Moderated by the Bay Area PALS Coalition, panelists will share their experiences on navigating law school, bar prep, mentorship, and their first years in practice. This conversation will explore the pivotal decisions, unexpected detours, and defining moments that shaped our panelists’ professional journeys. From choosing practice areas and securing that first job, to managing imposter syndrome, our speakers will offer practical insights and real-world lessons learned in their first few years of practice.

Raniele Reyes (he/him) was raised in Kapolei, Hawaiʻi and moved to San Francisco to pursue his Juris Doctor at the University of San Francisco School of Law after graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Filipino Language and Culture. He graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2025, where he served as Co-President of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and Pilipinx-American Law Students, as well as Co-Chair of the Public Interest Law Foundation.

He is admitted to practice in California, where he represents individuals, contractors, and title insurers and their insureds in real property and title insurance matters.

Melanie Yabut Violan is an Attorney at Candelaria LLP and assists both the Family Law Practice and the Trusts and Estates Practice. In each practice area, Melanie seeks to provide our clients with thorough and thoughtful legal advice as they navigate through the process. Melanie is proud to be a part of Candelaria LLP, as it was chosen as the Alameda County Bar Association's 2025 Firm of the Year. 

Melanie was born and raised in the Bay Area. Melanie graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and earned her Juris Doctorate from John F. Kennedy University College of Law, with Dean's List and Honors recognition. She is a first-generation lawyer. In law school, Melanie was involved in the Law School Association, received Witkin Awards for Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law, and earned a Public Interest Certificate. The Contra Costa County Bar Association (CCCBA) Women’s Section awarded her with the Honorable Patricia Herron and the Honorable Ellen James Scholarship for her outstanding community work and academic excellence.

Prior to law school, Melanie worked as a Paralegal in several areas of law including employment law, immigration law, and labor law. Since passing the bar, Melanie has gained experience in family law, estate planning, trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and probate matters.

Melanie is very involved in local and affinity bar associations. Melanie is an active member of the CCCBA, the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA), the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC), and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Solano County (APABA).

Melanie served on the 2024-2025 FBANC Board as Legal Clinics Co-Director and Women’s Committee Co-Chair. In the Legal Clinics role, Melanie facilitated the partnership between FBANC and other organizations to provide legal clinics to serve the needs of the community. Melanie is now serving as a Membership Director and Women’s Committee Co-Chair on the current FBANC Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 year. Melanie also serves on the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Solano County as a Board Member.

Melanie has had speaking engagements through the CCCBA and avidly participates in panels which assist pre-law students in learning about the law school process and experience as an AAPI attorney. As a prior Mock Trial member, Melanie also enjoys being a judge for Contra Costa County high school mock trial students to encourage more students to join the legal profession. Melanie is also an active Volunteer Attorney for the ACBA Shriver Project which assists low-income individuals in child custody and visitation matters.

Melanie has been consistently recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Family Law and Estate Planning, a recognition received by only the top 2.5% of attorneys in California.

Marjan Abubo is an Associate Attorney at Redwood Public Law, where he represents public agencies on a wide variety of litigation and advisory matters. Marjan is a 2022 graduate of UC Davis School of Law (King Hall), where he obtained a certificate in environmental and natural resources law and earned the public interest/public service distinction. While at King Hall, he served as the President of the King Hall Negotiations Team and Editor-in-Chief of Environs, UC Davis' Environmental Law and Policy Journal. Prior to his current role, he worked at a municipal law firm advising public agencies on land use and public governance, as well as a boutique firm handling plaintiff-side CEQA, water, and land use litigation.

After completing his undergraduate education at UCLA, Marjan served as a CivicSpark (now CivicWell) fellow working in Southern California. He is interested in the way law, policy, and local action shape the built environment. When he is not lawyering, Marjan enjoys running with this dog, rock-climbing, and renovating his home.