Cristina Perez, Frances Lynch & Ronda Kelso, RN, JD: Verdicts with Vision: Clinical Expertise and Compelling Advocacy

Episode 7: Cristina Perez, Frances Lynch & Ronda Kelso, RN, JD: Verdicts with Vision: Clinical Expertise and Compelling Advocacy

Ronda Kelso, RN, JD
From Scrubs to Summations: Mastering Medical Malpractice
With dual expertise as a registered nurse and trial lawyer, Ronda Kelso offers a rare and razor-sharp perspective on medical malpractice litigation. Her insights blend clinical precision with courtroom power.

Frances Lynch
The Written Word Meets the Rule of Law
Author and trial attorney Frances Lynch brings storytelling to litigation. Whether on the page or before a jury, she turns facts into compelling narratives that move hearts—and win cases.

In this dynamic episode of Verdicts & Vogue, host Cristina Perez Hesano sits down with two powerhouses of Arizona’s legal community: Ronda Kelso and Frances Lynch. The conversation spans years of friendship, legal grit, and collective passion for uplifting women within the field of trial law. More than just impressive titles and credentials, these women represent an evolving force in a historically male-dominated industry.

Together, the three women reflect on the serendipitous meeting that sparked what would become WAZTLA—the Women of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association. What began as a call to support the Arizona Association for Justice’s membership committee quickly evolved into the formation of a vibrant community. Shocked to discover the lack of a women’s group in the state’s trial lawyer community, they took matters into their own hands—starting with a listserv designed to foster safe, supportive legal conversations among women attorneys.

For Frances, the listserv became a springboard for something greater: a living, breathing resource hub where female lawyers could ask “simple” questions without judgment and share valuable legal documents. This grew into a collaborative portal hosted by TrialSmith, a tool accessible to any woman in the association, encouraging transparency, empowerment, and shared success.

Ronda, meanwhile, recalls how her medical background offered an advantage when transitioning into law—and how vital mentorship became along the way. With humility and clarity, she discusses the nuances of practicing med-mal, sharing her journey from nurse to attorney and the impact of winning a unanimous $2.8 million verdict. She and Frances both reflect on the mentors who guided them—from pioneering women like Jojean Mills to unexpected allies in the courtroom—and how they now actively pay that mentorship forward to the next generation of women lawyers.

Beyond law, their passions ripple through community service and creativity. Ronda speaks on her role as a board member for Gabriel’s Angels, a nonprofit that pairs therapy dogs with at-risk youth to foster empathy and healing. Frances, a published author born in the UK, shares her path from journalist to attorney—and how writing continues to be a critical, cathartic part of her work.

The episode also highlights their role in launching "Coffee and Cases," a regular series designed to create a face-to-face (or Zoom-to-Zoom) mentorship and case discussion space for women in practice. These gatherings reinforce the deep need for community and mentorship, especially in a field where women still make up a small fraction of trial lawyers.

What emerges in this episode is more than just professional reflection—it’s a blueprint for creating meaningful change within the legal community. Whether it’s advocating for better representation, establishing legal education through CLEs, or just showing up for one another, Ronda and Frances show how leadership can be equal parts fierce and compassionate.

If you’re a young attorney, a woman in law, or simply someone who values justice, mentorship, and empowerment, this episode will leave you inspired—and ready to keep building.