Civility and Professionalism in the Practice of Law:  What Does this Mean for Women Lawyers Today?

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Navigating Virtual Mediation: Mediators’ Insights

Over the past few weeks, the legal community has had to deal with court closures, travel restrictions, and citywide lock-downs.  Resolving legal disputes has more urgency than ever to our clients. Mediators are turning to Online Dispute Resolution in ways that turn out to be effective, efficient and successful if you know how to use them.

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Applying for a Domestic Violence TRO and Permanent Order During the COVID Pandemic: An Attorney’s and Judge’s Perspective

A discussion on how to apply for a Domestic Violence Temporary Restraining Order and Permanent Restraining Order and the present effects of the COVID Pandemic on DV Victims.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of General credit.

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Coping in a Pandemic: A Conversation with Marisa Faynsod, LCSW

Please join WLALA for a conversation with Marisa Faynsod, LCSW. Ms. Faynsod will discuss ways to cope during these challenging times. Ms. Faynsod has over 10 years of experience working with children, families, and adults. She specializes in working with survivors of abuse (sexual abuse and domestic violence), depression, anxiety, and familial conflict. She has worked in the LA Unified School District and is a National Certified Trauma Expert.

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How Allies Can Support All Women in the Law: An All Perspectives Discussion on Upping the Ante on Diversity

What is an “ally”? Come join us for a vital and thought provoking discussion on specific, successful actions white, male allies in the law can do to support greater gender and racial diversity within the industry. With this event, we hope to up the ante on the industry’s ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts by empowering allies with impactful steps they can take in their day-to-day legal practices to support and sponsor their fellow women in the law. Many allies in the industry, though supportive for gender parity and diversity in general, are frozen by fear about what to say or what not to say to support this cause. However, in order to have meaningful progress on diversity, inclusion, and equity in the legal industry, we need the support of the entire legal community.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of Elimination of Bias credit.

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Advocating for Access: Defending Reproductive Rights During COVID-19

As governments attempt to tackle the unprecedented public health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, women are suffering additional barriers in accessing essential reproductive healthcare services. In some states, lawmakers and anti-choice activists are exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to restrict access to reproductive healthcare by ordering the closure abortion clinics and limiting maternal health services contending it is not essential healthcare. Join us for a discussion on advocacy efforts aimed at keeping reproductive healthcare an essential service.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of General credit.

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Employment Law – Finding Our Way Out of the Pandemic

This Program will discuss:

• Return to work considerations including testing, employee protection issues (including workers compensation considerations), paid leave, and ADA/Accommodation issues if an employee has underlying health issues.
• Severance Agreements – What belongs in a Severance Agreement and what does not.
• Employees refusing to return to work? Issues presented with unemployment, PPP loans etc.

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of General credit.

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Restorative Justice and Alternatives to Incarceration

Restorative justice strikes at the very core of the civilized criminal justice system. It is reflected in the development of programs that provide alternatives to convictions and incarceration. Los Angeles is leading the charge in the creation of such programs at all levels of the criminal justice system (federal, state/county, and city). This distinguished panel of experts will discuss the principles of restorative justice, the court programs that exist to implement those principles, and the issues with these programs that we face moving forward, particularly with the impact of COVID-19.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of General credit.

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Creating Change – Public and Private Sector Attorneys Transforming Law and Policy Through Advocacy

The rate of homelessness in many American cities has hit all-time highs, and the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness are constantly being challenged. Individuals and families immigrating to the United States are facing huge legal barriers and many lack the advocacy they need to ensure safety and stability for their families. Low-income and vulnerable communities constantly face physical and mental health challenges and often lack the resources or advocacy needed to obtain the help they need.  Fortunately, there are attorneys in the public and private sectors working toward effecting change in order to improve the lives of individuals and communities who are marginalized and vulnerable. Join us for a panel of attorneys from legal non-profits and large law firms as they discuss recent cases and projects they have worked on to change policy in the fields of housing, immigration, and mental health. Our panelists will discuss specific lawsuits, share tips and strategies for transforming policy, and how you can get involved through pro bono efforts.

This program has been approved for .5 hours of General credit.

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The Ethical Duty of Technology Competence

Technology is becoming increasingly important in the business and practice of law. We will explore the meaning of the duty of technology competence in a manner consistent with a lawyer’s duty to preserve clients’ confidences and secrets in the light of the growing threats to data security. We will also discuss how being technologically efficient is part of a lawyer’s fundamental duty of competence.

This program has been approved for 1.0 ethics credit.

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Advocating for Your Child: the IEP Process in Today’s World

Special education law is a vast area of law that ensures children with disabilities are provided with a free appropriate public education that is tailored to their individual needs. Join us to learn from our experienced panelists on the issues families and advocates are facing right now in the age of COVID concerning how to apply this law and what children’s rights are, particularly in those instances where the nature of the disability makes online learning less effective or ineffective. Our panelists have experience with both Los Angeles County and Orange County school districts and will discuss Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans in the age of COVID. Panelists will also discuss applying and navigating new guidance and laws relating to the delivery of distance learning for children in special education.

This program has been approved for 1.5 hours of general CLE credit.

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Let’s Talk about Pandemic Pods: Legal and Other Considerations

An emerging idea of interest in today’s new normal is forming a “pandemic pod” – a small group of more than one family unit that otherwise keeps quarantined, for the purpose of allowing children to socially interact in person with other children outside the family unit and/or for the purpose of sharing the cost of a teacher, tutor or nanny to provide small group instruction or oversight while parents work. Against an evolving public discourse concerning the equitable and public health considerations presented by “pandemic pods,” our panelists will address legal considerations associated with such an arrangement and also share lessons learned from the homeschool co-op community on the advantages and disadvantages of small group parenting and instruction. Panelists will share thoughts regarding whether or not the “pod” would be considered a joint employer and the implications of such a finding; contractual considerations both for members of the “pod” and between the “pod” and the instructor; considerations regarding where the “pod” should meet/who should host; and associated liability risks, insurance coverage issues, licensing issues, and land use issues.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of general CLE credit.

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Racism in America: A Courageous Conversation on Privilege and Race

This panel will explore methods for disenfranchising the power of hate, recognizing the meaning of white privilege, especially as it relates to women, and understanding our own biases and how those biases negatively impact the lives and opportunities of others.

This program has been approved for 2.0 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credit.

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Basic Employment Law for Hiring Teachers, Tutors, and Nannies

As families weigh their options in today’s remote learning world considering health risks, educational needs, parenting needs, and work realities, join us for an informative and practical discussion of the employment law and accounting considerations for hiring teachers, tutors and nannies. Panelists will discuss the basics of what any family should know in hiring a domestic employee/worker, including when is someone an employee and when are they an independent contractor; the penalties for paying someone by Venmo who ought to be paid as an employee; workers compensation and homeowner’s liability considerations; how to handle payroll; and basic law on overtime and meal/rest breaks.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of general CLE credit.

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The Board Game: Pathways to the Corporate Boardroom for Women

Are you interested in obtaining a career-advancing and potentially lucrative position on a corporate board? Have you wondered how to join what can feel like a “secret club?” Now is the time to understand and explore available opportunities.  Numerous independent studies have concluded that publicly held companies perform better when women serve on their boards of directors. California became the first state to set a threshold for gender diversity on the boards of publicly held corporations with the passage of Senate Bill 826, which became effective on January 1, 2019. By December 31, 2021, all publicly held California corporations are required to have at least one female director, at least two female directors if the board consists of five members, and at least three female directors if the board is six or more members. Following introductory remarks by SB 826 author Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), our distinguished panelists will discuss pathways to the corporate boardroom and share their own journeys.

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Elections and Law: The Impact of the Courts on Free and Fair Elections

Our distinguished panelists will discuss recent trends in election litigation and how they affect access to the ballot box and the right to representation. From racial and political gerrymandering to expansion of the franchise, purging of voter rolls, voter suppression, and voting fraud, what the courts have done – and chosen not to do – is impacting who can vote and when, where, and how our elections take place. Please join us for a timely and fascinating conversation.

This program has been approved for 1 hour of general CLE credit.

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Antisemitism: Insidious and in our Midst

Please join us for the second in a series of programs on Speaking Out Against Antisemitism. In this panel, we will shine a light on antisemitism in otherwise progressive spaces and discuss effective ways to fight it.

This program is approved for 1 hour of credit in Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession.

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Beyond Diversity: Cultivating Belonging in Our Institutions and Our Lives

WLALA invites you to join a critical discussion between attorneys Kori S. Carew and Mia Frances Yamamoto about the work needed to change the culture of our institutions (including law firms, corporations, non-profits, law schools, and bar associations) from within. Confronting inequities in the legal profession and our communities more broadly requires moving beyond declaring our commitment to diversity. By the same token, for some of us, forging a path toward belonging for ourselves requires a boldness that can be daunting. Drawing on their personal experiences and professional expertise, our speakers will address how attendees can choose to courageously interrupt “isms” to cultivate belonging and inclusion for themselves and others in their communities. The discussion will include guidance for listening with empathy, cultivating curiosity, negotiating with our vulnerability, standing up and speaking up, and redefining our understanding of belonging.

This program is approved for 1.5 hours of credit in Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession.

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26th Annual Litigators Forum –  Race in the Courtroom: A Look at How Race and Racial Justice Are Influencing Litigation Across the Legal Spectrum

We invite you to join us for our 26th Annual Litigators Forum! This program will discuss ways in which litigation has been used to fight racism across multiple practice areas. Our distinguished and diverse panel of powerhouse speakers will delve into three specific substantive areas—employment litigation, corporate litigation and shareholder derivative actions, and consumer protection lawsuits—and will explore how racial justice initiatives have been and are litigated in civil actions. Our speakers will also discuss how the specter of such litigation informs how to advise clients. Earn 1.5 hours of MCLE credit while learning about ways in which you may personally get involved in promoting racial justice through your own litigation practice.

This program is approved for 1 hour of credit in Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and 0.5 hours of general credit.

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Using the Law to Fight Antisemitism

The law is a powerful tool to fight antisemitism. This panel will discuss civil and criminal laws that protect against antisemitic discrimination, harassment, and abuse. It will explore the DFEH’s work addressing antisemitism and how affirmative litigation, amicus work, and legislation may effectuate change.

This program is approved for 1 hour of credit in Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and 0.5 hours of general credit.

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Legislation 101: Understanding the Legislative Process and How You Can Get Involved 

Please join California State Director Sabrina Ashjian to learn about the Anatomy of a Bill, the lifecycle of a Bill, tracking Bills getting to the Governor’s desk, and how a passed Bill gets signed into Law. Learn how you too can get involved in legislation and make a difference.

This program is approved for 1 hour of general CLE credit.

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May it Please the Court: A Conversation With the Experts About Amicus Briefs and Appellate Careers

We invite you to join us for WLALA’s inaugural Mother-Daughter program. Learn from our distinguished panelists about appellate amicus briefs and careers in appellate law.

This program is approved for 0.5 hours of general CLE credit.

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A Career at the L.A. City Attorney’s Office

Ever thought about working for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office? Please join us via Zoom for a conversation with our distinguished veteran City attorneys Kerrin Tso, Ret., Janet Jackson, Ret., and Shaun Dabby-Jacobs, who will discuss their careers at the Office, a wide-range of civil, criminal, transactional and appellate cases they have handled, and their insights and tips on landing a job with the Office.

WLALA is a California State Bar-approved MCLE provider, and this program has been approved for 1 hour of General Credit.

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Women on the Move: Managing a Successful Transition Between Law Firms

Please join WLALA for a discussion with our esteemed panelists about their transition between law firms.

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