Los Defensores celebrate 40th anniversary with gala

A gold hammer etched with a “D” in the center appears against a blue screen as the all-too familiar voices of Jorge and Jaime Jarrin take over the audio, urging us to call “el 636-3636” for legal representation. 

Los Defensores, the law firm behind those well-known commercials, celebrated their 40th anniversary with a gala at the Petersen Museum last week, bringing in radio and TV personalities, along with legendary activist Dolores Huerta, to the yellow carpet.

The iconic law firm celebrated 40 years of serving the Latin American community of California and for continuing to break barriers that have historically impeded Latinos from being represented fairly in the justice system. The firm's mission has been to make it more accessible for Latinos to have legal representation in their native language.

Television and radio personality Gisselle Bravo hosted the event, with guest appearances like L.A. Chargers senior director of cultural affairs Liliana Perez, author Hazel Ortega, Walker Advertising’s vice president of corporate affairs and marketing Nicole Cordero and TV and media personality Said Garcia.

Former Spanish-language voice of the Dodgers, Jaime Jarrin, and his son, Jorge Jarrin are the brand’s longest-running spokesmen for Los Defensores. 

“It’s such a particularly special night for us because Jorge and I have both been the voice and image for Los Defensores,” said Jaime Jarrin to CALÓ News. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and Jorge, for more than 20 years.”

They are the famous father-son duo representing Los Defensores that many of us saw on our television screens growing up. The famous commercials would feature a car accident victim or someone who was legally wronged seeking a landline to call for legal representation, only to see Jorge or Jaime appear on screen urging victims to call the number to reach them. 

“We’re both very happy to be here celebrating 40 years and I have a lot of pride in being a part of Los Defensores,” said Jorge Jarrin.. 

The bright yellow carpet outside the Petersen Automotive Museum also greeted personalities and well-known faces like legendary social activist Dolores Huerta and Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno. 

Huerta is a leading voice in the on-going fight for equal and equitable rights in the Latino workforce. In 1960, Huerta formed the Agricultural Workers Association and co-founded the United Farmer Workers,  starting a legacy of justice for field workers and farmers. Huerta fought alongside Cesar Chavez and gained a reputation for her relentless drive for a more democratic government. 

“I feel honored to be here tonight,” said Huerta. 

At 94 years of age, she continues to be a beacon of hope for other activists who strive to build a legacy like she has. 

CA Supreme Court Justice Moreno is well-known for his legal stances on gender equality, the rights of disabled people, children and building diversity. . 

CALO News asked Huerta what advice she had for the new generations of activists. 

“Well first off, exactly what you said. Be an activist,” said Huerta. “Get involved in [political] movements because as we know, there are a lot of people who actively work against our people in very organized ways, therefore we too have to be organized to be able to fight.” 

Los Defensores has gained a reputation of credibility over the 40 year span of their business. So much so that 10 years ago they had to file their own lawsuit against two people who partnered with a SoCal law firm to pass off as affiliates of Los Defensores, using their recognizable 636-3636 phone number to log appointments for their own firm. 

MaryAnn Walker, who founded the firm, attended the event and was recognized for her work in the industry. 

This year, the gala celebration aimed at gathering lawyers and Spanish-language TV and radio personalities to help fundraise for the Jaime y Blanca Jarrin Foundation. Collectively, attendees donated over $9,000 and Los Defensores Inc. matched the donation for a total of $18,000 for the scholarship fund. 

Two students who have been awarded scholarships attended the event and thanked Los Defensores for their contribution to their path to success. 

Joshuel Calderon, Juris Doctor law candidate at University of California, Los Angeles, began his speech by stating that it costs $300,000 a year to be a law student at UCLA. Meaning, any financial or scholarship contribution to first-generation and Latin American students goes a long way. 

According to the school’s 2026 J.D. candidate class profile, 18% of the candidates are first-generation students. First-generation students are those considered to have one or both parents without a college degree, a demographic factor that often makes it harder for students to pursue higher education. 

Cruzzanna Hernandez, communication and event management associate for the L.A. Chargers, was also recognized for her trailblazing work as a first-generation student who received the scholarship. Hernandez is an alum of California State University, Long Beach and studied communications and public relations.