Jade Tran, Class of ’01

Jade Tran ’01 is a Partner at Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP (WSHB). She is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has tried many high profile, complex cases with significant exposure. She was the youngest member ever of Orange County’s ABOTA. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, she has been honored as one of the “Nation’s Best” by Lawyers of Color. She recently completed her second term on the King Hall Alumni Board.

What attracted you to being a trial lawyer, and what do you enjoy about it now?

All sides of the case posture and provide their analysis throughout the litigation, but you never know whether your analysis is correct unless you get to verdict. After that first “I told you so” moment, I was hooked. Trial also allows you to hone your skills and sort through all of the noise to get to the key facts that will resonate with a jury, so I’ve found that my litigation practice has become much more streamlined and efficient, which my clients also appreciate.

You’re a member of WSHB’s Eleventh Hour Trial team. What is that? What kind of cases do you try?

Some of our clients ask us to associate or substitute in to try a case after the close of discovery, so we may only have thirty days to get to know the case that we are going to present. It’s both a blessing and a curse because on the one hand most of the work is done, but on the other hand, we have no control over what evidence was obtained and can be stuck with incomplete information to tell our client’s story at trial. These cases tend to be catastrophic injury cases. As a whole, my trial practice is pretty varied. I have tried personal injury, wrongful termination, habitability, and subrogation matters.

Could you tell us about your work to advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession?

My firm has always been a leader in diversity and inclusion. I sit on our DEI committee and have been deeply involved in recruitment and mentorship. At WSHB, we believe that diversity is more than just a trend or a catchphrase. Diversity of background, experience, race, and ethnicity is a core value and one that deserves support at multiple levels — from recruitment to training to opportunity. This value, in turn, makes us stronger as a firm and the best fit for the rapidly changing world in which we practice. We are consistently ranked in the top ten for inclusiveness of women attorneys on the National Law Journal's Women in Law Scorecard. WSHB has also been ranked ninth in the nation on the American Lawyer’s 2021 Diversity Scorecard, which records the average number of full-time equivalent diverse attorneys at Am Law 200 and NLJ 250 law firms.

Why did you choose to attend King Hall?

When choosing between law schools, my focus was on the end goal of passing the Bar. King Hall had consistently then, and now, maintained very high passage rates while still being able to foster a very congenial and supportive environment. This was a draw for me over the more cut-throat schools that offered scholarships.

What is your favorite King Hall memory?

For me, King Hall was less about the classes and more about the people and new experiences. There was so much to do within close proximity to the school (Napa, San Francisco, Tahoe) and the shared experiences with my classmates throughout the three years is what I really remember.

How have you stayed involved with King Hall?

I actually just completed my second term as a member of the King Hall Alumni Board and have now termed out after six years of participation. On the board, I served on the Alumni Outreach Committee, which is responsible for choosing the recipients of the various alumni awards and working to increase participation in alumni events. Our first board meeting of each year coincided with the IL welcome BBQ, so I had the opportunity to sit and speak with new students and encourage them as they begin their law school journeys.

Of what are you proudest?

Careerwise, my goal was to eventually become a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which requires meeting certain criteria, invitation and sponsorship by a current member, and then a national and local chapter vote. In January 2019, I set it as a five-year goal for myself since I was only doing a trial every few years, but I met all the requirements by the end of 2019 after completing six jury trials within twelve months. I ended up being sponsored by my opposing counsel on my last trial of 2019, who was a former president of the Orange County Chapter of ABOTA. Now, at my firm, my role is to teach the next generation of trial attorneys, which is a position that I am honored and privileged to undertake.

Do you have any advice for current law students?

Stay curious and keep learning. Find ways to continue educating yourselves to become thought leaders in your chosen fields rather than relying on opportunities given to you by your employers. You will more quickly establish yourself as an asset and make yourself more marketable.