Getting to Know Adrieannette Ciccone

In every issue of Legal Perspectives, the California Lawyers Association (CLA) spotlights one of its members. Please consider nominating someone to feature in future issues by emailing legalperspectives@calawyers.org.

Adrieannette Ciccone, along with Leif Dautch, Marjaneh Maroufi, and Terrance J. Evans, recently received 2022 Unity Awards from the Minority Bar Coalition. The four CLA members founded CLA’s Racial Justice Committee in 2020. The unity awards honor leaders from the coalition’s member organizations for their exemplary work promoting the cause of diversity in the legal profession and the community. Ciccone, the founding chair of the racial justice committee, also received the award in 2019 and 2020.

1. What was your path to pursuing a legal career?

I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when I was a young child. As time progressed, I realized that much societal injustice was the result of socioeconomic and racial inequality. After earning a joint MA in Urban Planning and Latin American Studies, I embarked on my legal career.

2. What kind of law do you practice? I do municipal law in Alameda County, representing public agencies. Prior to this, I worked to defend the legal rights of those faced with debt collection lawsuits and did land use and real estate law to help reshape the urban landscape to be more equitable.

3. What motivates you to volunteer on CLA’s Racial Justice Committee?

My motivation comes from wanting to work on creating a more just and equitable society and to see all treated equally.

4. What other organizations do you belong to?

I’m an active member of the National Bar Association, the California Association of Black Lawyers, the Charles Houston Bar Association (Executive Board Member from 2015-2019), CLA’s Litigation Section Executive Committee, the Cornell Black Lawyers Alumni Network, and the Black Women Lawyers of Northern California Board. I also served on the Alameda County Bar Association Barristers Executive Committee as an Executive Board Member from 2015-2020.

5. What advice do you have for others who are looking to get involved in advancing racial justice issues?

I would invite CLA members to check out the Racial Justice Committee. The best way to begin is by joining a meeting to listen for an understanding of the issues. Then determine which steps you can take individually to become part of the solution. Feel free to reach out for more information.