Last month Hughes Marino had the incredible honor of serving as the Title Sponsor for Lawyers Club of San Diego’s Annual Dinner. As a member of Lawyers Club’s Professional Advancement Committee, I couldn’t have been more proud to have my company affiliated with such a worthwhile organization, nor could I have been more humbled to be sharing a room with one of the most prominent and inspiring women of the past millennium.

Indeed, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor, served as the keynote speaker, and I have to say it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Not only did this woman change the face of our nation’s highest court, but she did it through sheer grit, determination, and a tremendous amount of hard work.

Standing at the podium, she told the story of her early days as a lawyer. O’Connor graduated from Stanford University Law School in 1952 at a time when opportunities for female lawyers were extremely limited. She struggled to find work as an attorney, and even offered to work for free just to get her foot in the door at the County Attorney’s Office in San Mateo. It served as a reminder of how far women have come in both the legal profession and society at large.

It should be noted, given the gravity of decisions she’s had to make to uphold our constitution, that she was one of the funniest speakers I’ve ever heard, which in itself was inspiring. Her jaw-dropping resume was magnificently balanced by levity, which had all in attendance absolutely enchanted. Her words and inspiring story remind me why organizations such as the Lawyers Club of San Diego are so vital to continuing forward momentum for women in law, business and in society.

For more information about Lawyers Club of San Diego, visit their website at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.