Meet Michelle Luna Reynoso | Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Luna Reynoso and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle Luna, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from National City, in South Bay San Diego.

I am not monochromatic. My background and upbringing provided the rich and colorful palette that I use to provide depth, structure, and perspective to my personal and professional life.

I am a criminal defense attorney, a homegirl, an Aztec dancer, a surfer, a Chicana, a coach, a mentor, and a grassroots organizer. I am my mother’s American dream.

I am within the first generation of my family to be born and raised in the United States. My parents immigrated from Mexico to National City, where I was raised. My childhood comprised of visits to the Imperial Valley where I would trace the edges of the endless and picturesque fields of produce with my finger.  I was made aware that my family worked in those fields from sun up to sun down, sometimes as slaves. “Slave,” does that stick out? It did for me to. As did the stories of my family marching with Cesar Chavez and their participation in the formation of the United Farm Worker’s movement. This humbles me and reminds me that for some people life can be grim and painful, but that through unity there is strength and the ability to overcome.

My mother embedded in her children a sense of pride in our culture: we are Mexicans, we are mestizos who celebrate the dead, we are warriors who have survived and will continue to survive until we thrive. This pushes me to preserve my culture, my indigenous practices, and to inspire others to take pride in their roots. I am an Aztec dancer, I keep an alter in my home year-round, and so I practice a religion that was previously illegal to practice in the United States until the passage of The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978. My practice grounds me and provides me comfort and release from a high stress career.

My mother raised my siblings and I as a single parent. I saw first-hand what addiction looks like. My father lost his soul and his teeth to various drugs: cocaine, crack, methamphetamine. I didn’t have to learn about these issues in law school or an internship, I brought those experiences with me. This provides me with compassion for my clients; it also gives me insight to fight for rehabilitative programming as opposed to incarceration.

My mother relied on extended family for companionship and thus extended our nuclear family. Through extended family, I learned about gangs; what they provided to young boys who experienced trauma and crave attention and father figures. This taught me that there is a deeper explanation for every action. Telling your client’s story is a crucial part of lawyering, and within that process you learn to intermingle their story with the science behind trauma and the law.

National City was my home, my playground, my canvas. My neighborhood is majority Filipino and Latino. This taught me to draw similarities instead of divisions.

In my childhood I did not interact with any professionals outside of the teachers I had. My experience with the police and the courts was tinged by my own experiences of being stopped, frisked, and detained illegally while walking in my own neighborhood; or the arrest of loved ones who did not have attorneys that spoke my family’s language or who did not incorporate their traumas or mental health challenges into their lengthy sentences. This is why I provide “Know Your Rights” workshops, why I coach mock trial, and why I mentor people. It is crucial for them see someone come from where they did become an attorney and provide a safe space for them to explore a profession or at least understand the laws that impact their lives.

I grew up 10-15 minutes from the nearest beach but like most kids in my neighborhood, I did not go. I could not go. There was limited public transportation or funds, and our parents either worked too much or simply were not present to take us on such adventures. As an adult I have the funds and the leisure to finally explore nature and open spaces. I learned to surf around the same time I became an attorney. The similarities are striking: starting is the scariest part, to succeed you need to put yourself out there more, when you fall you get back up, you improve every day, and your success is based on your personal style. It is an incredibly enriching experience that brings me peace, an intense workout, and happiness. It is my therapy. This is why I participate in programs that allow the youth to experience adventure and joy that would otherwise be outside their means; the ability to provide a safe space, exercise, joy, and memories is a magical experience.

I am the founder, owner, and currently the solo-practicing attorney at Reynoso Law, a criminal defense law firm. I proudly serve as a board member of San Diego La Raza Lawyer’s Association, a mock trial coach to Sweetwater High School. I also help guide and provide services to grassroots organizations and non-profits such as Mundo Gardens and For Our Neighborhood that allow youth from neighborhoods in San Diego access healthy foods, outdoor activities, and adventure.

The array of hues I inherited through my upbringing and background created who I am and what I do.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the founder, owner, and currently the solo-practicing attorney at Reynoso Law, a criminal defense law firm.

My versatility, experience, perspective, and thirst to expand my knowledge sets me apart from other attorneys.

My unique upbringing and background made me sharp, it allows me to pick up on nuances that should be explored to find what is beneath the surface of a client’s story. I not only empathize with my clients but I use that empathy to tell their story when and where it really matters: for a plea deal, for any hearing, and especially for trial.

Spanish speaking attorneys in San Diego are a minority. Communicating with clients in their own language adds a layer of trust and compassion to my practice. It also adds efficiency: I do not have to wait for an interpreter to meet with clients, review documents, or explain crucial procedures.

As a native San Diegan I can review a case and have a mental map about the neighborhoods, businesses, or issues described in a case. I do not have to wait for an investigator to delve into things, but when they do, I know exactly what to ask for or where to send them.

I am most proud of my presence in the legal profession, period. However, it is a cherry on top to be told that I am performing well by respected Judges and Colleagues. Latinas make up less than 1% of California attorneys. That is a daunting number. It is not lost upon me. I had to work twice as hard, for less pay, to get to where I am at. My reasoning in court is questioned more than my male counterparts, so I have to be prepared with case citations, where my male counterparts do not. I also get asked if: I am a defendant, if I am the interpreter, or if I am another attorney’s assistant / secretary. It is 2022, yet my presence is not the norm, not familiar, and sometimes not comfortable.

I am also proud of my ability and drive to understand the intricacies of mental health issues. The science is ever-evolving and as an attorney you have to move with it or your clients miss out on the justice they deserve. I was always fascinated with what makes people tick. Now I have the ability to explain why that matters, how it affected a client when they committed a crime, and why addressing the underlying mental health issues (instead of merely serving custody time) is more valuable to my client and society as whole.

Starting my practice was made easy thanks to the Access to Law Initiative, an incubator program provided through California Western School of Law. The program, through Matt Lab, provided us with guidance in a business plan, budgeting, and the incredible assistance of free case management systems and research programs.

However, finding clients was a slow build up. It was through networking and a little bit of luck that I gained mentorship and allies. These mentors connect me to a steady stream of referrals for both indigent and retained clients. My biggest lesson and suggestion to new attorneys is: put in the work to find your mentors early on.

I want the world to know Attorney Michelle Luna Reynoso at Reynoso Law is here to fight for your rights in English or Spanish and to tell your story using an arsenal of the law, science, and the true essence of your story.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely set some time to surf. Whether they are learning or experienced, sharing time in the water is a great way to bond and take in the views of San Diego. I like to surf in Pacific Beach.

A day at the La Jolla tide pools is also great to explore.

I love to show people Chicano Park, it is such a rich part of San Diego’s culture. Chicano Park has amazing murals that tell the history of the area. If we are lucky we can catch some Aztec dancers in the area. La Vuelta is also a great chance to catch street vendors and the lowrider scene. Barrio Logan is also extremely fun for those interested in local beers and great music at Mujeres Brew House or Border X.

I also enjoy a good hike and San Diego has some good ones, but I would push for a South Bay hike like the Sweetwater Trail Loop.

National City has great Filipino food options but Tita’s Kitchenette is a must. For those fans of fries, I love to introduce them to Carne Asada Fries done right; Any of the taco shops in National City serve up a good plate. Machete Beer House in National City also has a great vibe to finish off the night with drinks and music.

Of course being so close the border I would suggest a trip to Baja for some great seafood and if time permits a trip to Valle de Guadalupe for some amazing farm to table food and great wine selections.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who guided me through my upbringing, my education, my career, and my growth as a person.

Early on Luis Natividad paved the way for me to find my voice as early as my teen years when he created the Student Representative position to City Council.

I have many mentors in my legal career that have generously provided me with advice and opportunities, not listed in any particular order: Jose Badillo, Danielle Iredale, Christian Ham, and the late Anthony Medina. I could not be more thankful for crossing their paths.

Website: www.reynoso-law.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reynosolaw

Twitter: @Reynoso_Law

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ReynosoLaw

Image Credits
Some images: @NationalCitySurf