Relationships are the foundation of Rodriguez & Associates’ tremendous reputation in the Bakersfield community. In his decades with the firm, Litigation Director Patrick Benitez has witnessed how the firm’s unique familial culture has developed into a legacy of uplifting the community and working hard to protect those who need the most help.
Patrick, who has been with the firm since its doors opened in 2001, has been instrumental in its growth over the years. His work ethic and close relationship with Daniel Rodriguez, the firm’s founder and president, are built on mutual respect and a desire to create change in the world. Together, they set the standard for the growing Rodriguez & Associates team. Attorneys, law clerks, and paralegals follow their example to form a cohesive unit with the common goal of bettering the lives of those facing grave challenges.
“There is a culture at Rodriguez & Associates – we are family to each other, we are family to our clients, and we are family to Bakersfield. Our team understands that to help families and individuals successfully recover and rebuild life after tragedy, relationships built on trust, empathy, and compassion are a necessity.”
-Patrick Benitez, Litigation Director, Rodriguez & Associates
Family has always been an inspiring and incredibly important factor in Patrick’s life. He credits his mother for instilling in him tenacity, attentiveness, and relatability: skills that have led him to great success in his legal career and personal life. Having grown up in East Bakersfield, Patrick was immersed in the types of challenges that can only be overcome by hard work from a young age. Despite the disparities and unlawful behavior he witnessed throughout his neighborhood, he remained focused as a student and young man, thanks to the strength of the family unit built by his mother.
“When I was a kid, prosecutors and lawyers would come into our neighborhood and speak to the teens about where their decisions could land them. That was the first time I saw a Latino in a suit. It was impressive and inspiring – and gave me an idea of what I could aspire to be.”
-Patrick Benitez
With developed skills in writing and speaking, Patrick’s hard work led him to pursue politics after completing a Political Science degree at California State University, Bakersfield. He worked first under then-California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein in Washington, D.C., and then with Andrew Hernandez at the Latino Outreach DNC, learning about Capitol Hill and feeding his desire to create influence and represent the Latino community.
Inspired to attend law school, a professor suggested Patrick explore programs outside of California, leading to his attendance at the University of Dayton. After graduating in 2000, Patrick returned to Bakersfield to be around the people and community that he cared about the most. He worked at the District Attorney’s office in the Criminal Fraud Department but knew he
wanted to work more closely with people in an impactful way. At that time, Daniel Rodriguez was already a popular voice within the Latino community, and Patrick saw an opportunity to pursue a career that enveloped his passions for law, logistics, and community.
“Part of the reason we are such a good trial team is not only because we work well together, but because we share a common goal: first and foremost is the client.”
-Patrick Benitez
Patrick likes to say that at Rodriguez & Associates, he “takes care of all the little things.” While small things add up to make a big difference, he does big things, too, as a leader, educator, and coordinator. His general wealth of applied legal knowledge allows him to manage the many intricacies of the firm’s complex trials. Patrick oversees cases, handles logistical maneuvering, manages trial preparations and strategy, finds the right expert witnesses, and trains new attorneys.
Those experiences alongside Daniel have taught him the most, and Patrick has learned first-hand the importance of building connections with the people the firm represents and sharing his learned experiences with new attorneys. Although not always easy, establishing client relationships built on the foundation of care, respect, and compassion is essential to helping hurt or grieving families rebuild their lives in a meaningful way. Going above and beyond for clients is commonplace at Rodriguez & Associates, and Patrick recalls many days spent with clients in hospitals, driving recovering victims to appointments, and helping in any way possible to alleviate some of the burdens they face.
Communication is among the important attributes that set Rodriguez & Associates apart as a personal injury firm. The firm believes there should always be open lines of communication between attorneys and their clients during a case. Direct communication is foundational to trust, and it is not something the firm takes lightly. Patrick says, “Throughout a case, we are constantly talking to clients and building relationships founded on trust and care. After a case, we maintain client communication as much as possible, having forged those important connections.”
Connections to clients and earned respect among attorneys, firms, and judges have led to great success for Rodriguez & Associates. In 2023, the firm celebrated its 5,000th case milestone – an achievement that reflects the care and dedication extended to each client who trusts the firm with their future and the team’s dedication to pursuing justice. Among those cases are multiple record verdicts, accountability for large companies, justice served for thousands of appreciative clients, and policy changes that positively impact the Bakersfield community and beyond.
“Rodriguez & Associates has great personal connections to Bakersfield. Our legal family has built visibility in the community, leading to lasting community relationships.”
– Patrick Benitez
Patrick chooses to give back to the Bakersfield community through the same avenue that first inspired him: by going into the community and talking to people about root causes. His relatability and ease of communication with people from all walks of life have enabled him to help individuals solve their problems.
For Patrick, the most rewarding aspect of working at Rodriguez & Associates is helping families move on from a devastating situation as much as he can. While the job is demanding, it also has taught him to appreciate family, togetherness, and hard work – values he instills in his children the same way his mother passed them on to him.