Local lawyers honored for work

Elia Powers

It was federal court Judge Learned Hand who once wrote, “We may win

when we lose, if we have done what we can; for by doing so we have

made real at least some part of that finished product in whose

fabrication we are most concerned: ourselves.”

The American Jewish Committee has recognized three local lawyers

for doing what they can in their commitment to service.

Orange County attorneys David Hirson, Ronald Morrison and Karen

Walter accepted Judge Learned Hand awards Tuesday at the Irvine

Marriott Hotel.

Hirson, a Newport Beach resident, won the “Lifetime Achievement

Award” for his work as an immigration lawyer. Morrison, whose office

is in Newport Beach, earned the “Community Service” award for his

involvement in the Jewish community.

And Walter, whose law firm is based in Costa Mesa, received the

“Emerging Leader Award” for her role in community activities.

The awards go to those in the legal profession who exemplify the

humanitarian spirit of Judge Learned Hand, who served on the U.S. 2nd

Circuit Court of Appeals for more than 25 years.

For Hirson, the award comes after years of building up a local

firm.

A lawyer in Johannesburg, South Africa, Hirson moved his family to

Orange County in 1980.

He immediately created the national immigration law firm

HirsonWexlerPerl, which merged into Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen &

Loewy in 2004.

“I give him a lot of credit for picking up and starting over in

America,” law partner Mitch Wexler said.

“He came from a middle-class background, and that made him reach

for success.”

Hirson said he was humbled by the award.

“I’ve always had the philosophy, if you build a loyal client base

and love what you do, you will be successful,” he said.

Hirson has served as chairman of the Southern California Chapter

of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. and the State Bar of

California, International Law Section.

He is an American Jewish Committee board member, as is Morrison,

executive vice president of Impac Mortgage Companies.

During his acceptance speech, Morrison apologized to friends and

co-workers for regularly leaving social events prematurely in order

to fulfill his volunteer obligations.

Friend Cliff Frieden said Morrison is dedicated to serving the

Jewish community, including a past two-year stint as president of

Congregation B’nai Israel in Tustin.

Walter, a senior associate at Rutan & Tucker, spends much of her

free time in the classroom. She is the mock trial instructor at her

former high school, El Dorado in Placentia.

“Growing up, I didn’t know any lawyers,” Walter said.

“Then I met my mock trial advisor, and she was my introduction to

the field.”

Walter’s team won last year’s Constitutional Rights Foundation

competition in Orange County.

At Rutan & Tucker, she represents cities and school districts, as

well as private clients.

She has taken on pro bono clients through the Orange County Public

Law Center.

“Serving people is a source of pleasure for me,” she said.

“It’s nice to be able to use my position and get satisfaction out

of helping.”