Steven Bugarin: Welcome to our Alumni Spotlight series, where we shine a light on the remarkable journeys and achievements of our SigEp brothers post-graduation. Today, we’re thrilled to feature a distinguished alumnus who has carved a niche for himself in the specialized field of lemon law in California. Meet John DeMircift, a partner at the law firm Leo Lemons, where he champions the rights of consumers dealing with lemon vehicles. For those unfamiliar, Lemon Law is designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease new or used vehicles that fail to meet standards of quality and performance. John’s expertise ensures that clients navigate these complex laws with confidence, securing the justice and compensation they deserve.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, we’re also delighted to congratulate John on his marriage to his wonderful wife, Athena, in November of 2023. Following a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends, the newlyweds enjoyed a breathtaking honeymoon to Australia.
Join us as we dive into John’s inspiring story, from his days as a SigEp at UC Riverside to becoming a respected legal advocate and husband. His journey is a testament to the enduring impact of our Fraternity’s values on personal and professional success.
John, how are you doing?
John DeMircift: Hi, Steven. I’m doing well. It’s truly an honor to be our first alumni spotlight.
Steven Bugarin: Yeah, that’s great to hear! We’re all excited to learn about your journey and the insights you have to share. John, when you joined, what made SigEp the right fraternity for you, and who, or what inspired you to join?
John DeMircift: I was inspired to join during my first year, a year that we couldn’t rush and join a fraternity during the fall quarter. Yep, we were in a weird period where you couldn’t rush coming into undergrad. On top of that, I never thought I’d be in a fraternity. That wasn’t really something I thought I would ever be doing. In that first quarter, I was taking a sociology course, and the first thing the professor said on the first day was, “Guys, look around you. This is the only time in your life when you’re going to be sitting around and living with kids who are 18 to 21 years old. It’s kind of a free pass to live your life, have fun, and not do anything stupid to jeopardize your future. Make these four years count, because once you leave here, you’re never going to be around people the same age again. The world’s going to take its toll on you. So, enjoy these four years and get out of your comfort zone.”
Steven Bugarin: That’s some fantastic advice! Looking back to those days when you were in the chapter, do you remember any successes or specific events that stood out to you?
John DeMircift: I remember we had a handful of philanthropy events that were kind of just thrown in on top of our main event. For example, in October, we would always do the 24-hour breast cancer run hosted by our brother, Jonathan Chavez. It was just our brothers rallying around one another at a philanthropy event and making memories. It was always a fun time getting to help and make a difference in the community. I remember the Adopt-a-Street events. The day after the Rush party we would meet in the morning and pick up trash along Iowa Ave. Frankly, those memories are just one of the things that really help to set SigEp apart from all the fraternities. Other fraternities tried to rush you talking about, “Oh, we party!” But that isn’t me. Look at SigEp, we had so many brothers in engineering, psychology, bio, business, everything. That diversity is something I truly enjoyed. I am glad I chose SigEp, and here we are, years later.
Steven Bugarin: Those events, getting able to tell stories and just hang out, were some of my favorites, too. I remember you always being active. Tell us a little about the roles and responsibilities you held as an undergraduate.
John DeMircift: I never really had a formal title or formal role. It was more of seeing which of the formal roles needed help. I do remember being one of the guys who had a Costco membership, so I was designated to get supplies, whether it be for an event or a retreat. Who knows how many burger patties, ketchup, mustard, and hot dogs were purchased on my account? We were racking those points up. I generally enjoyed being a floater. Being a position player in the fraternity was an interesting experience. That’s just me.
Steven Bugarin: Yeah. I am a firm believer that you don’t need a title or a specific role to really make an impact and be a leader within a chapter. I clearly remember you being very involved. What would you say is one of your fondest memories or experiences from your time in SigEp?
John DeMircift: I can’t pinpoint a single event or memory. It was always being able to just hit up a bro or go into one of the houses that we had and hang out. It was kind of an escape from whatever was going on in my personal life or school, with like-minded brothers who were there to support me. It kind of ties into the whole “these are the four years where you’re surrounded by people your own age doing what you’re doing and not having a set work schedule” type of thing. Yeah, I always just think back and remember being in one house or another. We’d be hanging out with this bro or that bro. Anytime I wanted to go to In-N-Out, I had a list of bros. I would go down the list, and sure enough, someone wants to take that 20-minunte drive to Moreno Valley.
Steven Bugarin: Yeah, that support system is huge. Playing into that a little bit, what were some of the most significant challenges that the chapter faced during your time there and how were they overcome?
John DeMircift: I would say the biggest issue was the “It’s not my job problem” mentality. At the time, each VP had their cabinet, and if there was an issue that didn’t directly relate to their responsibilities, it was seen as someone else’s problem. For big events with lots of moving parts, like the philanthropy run, there was responsibility overflow. It was one of the reasons that I became a floater and helped where I could. I also remember having to take roll calls and get brothers to show up to events at one point. We had to provide some gentle motivation and start taking roll calls to keep brothers accountable.
Steven Bugarin: Yeah, that’s a great point. Staying involved is really big. When people start feeling they can just show up whenever they want, it lessens the brotherhood aspect. It starts to become more of a club and less of a fraternity. How did becoming a SigEp and your time in the chapter shape you both personally and professionally?
John DeMircift: It took me out of my comfort zone, big time. I’m introverted, so just going and joining brought me out of my shell. I was always extremely dorky and very socially awkward, especially during the first couple of years of college. I mean, Steven, you’re one of the first people to notice that. Yet, you still hit me up to hang out. I was like, “Oh, cool. One of the older guys wants to still hang out with someone that’s a bit socially awkward and can’t really carry a conversation.”
Steven Bugarin: I don’t remember you quite like that, but I’m glad we hung out back then. Once someone gets to know you, you’re very easy to talk to. I mean, it’s a decade later, and we keep in regular contact with each other. Although, I can see joining a fraternity full of extroverts may have been intimidating and a big change.
John DeMircift: Oh, yeah. That was a big adjustment, but I’m never going to stay in a comfort zone. If you’re comfortable, then there’s something wrong. You’re not progressing if you’re comfortable. How did that shape my professional career? I’m a lawyer in California. My wife and I just opened our own lemon law firm, Leo Lemons. Being in this field, you need to stand in front of a judge and stand in front of an audience all the time. If you don’t have a presence to you, if you don’t have that courtroom voice, if you don’t know how to command a room, I’m sorry, you’re not doing a great job as a lawyer. I forced myself to join a fraternity and found SigEp was the perfect fit for me. It helped me evolve and prepared me for my profession.
Steven Bugarin: Congratulations on starting the firm and congratulations on the recent marriage. I know from separate conversations that we have had that both seem to be doing very well. Quite a few big moves for you in recent months.
John DeMircift: Oh yeah, big time. My wife and I started the firm right before we got married. We decided to go all in. We believe we have the experience needed to do it ourselves and are confident in our abilities, seeing how other firms are run. It was, “I know we’re planning a wedding, but let’s also open a firm.”
Steven Bugarin: I love it. Going big, for sure. Guide us through your career path, starting from graduating from UCR in 2016 to opening Leo Lemons.
John DeMircift: So, after I graduated undergrad, I went to Western State College of Law, in Irvine. I went there for 3 years and planned to take the BAR exam as COVID hit. It was hard to study for the BAR with everything going on. And this is something I want the younger guys to know. Perseverance is key. Nothing is a failure if you can take something away from it. Even before going through law school, I was never an excellent student. I never even thought I’d go to undergrad because I hated school. My teachers in high school were surprised that I got into UC Riverside. I never really thought I would want to go to more schooling. When I did, I got my ass kicked. I was never at the top of my class or anything like that because I’m not a test taker. I’m more of a real-life, practical person; if there’s a problem, let’s figure it out. We just work until the cows come home. Don’t sit me down and give me a hypothetical and tell me, okay, here’s your exam. So, I failed the BAR on my first try. That happened in February of 2020, just before the shutdown. Going into the pandemic right after, I didn’t know if I would retake the exam because they essentially canceled it. It got rescheduled several times. Those times were dark, but I kept my head up and fought through. A lot of it is just continuing to fight. I truly believe most challenges are 90% mental. You can get through most pain, even physical, with mental resilience. I was working at a law firm at the time, but I couldn’t practice and was paid little. I was still putting in the hours and preparing motions, researching, and doing all the other tasks. I did gain valuable experience in how a law firm functions and all the things you need to do. Eventually, I was able to retake the BAR and pass.
Steven Bugarin: That’s a fantastic story. Perseverance, not just professionally, but in life. You pushed yourself out of your comfort zone repeatedly and now are partners with your wife at your own firm! Looking ahead, what are your aspirations or goals for the future? How do you see your SigEp experience continuing to play a role in your life?
John DeMircift: The goal is to keep growing the firm. We want to grow to where we have a staff of attorneys and can eventually establish a scholarship. Right now, we’re in the start-up phase, but we do have big plans. Possibly even have paid internships, for those brothers looking to go into law.
Steven Bugarin: That’s awesome! John, are there any parting thoughts or words of wisdom you want to leave us with?
John DeMircift: I just want to reiterate the professor’s message. You have this four-year period that is a unique moment in your life. This is the time to try new things, step out of your comfort zone, and create memories. Of course, don’t do anything that will jeopardize your safety, the safety of others, or your future career. Have fun. Looking back, there isn’t a single exam or course that was truly difficult. If you put the work in and stay consistent, college isn’t that hard. I had mid-terms where I got Cs and Ds, but a 95% on the final. Use the mid-terms to figure out the professor and don’t stress too much.
Steven Bugarin: Hopefully some of our undergraduate brothers will put those lessons to good use. John, I appreciate your time today and for sharing your journey with us.
John DeMircift: Thanks, Steven.