Botkin Chiarello Calaf partner María Amelia Calaf recently joined three other Latina lawyers for a panel discussion on enhancing Latinx representation in the legal field. The panel took place at the Hispanic National Bar Association's Region XII Annual Summit and was featured on the Houston Law Review’s “Emphasis Added” podcast.

In addition to MAC, the panelists were Hon. Amparo Guerra of Texas’ First Court of Appeals, Harris County Commissioner Leslie Briones, and Locke Lord partner Alicia Castro. The discussion was moderated by Gibson Dunn attorney Adri Langemeier and University of Houston Law Center 3L Jake Guarino.

Among other topics, MAC spoke on the difference between mentors and sponsors and the importance of having both. Mentors provide guidance and can serve as role models but aren’t necessarily in a position to hire or promote you or put you on a team that can get you valuable experience, she said.

“A mentor is your friend who’s going to help you out,” she said. But, she added, “Make sure there are people who have a vote and a voice at the table that are also championing you as you go through your professional trajectory.”

The panel was taped for the University of Houston’s Emphasis Added podcast; the full episode is embedded below.