By Ronique Bastine Robinson, AAML Texas

What Chapter are you from?

Texas

When did Fellowship in the Academy first become a personal or professional goal for you?

Shortly after Tammy Moon and Jackie Smith were admitted. Before they were involved, I did not know anything about the Academy. It was because they said it was a significant professional achievement that I looked more into the organization and its influence. 

Who served as your mentor and/or or did you participate in a mentorship group and how did this encourage you to apply to the Academy? 

Jackie Smith and Tammy Moon served as my mentors for the pursuit of Fellowship and serve alongside me in a mentoring group for young female lawyers  with other established lawyers. They, with others, founded an organization called The Houston Family Lawyers Group more than 20 years ago, which still exists today. It was singularly their influence that encouraged me to seek membership in the Academy. 

What guidance from your mentor or mentorship group was most helpful as you sought Fellowship?

The encouragement to try again was the greatest guidance that Jackie and Tammy gave during my process after I was turned down following my first application. Understandably, I was disappointed, but I was also not going to reapply. It was Jackie who said, “You’ve done the work, the application is complete, you just need more people to see that you’re a great lawyer and would be an asset to the organization.” She said, “You belong here, and I’m going to help you get here!”

Was there a particular moment when your mentor or mentorship group helped you recognize you were ready to pursue Fellowship?

Yes, it was when I started to ask about speaking, getting involved, and taking on more complex cases. As I challenged Jackie more and more as her opposing counsel, I like to believe she saw qualities in me that prompted her to invite me to seek out organizations that could further sharpen my skills and exposure.

How has that mentorship influenced the way you now support prospective Fellows?

Jackie and Tammy’s mantra has always been “each one reach one.” It is because of them that I’m constantly encouraging younger female lawyers to pursue board certification and encouraging board certified lawyers in our group to seek Fellowship. 

Tell us a surprising fact about yourself.

I’m a California Girl!  I’ve been in Texas since I was 10, so most people consider me a Texan. I claim dual citizenship because you can take the girl out of California, but you can never take the California out of the girl!

Tell us the AAML Chapter you’d most like to visit, and why? 

The Chapter I’d like to visit most is Minnesota for two reasons. My first Academy friend, Samantha Gemberling, who has become my ride or die is from there and because I want to experience the infamous Divorce Camp, where they not only educate and encourage Fellowship but also raised $40,000 to donate to the AAML Foundation!