Welcome to the 2026–2027 WLALA Board year! I am excited to be installed as WLALA’s 107th President at the Awards & Installation Gala on September 18, 2026, and even more excited to honor our inspiring award recipients: Genie Harrison Law Firm (Trailblazer Award), Catherine Lhamon (Distinguished Service Award), and Women of Signature Resolution (Advancement of Women Award). It’s going to be a great night, and I invite you to join us in celebration.

My theme for the year is Connection That Counts: Together We Rise. As the first Taiwanese-American and Brazilian-born president in WLALA’s history, I wanted a theme that captured what being part of WLALA means to me. When I reflected on what I value most about this organization, I kept coming back to the relationships I’ve built with people who share an interest in WLALA’s mission to advance women’s full participation in the legal profession and promote equality and justice.

Making a real connection with another person can be powerful—and it is something I fear we have gotten a little rusty at in the years since the pandemic. So my theme is also a call to action. To WLALA’s Officers, Boards of Governors and Directors, members, and everyone reading this newsletter: have a conversation with someone you don’t know and find something you have in common. Reach out to someone you haven’t connected with in a while. Introduce two people who might be able to help, encourage, or open a door for one another.

Make your connections count—for yourself, for others, and for the legal profession.

With Gratitude,
Jennie Wang VonCannon
President, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles