In our annual popular election, two outstanding and contributing members of our legal community are nominated for Secretary of the OCBA. Yearly, the vote winner elevates to Treasurer, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President. The winner will have much influence on the development of the OCBA for many years to come. Please research the candidates and vote. The online election will be open from Monday, October 3 at 9:00 a.m. and will cease at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25 at www.ocbar.org/vote.

Ashleigh Aitken
Ashleigh Aitken is Of Counsel at Aitken Aitken Cohn, a position secured through neither nepotism nor duress. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Aitken was a federal prosecutor in the Santa Ana branch of the Office of the United States Attorney and a litigation associate at Morrison Foerster LLP.

Ashleigh has a long history of community service, both in and out of the Orange County legal community. Ashleigh served two terms on the Board of the OCBA, co-chaired the Diversity and Equal Justice Committee for two years, and serves on the OCBA Charitable Fund golf and gala committees.

She is the immediate past president of Orange County Women Lawyers, and recently chaired the organization’s 35th Anniversary Dinner. She is Vice-President of the Celtic Bar, and former Vice-President and board member of the Hispanic Bar Association. She is the Chairwoman of Anaheim’s non-profit-focused Community Services Board, and chairs her church’s annual fundraiser.

Ashleigh is a product of the great mentoring provided by the OCBA. She became involved as a young lawyer, and quickly rose to leadership positions. She wants to ensure that the OCBA remains on the cutting edge of today’s legal environment. Given the changing way many lawyers practice law—whether as a young mother, part-time attorney, or attorney practicing in a non-conventional format—the OCBA needs to remain responsive and relevant to its membership. She hopes that this will keep members engaged and make the OCBA a more diverse organization. Ashleigh also wants the OCBA to remain responsive to its consistent core members, by offering programs on current changes in social media and practice trends.

Ashleigh is married to attorney Michael Penn, who everyone likes better but submitted his application for Secretary after she did. They have two awesome daughters.

Teresa McQueen
Teresa McQueen is a Litigation Associate at Pedersen Law & Dispute Resolution Corporation, a small firm located in Irvine. Prior to joining Pedersen Law & Dispute Resolution Corporation in 2006, Teresa established her own solo law practice in 2003. Since graduating from Chapman School of Law in 2002 Teresa has been an active member of the Orange County Bar Association. She presently serves the OCBA as a member of the Board of Directors (2007–Present), Co-Chair of the Mentor on Demand Committee (“MOD”), Co-Chair of the Bridging the Gap Committee, and Chair of the Resolutions Committee.

A true believer in giving back to the profession through service, Teresa consistently devotes her time and energy to various OCBA committees, sections, and programs. . . .

• In 2008, brought the MOD concept to the OCBA and helped establish the MOD Committee. MOD is a unique online, on-demand, video mentoring benefit providing—in 10-minutes or less—24/7 mentoring and invaluable judicial profiles.
• Currently Co-Chair of the Mentor on Demand (2008–11) and Bridging the Gap Committees (2009–11).
• Served as Chair of the Young Lawyers Division in 2007 and before that as YLD Chair-Elect (2006) and YLD Education Chair (2004–05).
• Active in the OCBA Solo/Small Firm Section since 2003, serving on the Executive Committee (2003–10) and as Section Chair in 2006.
• Served as Law Day Committee Chair (2006–07)
• Current Chair of the State Bar’s Solo Small Firm Section and has served on its Executive Committee since 2006.

Teresa believes that giving back to our profession means taking responsibility. In other words, putting oneself in a position to make a difference. Leadership takes commitment. As OCBA Secretary, Teresa will continue to actively demonstrate her deep commitment to the OCBA’s mission of enhancing the justice system, supporting the attorneys who serve that system, and assisting those we serve in our local community.