Berks Barrister Summer 2019 - 13

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operations, governance, resources and staffing of the association,
as well as provide introductions to its various leadership
opportunities."

The class was charged with the task of completing a project.
With Gabby taking the lead, the group compiled information
on the many community outreach projects being undertaken by
county bar associations around the state. Berks' contributions
include the Landlord-Tenant workshops, Notary Public outreach
sessions and the Certified Interpreter Instructional program. A
"massive draft" of over 500 pages was produced and is now waiting
final publication.
Gabby found BLI to be a "great experience." She added:
"I came to know attorneys from around the state, a diversity of
geography and areas of practice." Gabby hopes to increase her
activity in the PBA's Sections for Worker's Compensation Law
and the Minority Bar.

Language access is a big concern to Gabby. Then again,
she has lived it. She migrated to the United States from the
Dominican Republic in 2005, knowing very little English. Over
the next eight months, she studied English daily online, only
spoke English at home with her new husband, Lenin Agudo, and
did not watch any Spanish TV. "You don't know what it is for a
Latina woman to give up her novelas-soap operas!"

The hard work over those eight months paid off when she
passed the English admission test for college, entered Kutztown
University and three and a half years later, while working two
jobs, graduated magna cum laude. Next, she was to tackle another

language-legal-while attending Widener University Law
School. Despite working 50 plus hours per week as a paralegal,
Gabby earned her law degree, after three years, in 2012. In less
than seven years, she had mastered two languages.

Gabby spoke of her journey when she was the keynote speaker
for last year's Naturalization Ceremony in the fall. Being the
humble person that she is, Gabby told the newly naturalized
citizens, "I recognize that this story is not mine, it's our story.
It is the story that each of us immigrants share. A story of
perseverance, passion and purpose."
Her passion extends to appreciating that there are those
whose language skills present a barrier in our court system. That
concern for language access led her to become a member of the
Monitoring and Evaluation Team of the Language Plan for the
Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. In that community service
role, she reviews steps for implementation of the statewide plan,
reads complaints filed by litigants, provides feedback and helps to
edit rules drafted by the AOPC. To further address her concerns,
Gabby presented a CLE on language as part of the 2018 PBA
Workers' Compensation Section Fall meeting as well as being
a speaker on the same subject at this year's Berks County Bar
Association Bench-Bar Conference in April.
It is obvious that Attorney Gabriela Raful has an incredible
work ethic, steeped in an overwhelming concern for the less
fortunate. As a Pro Bono Awardee, she sets the bar quite high.

Her family, her profession and her community are blessed to
be beneficiaries of her juggling prowess.

is pleased to announce that

B e t h M . Au m a n
has become a Partner with the firm.

Beth M. Auman first joined Hartman, Valeriano, Magovern & Lutz after
graduating from Drexel University's School of Law in 2010. She left briefly to
work in the oil and gas industry, but was drawn back to the practice of law in
Berks County after realizing how much she valued making a difference for clients
and organizations in her local community.
Now a partner at HVM&L, Beth's practice emphasizes municipal, real estate,
zoning and land use law. She also handles employment law and estate planning
matters. The most fulfilling thing about her career is building relationships with
clients as she helps them navigate challenges and plans for their future.
Beth is the co-chair of the Berks County Bar Association's Municipal/
Environmental/Real Estate/Education Law Section. She serves on the Boards of
the Friends of Reading Hospital and the Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club, and is the
Chairperson for the Reading Hospital Road Run.
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Summer 2019 | 13
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Berks Barrister Summer 2019

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