Filmmaker Jonathan Goldstein’s road from Harvard Law to Hollywood
Writer-director Jonathan Goldstein ’95 discusses his new Ryan Reynolds-Kenneth Branagh action comedy, ‘Mayday.’
August 28, 2026
HLSA Volunteer Roles
Mentorship Chair, Vice President, and President, Harvard Law School Association of Los Angeles; Member, Communications Chair, and Corporate Secretary, HLSA Executive Committee
Why has staying connected to HLS remained important to you?
Staying connected to HLS has been a constant reminder of both the opportunities and the responsibility that come with our degree. As the personal and professional demands of life accumulate, it can be easy to settle into a routine and allow the natural course of life to narrow the way we think about what is possible. Through HLS, I am continually exposed to people who have taken their lives and careers in extraordinary—and often unexpected—directions. Their experiences challenge my assumptions, remind me not to become complacent, and inspire me to be more intentional about the choices I make in my own professional and personal life.
What inspired you to become an HLS alumni volunteer?
I first became involved with the HLSA of Los Angeles when I moved home after several years in New York. I was a mid-level associate at a large law firm at the time and was looking for a way to reconnect with HLS and build a community in Los Angeles. What started as a way to stay connected has become much more. I’ve built genuine friendships with alumni across generations and career paths, had opportunities to support fellow alumni and students, and helped create opportunities for others to form those same connections. It is hard to believe that some of the relationships that began through HLSA have now been part of my life for more than a decade. Those relationships are ultimately what have kept me involved and made volunteering so meaningful to me.
What would you say to encourage another HLS alum to get involved?
You already share something meaningful with every other HLS graduate, and getting involved gives you the opportunity to turn that connection into real relationships. Some of my most rewarding experiences as an alum have come from meeting people I might never otherwise have known—across generations, industries, geographies, and career paths. You never know when a conversation will lead to a friendship, an opportunity, a new perspective, or simply the inspiration to think differently about what might be possible in your own life.
Degree
J.D. ’10, Harvard Law School
Role
Founder and Managing Attorney, Pacific Ivy Law Group
HLSA Volunteer Roles
Mentorship Chair, Vice President, and President, Harvard Law School Association of Los Angeles; Member, Communications Chair, and Corporate Secretary, HLSA Executive Committee
Writer-director Jonathan Goldstein ’95 discusses his new Ryan Reynolds-Kenneth Branagh action comedy, ‘Mayday.’
August 28, 2026
Abigail Simon ’26, winner of Harvard Law’s Fay Diploma, advises incoming students to embrace their own path.
August 18, 2026
‘You Are My Favorite Story,’ a children's book by two Harvard Law alums, showcases the bond between children and their dads.
June 18, 2026
Crisis management expert Reginald Brown combines legal acumen and empathy to guide leaders through their toughest moments.
April 21, 2026
“The most important thing HLS did for me was to teach me how to solve problems,” Green says.
“It gives its students the option of many different paths, because once you know how to solve any problem, you can apply that to a number of different challenges."
“Now I ask myself, ‘How can I have impact today? How can I touch people’s lives?’ Whether it be a large-scale health infrastructure or being kind to someone crossing the road. At the end of the day, can I look in the mirror and say I played the role of making the world a slightly better place today for someone? If that answer is yes, then I can sleep soundly.”
Even though nearly six decades have passed, Jim Bailey ’73, co-founder and owner of the well-known global investment firm Cambridge Associates, can vividly recall the first time he met his lifelong friend the late Honorable Sidney Barthwell Jr. ’90.
“I try to conduct myself in such a way that hopefully will inspire young lawyers. But even more than inspire, I hope my hard work motivates them. And I hope that they can learn from what I think is truly one of the key attributes you need to be successful: Grit.”
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