movement in every sense—moving past stigma, toward community, and into a space where mental health is as openly discussed as caselaw. 

“I think there’s this pressure to fit into a mold—get the big law job, become a trial attorney. But life isn’t linear. If we can be patient and incorporate some deferred gratification, things fall into place,” George said.

Now a father and foundation head, he’s thinking about what comes next. Right now, it’s just him and his family organizing the event, but the goal is to build a team—a network of people who believe in the mission and want to give back.

“It should be normal for us to lean on each other when times get tough,” he said. “Not everyone will jump into therapy right away. But maybe they can start by showing up to a 5K. Maybe that opens a door.”

In an industry known for its grind, George’s organization is offering something rare: a chance to slow down by speeding up. A chance to reframe success not just by wins in court, but by the strength it takes to say, I’m not okay—and that’s okay.

As legal professionals continue to navigate stress, burnout, and the weight of their roles, Running for the Law isn’t just a race. It’s a reminder: the path to well-being is one we don’t have to walk alone. And it’s better to run for something—rather than from it.