Renee is a native San Diegan, who was raised by her grandparents, Irene and Louis F. Galente, in North County San Diego. She attended La Jolla Country Day School, and her love was theater and music. She was involved in several musicals, including West Side Story, Into the Woods, and 42nd Street. She was also featured in Jane Martins' "Talking With..." She graduated from La Jolla Country Day School in 1997.

In 1997 after graduating from La Jolla Country Day, she took only minimal community college classes while working to supporting her family on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Renee joined Marine Corps Community Services as a civilian worker on Camp Pendleton, and under the wing of her mentor, worked her way up from an office administration position to the manager of one of the base's most visited facilities. As part of the Recreation Division (called Semper Fit) Renee was able to be a part of some monumental programs brought to Camp Pendleton, including “Rockin' the Corps”, a concert comprised of Kiss, Destiny's Child, and Godsmack, and the “World Famous Mud Run.” During her time at Camp Pendleton, she received recognition for her hard work with Division awards and a Commendation from Commanding General T.E. Donovan.

In 2001, Renee turned her attention full bore towards getting her undergraduate degree. She enrolled in Park University's online program and took a full load of course work while working about 50 hours, or more, a week. She graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Business Management and Marketing.

Ready to further challenge herself, Renee began law school at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Though she started out as a part time student, while working on Camp Pendleton, she sought immediately to involve herself every aspect of the process. During her first semester of law school, Renee was published in the Student Lawyer magazine of the American Bar Association. She was on the Deans Distinguished Honor Roll and Honor Roll every semester of law school. She was awarded several CALI awards, Jefferson Medals and and Witkin Awards, as well as making the National Deans List throughout her law school career. She found her calling, though, as her passion for theater was resurrected in the form of trial advocacy classes, which she not only enjoyed but excelled in.

Renee was an active participant in school organizations, holding board positions on both La Raza and the Thomas Jefferson Sports Law Society. An advocate for tolerance and diversity, Renee was a constant proponent and participant in Thomas Jefferson's Diversity Week and the Legal Education Access Program which brought law school to the attention of children of all races in local magnet schools.

Renee made it a point to engage in pro bono hours, volunteering for the San Diego YWCA, and as a part of the criminal defense team for PFC Jodka of the "Pendleton 8". She worked for a semester as a mediator in the South Bay courthouse, helping people to resolve their disputes without litigation. She also mentored incoming law students in her spare time.

Renee was chosen by the faculty and staff of Thomas Jefferson School of Law as the winner of the National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Student Award in 2008 right before she graduated magna cum laude.

Today, Renee is honored to be a part of the team at Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire. She is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the Southern District of the United States District Court of California. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the San Diego Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, San Diego Barrister's Club and the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Renee and her fiancee Eric, a soon to be lawyer and musician, still live in North County and commute to work in San Diego down the I-5 every day. When they are not at work, or stuck in traffic, they enjoy hanging out with grandma, reading, doing anything out in the beautiful California sun, and spending time with their four cats and two dogs.

galente@tbmlawyers.com