Get Involved
Committees
Co-Chairs:
Jennifer Lieser, Stacy Horth-Neubert, and Christa Culver Wasserman
Access to Justice
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Co-Chairs:
Megan Gallow and Hon. Allison Westfahl Kong
Appellate Law
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Chair:
Carley Palmer
Amicus Briefs
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Co-Chairs:
Carley Palmer and Hon. Kristen Williams
Awards & Recognition
Identifies and vets qualified candidates to nominate for various local and state-wide awards, honors and other forms of recognition such the Los Angeles Daily Journal Top 100 Lawyers, Top Women Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 Special Features.
Co-Chairs: Susan Har and
Sherry William
Business Development
The Business Development Committee is focused on that portion of WLALA’s mission dedicated to promoting the full participation of women lawyers and judges in the legal profession. The Committee advances women in the legal profession through educational panelist discussions, and professional and business development opportunities. For example, in the past, the Committee was responsible for organizing the Annual Doctor/Lawyer Dinner. In addition to the networking opportunities, past program topics for the Annual Doctor/Lawyer Dinner of interest to both women lawyers and women doctors have included, for example, reproductive technologies and the law, stem cell research, and healthcare reform. Likewise, the Business Development Committee’s panelist discussions have focused on a wide range of practical and educational topics – ranging from advice from General Counsel panelists regarding their selection of outside counsel, to discussions with partners from various firms about their business development styles and/or use of technology. We welcome those who may be interested in participating on the Business Development Committee. We also are delighted to hear your ideas for new program topics or events. Help us with our mission to empower and advance women in the legal profession. For more information, please contact the Committee chairs.
Co-Chairs: Yanna Bouris and Ashley Farrell Pickett
Business Law
The Business Law Section develops and hosts (alone or in combination with other WLALA committees or other women’s organizations) programs and seminars relating to issues arising in business / corporate law. We strive to make the programs and seminars of interest to WLALA members and business people in an effort to encourage networking and business development. We welcome input on our program topics and ideas and recommendations for speakers.
Co-Chairs:
Jamie Lang and Elizabeth Mitchell
Career Mentoring
The Mentoring Committee encourages and facilitates the establishment and maintenance of mentor relationships between less experienced and more experienced lawyers. The Mentoring Committee organizes a monthly mentoring reception. The Mentoring Committee also matches lawyers with similar interests on an ongoing basis, and monitors the mentoring relationships to encourage their continuation. In so doing, the Mentoring Committee looks to similarities in background, practice area and other interests and concerns to find the mentor who can best assist a young lawyer in furthering her career.
Co-Chairs: Rebecca Goodrich and Hon. Rupa Goswami
Criminal Justice
Addresses issues of common interest to criminal practitioners, both prosecutors and defense counsel. Plans and conducts programs of interest to criminal attorneys.
Co-Chairs: Bindhu Varghese, Ji-In Houck, and Sereena Singh
Equity, Belonging & Anti-Racism (EBAR)
EBAR mission statement:
WLALA’s committee on Equity, Belonging & Anti-Racism (EBAR) works to give voice and action to WLALA’s commitment to serve and advance the careers of all women lawyers of diverse backgrounds and identities. WLALA recognizes that it must do more to use its power to address the particular barriers that diverse women face in the practice of law and generally. WLALA is committed to being out front in the fight to eliminate structural racism and all forms of inequity (including based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation) that marginalize or impede the full participation of women in law and public life. EBAR’s work is focused on prioritizing WLALA’s goal of growing and serving a membership representative of the diverse community of women lawyers in Los Angeles through programs, events, scholarships, awards, public policy positions and actions that reflect WLALA’s core values of inclusivity, equity, and justice.
Co-Chairs: Maya Dilanian and Lara Zohrabian
Family Law
The Family Law Section addresses issues of common interest to family law practitioners, providing seminars/webinars on issues that are of interest to family law lawyers, both new and experienced. The Family Law Section has also provided seminars/webinars in conjunction with the Domestic Violence Section of WLALA to help train volunteers of the Sojourn Domestic Violence Clinic and provide information to lawyers who are representing individuals in family law and domestic violence cases. Seminars on practical considerations in local family law courts and changes to California’s Family Law or related statutes have been provided.
Co-Chairs: Annamartine Salick and Sapna Pandya
In-House Counsel
The In-House Counsel Committee addresses issues of common interest to attorneys serving as in-house counsel and develops educational programming on the legal, ethical, and business challenges they face. Through practical insights and the exchange of diverse perspectives, the Committee supports the professional growth and advancement of women in corporate legal departments. We welcome suggestions for program topics and speakers.
Co-Chairs: Michelle Cheng, Hon. Victoria Shapiro, and Cristina Matsushima
Judicial Endorsement Committee
WLALA’s judicial endorsements committee seeks to endorse applicants for judicial office who have diverse perspectives and backgrounds. WLALA’s ideal candidates are strong advocates for principles of fairness and equality, who improve the status of women by supporting their exercise of equal rights, equal representation, and reproductive choice. Since other organizations (i.e., JNE Commission and LACBA), independently vet judicial applicants and rate their technical qualifications to serve as judges, WLALA does not seek to duplicate that process. Instead, WLALA’s focus is to promote applicants who embody, and are committed to, WLALA’s mission. To view the guidelines, please CLICK HERE. To submit your WLALA application for judicial endorsement, please CLICK HERE.
Co-Chairs: Cristina Matsushima and Merete Rietveld
LACBA Joint Task Force
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Co-Chairs: Sereena Singh and Nicole Vongchanglor
Labor & Employment
The focus of WLALA’s new labor and employment law committee is on providing continuing education to attorneys regarding developments in labor and employment law, exploring effective strategies aimed at resolving disputes between employees and employers and fostering a rich networking community for employment law practitioners of all levels of experience.
Co-Chair: Hon. Laura Seigle
Law Student Mentoring
The mission of the Law Student Mentoring Committee is to encourage and facilitate the establishment and maintenance of mentor relationships between lawyers and law students. WLALA lawyer members looking for a simple and rewarding way to help WLALA promote the full participation of women in the legal profession need look no further — contact us and volunteer to act as a mentor to a promising woman law student. Likewise, our student members looking for a way to connect with and learn from women experienced in navigating the legal profession should contact us. We also visit the chapters of the Women’s Law Association at local law schools and occasionally assist in projects involving the mentoring of high school or college students. To join our committee and become involved, please contact the Committee chair.
Co-Chairs: Anna Hunanyan and Emily Michael Munson
Law Student Liaisons
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Co-Chairs: Ariel Anson, Shalini Manaktala, and Shaun Dabby Jacobs
Legislation
The legislative committee presents legislative issues that affect women to the WLALA Board that WLALA should support.
Co-Chairs:
Lindsey Greer Dotson, Karen Luong, and Mia Munro
Litigation
The Litigation Section addresses issues and conducts programs and activities of interest to litigators. Each year in early Spring, the Litigation Section plans and conducts an annual Litigator’s Forum. We welcome those who may be interested in participating in the Litigation Section and encourage you to share with us your ideas for program topics or events. For more information, please contact the Section chairs.
Chair: Dominique Caamano
Marketing & Social Media
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Co-Chairs: Yasmin Fardghassemi, Alyssa Gjedsted, Hon. Christine Gonong and Carson Haus
Membership
The membership committee works to enhance and diversify membership; recruiting life members, sustaining members, associate members, and student members. The committee also helps coordinate programs of interest to members, such as networking and career development panel discussions, and develops benefit opportunities for WLALA members. Additionally, membership promotes and facilitates member networking events, such as the Night at the Magic Castle. Given the social emphasis of this committee in particular, this is the perfect committee to volunteer for if you are a new member seeking to network and meet other members, or if you are simply looking to re-connect with old friends and colleagues.
Chair: Christina Kroll and Asha Muldro
Pro-Choice & Reproductive Rights
The Pro-Choice and Reproductive Rights Committee focuses on issues related to reproductive health and abortion rights. The committee meets monthly to discuss legislative, regulatory, court and other challenges to women’s reproductive freedom. We communicate with public officials, politicians and others regarding issues affecting reproductive freedom and provide supportive assistance to organizations dedicated to preserving reproductive rights. We also sponsor several events each year to raise awareness regarding reproductive rights issues. The committee hosts an annual event to raise money for the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project, which provides funds for abortion and emergency contraceptive services for women of all ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds who are unable to pay for a safe and legal abortion. This committee is among the most active in WLALA, and we welcome new members. If you have questions about how to become involved, please contact the WLALA office.
Chair: Shelby King
Public Interest Law
WLALA’s Public Interest Section is devoted to advancing women in public interest law. This Section strives to provide programming and resources geared to issues of common concern to women working in public interest law. We welcome the participation of anyone interested in contributing to this Section’s work. Please contact the Section’s chair for more information.
We also work to provide opportunities for WLALA members to work on access to justice issues such as pro bono volunteer opportunities; to put on a program to educate the community on access to justice issues.
Co-Chairs: Nichole Fandino, Katie McCann, and Lillian Sedaghat
Solo and Small Firm Practice
Provides support and addresses issues unique to those engaged in solo or small firm practice.
Co-Chairs:
Arpa Abrahamian and Colleen Tiedemann
Wellness
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Co-Chairs:
Rachel Lustig, Destinee Moya-Norsian, and
Farah Tabibkhoei
Young Lawyers
Founded in 2010, WLALA’s Young Lawyers Section’s (YLS) goal is to provide a community for young, women lawyers in every area of law and practice. YLS focuses on multiple concerns of women either under the age of 36 or in practice for five years or less. YLS endeavors to promote and further all aspects of WLALA’s mission statement; in particular, securing the full and equal participation of women in the legal profession. YLS accomplishes its mission by offering opportunities to its members in the areas of professional growth, mentorship, leadership, and networking to WLALA’s over 2,000 members. YLS offers its members access to various programs, including live speakers/panels, teleconferences, happy hours, community service, and opportunities to get involved in WLALA. In addition, YLS seeks to connect its members with local, state, and national bar organizations sharing in a common, crucial interest: the advancement of women in the legal profession.
YLS offers its members the unique opportunity to become proactively involved in the Section through membership. Section members are actively involved in the direction of YLS by assisting the YLS Section Chairs in planning events, selecting speakers/panelists for live events, deciding on topics of interest for future events, attending Section meetings to discuss general topics of interest, and promoting YLS. Admission to the Committee is limited and on a rolling basis. If you are interested in becoming a member of YLS’ Committee, please contact Kay Burt at info@wlala.org.
Liaison: Alyssa Gjedsted
California Women Lawyers
California Women Lawyers (CWL) is the only statewide bar association dedicated to advancing women in the legal profession. Founded in 1974, CWL promotes gender equity and diversity, provides networking and professional development opportunities, and advocates on issues impacting women, families, and the legal community.
Chair: Shaun Dabby Jacobs
Conference of California Bar Associations
The Conference of California Bar Associations (“CCBA”) is a state-wide organization made up of attorneys from local, specialty, and minority bar associations across the state, that are focused on improving California’s laws. CCBA holds a conference once a year, usually in the fall, where the various bar associations debate revisions and amendments to California law called “resolutions.” Getting a resolution passed by CCBA involves a combination of advance preparation, marshaling your allies, and negotiating or bartering with your opponents, and skillful arguments on the Conference floor. Once a resolution is passed by CCBA, CCBA’s lobbyist takes the resolution to the California Legislature or the California Judicial Council to find a sponsor and get the resolution enacted into law. The WLALA delegation has a long history of active involvement in CCBA. In the past, we have sponsored and passed resolutions regarding family leave, child pornography, domestic partnership, domestic violence and civil procedure. Some of our resolutions have gone to Sacramento, been carried as a bill and passed into law. To learn more about CCBA and to see resolutions that are debated at the Conference go to CCBA’s website at www.calconference.org.
Liaison: Hon. Laura Seigle
Judicial/State Court
To act as a liaison between the courts and WLALA to help facilitate communication between the two.
Liaison: Hon. Holly Fujie (Ret.)
Multi Cultural Bar Alliance
To act as a liaison between WLALA and MCBA to help facilitate communication between the two organizations.
Liaison: Mary McKelvey
Past Presidents
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Liaison:
Loyola Law School
Liaison:
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Liaison:
Southwestern Law School
Liaison:
UC Irvine School of Law
Liaison:
UCLA School of Law
Liaison: