Profile of Solange Ritchie: Myer Sankary Award Recipient – Orange County Women Lawyers Association

By Michael Sohigian

Solange Ritchie

The State Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section has chosen Orange County’s Solange Ritchie to receive the 2014 Myer J. Sankary Attorney of the Year Award. In addition to her practice with her husband, Steven R. Young, handling civil litigation with an emphasis on "last minute trials," Ms. Ritchie has been an active member of the Orange County Bar Association ("OCBA"), California Women Lawyers ("CWL"), Orange County Women Lawyers ("OCWL"), Orange County Asian American Bar Association ("OCAABA"), and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association ("OCTLA"). This year’s nominees were individuals whose histories of involvement and achievement exemplified the ideals of leadership of the profession and service to the community that the Award is meant to recognize. Ms. Ritchie stood out for the depth of her dedication to the community and professional work to which she has been devoted since her admission to practice in 1998, and the prodigious amount of that work.

A native of Jamaica, Ms. Ritchie witnessed a breakdown of social order, increases in criminal activity, and deprivations of justice with the election of a Socialist president. Her mother created a charitable foundation to help young people with special needs, including Ms. Ritchie’s brother who has Down syndrome. Ms. Ritchie immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of 11, and ever since she has been dedicated to the cause of justice. "After what I experienced, I have always wanted to help the people who needed to be heard. I get a lot of satisfaction from beating the big boys."