Jerrilyn Malana is a Chief Deputy District Attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, where she serves as chief of human resources and special counsel. With over 1,000 employees, the DA’s Office is the largest legal employer in the region. Prior to joining the DA’s Office in 2016, Jerri spent more than 16 years as an Employment Law attorney and Shareholder with the global employment law firm of Littler Mendelson. At Littler, she represented Fortune 500 clients and local businesses in employment – related litigation. Jerri is a dynamic public speaker, and an effective and engaging trainer on employment law topics. She regularly speaks on equity, diversity and inclusion matters including strategies to address bias in the workplace. Jerri is passionate about community service and civics education , and helping the next generation to succeed.

Jerri is the immediate past Chair of the Civic Engagement & Outreach (CEO) Committee for the California Lawyers Association. She also serve s on the statewide Power of Democracy steering committee, which implements the Chief Justice of California’s civic education initiatives. Jerri is an active member of the California Civic Learning Partnership for San Diego County, which seeks to improve civic education in grades K to 12. In addition, she serves on the California Supreme Court’s State Bar Trustees Nominating Committee.

Jerri was the first Asian Pacific American attorney to serve as President of the San Diego County Bar Association, which is the region’s oldest and largest legal organization. She is a past President of Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego. She is also a past President of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Alumni Association, and past Chair of Chancellor’s Associates. Jerri presently serves as a Trustee on the UCSD Foundation Board.

Jerri served on the State Bar of California’s Council on Access & Fairness. She is a former Co – Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Employment & Labor Relations Law Committee for the Section of Litigation. Jerri also served on the Executive Committee of the Bench – Bar Coalition (BBC) in California. She was a founding Advisory Board member for the Academy of Law at Crawford High School in San Diego.

Jerri was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame as a “ Trailblazer ”. She has been recognized by many other organizations for her work in the community including being named a “ Trailblazer ” by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).