Community Involvement

"Rene has been with IELLA (Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association) since the formation of the group in 1980 and has worn every hat possible throughout his tenure…he has been tried and true through the test of time. Rene just keeps giving,” said Rina Gonzales, Board President, in tribute to Rene Pimentel who was selected by IELLA to receive the Kathleen M. Gonzales Pro Bono Services Award.

"Rene’s dedication is always an inspiration to staff and other volunteers. He takes new pro bono volunteers as well as new staff under his wing and can always be counted on to come in and help a client that needs help – going the extra mile for them and often taking work back to his office to prepare a letter or make calls on the client’s behalf," stated Enrique Acuńa, IELLA Executive Director. "He provided services to clients, mentored clinic attorneys and staff and sought recognition for others and not for him."

A Founding Member of IELLA in 1982, Rene Pimentel served several terms as President, eight years on its Board of Directors and has been a volunteer IELLA attorney for 26 years. Mr. Pimentel donated his firm’s sponsorship for the organization’s fundraisers and served on the Kathleen M. Gonzales Scholarship Committee. In 1988, he was honored with the State Bar of California Board of Governors President’s Pro Bono Service Award and the Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services numerous times. He served on the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission from 1988-2001. He has volunteered in the business community and was a Founding Member of Latin Business Associates in 1986, serving as President in 1989, Vice-President in 1988 and on its board for several years.

Rene Pimentel is a sole practitioner in Workers Compensation and Personal Injury Law. He began his career as a legal services staff attorney at ICLS’s Indio Office in 1977 and then was a partner in the Law Firm of Gutierrez & Pimentel for several years. Rene Pimentel is a graduate of UC Riverside and a graduate of UCLA Law School and has been a practicing attorney since 1977.