WLALA's Sections and Committees

Business Law
Co-Chairs: Kelly Kriebs (kkriebs@sidley.com) and Lisa Sergi (lsergi@proskauer.com)
The Business Law Section develops and hosts (alone or in combination with other WLALA committees or other women's organizations) programs and seminars of interest to the Business Law Section members.  We also strive to make the programs and seminars of interest to WLALA members in general, to prospective business clients, and to others in an effort to encourage networking and client development.  We welcome input on our program topics and ideas and recommendations for good speakers.

Criminal Justice
Chair: Nicole C. Bershon (nbershon@gmail.com) and Susan J. De Witt (susan.dewitt@usdoj.gov)
Addresses issues of common interest to criminal practitioners, both prosecutors and defense counsel.  Plans and conducts programs of interest to criminal attorneys.

Family Law
Co-Chairs: Laurel Tuvim Amaya (ltafamlaw@earthlink.net) and Maria Hamar (hamar@pacbell.net)
Addresses issues of common interest to family law practitioners.  Plans and conducts programs of interest to family law attorneys.  The Family Law Section also works with Public Counsel's Adoption Project to complete the legal work necessary to finalize uncontested adoptions.  After Public Counsel prepares the case, WLALA members act as pro-bono attorneys for the adoptive parents. They file the paper work to complete the adoption process and attend the hearing at the Children's Courthouse representing the parents before the Judge.

Litigation
Co-Chairs: Julie Goulet (julie.goulet@kutakrock.com), Carole Handler (handler@wildman.com) and Jennifer S. Romano (jromano@flk.com)
Addresses issues and conducts programs and activities of interest to litigators.  Plans and conducts an annual forum on topics of interest to women litigators.

Young Lawyers
Co-Chairs: Sarah de Diego (sarah@go-pulsemarketing.com), and Sarah Gettings (sgettings@akingump.com)

Committees

Please click here for WLALA Sections

Amicus Briefs
Chair:  Lisa Jaskol (ljaskol@publiccounsel.org) and Cynthia E. Tobisman (ctobisman@gmsr.com)
The Amicus Committee evaluates pending cases raising legal and public policy issues affecting women, and, in those cases in which WLALA agrees to participate, prepares or edits amicus briefs on behalf of WLALA.  In recent years, WLALA has participated as an amicus in a number of precedent-setting cases, including Davis v. Monroe County, in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that school districts may be held liable for their own deliberate indifference of student-on-student sexual harassment, and United States v. Morrison, in which the U.S. Supreme Court declared the civil rights remedy of the Violence against Women Act unconstitutional.

Appointive Office

Co-Chairs: Keri Campell (kcampbell@whiteo.com), and Sharon Tomkins (stomkins@omm.com)
The Appointive Office Committee conducts evaluations of candidates for judicial and other legal-related positions.  The ratings range fall within five categories, ranging from "Exceptionally Well-Qualified" to a "Not Qualified".  The process starts with an application to the Committee and culminates in a personal interview.  Prior to the interview, the Committee sends out written questionnaires to references provided by the applicant.  At least 30 written evaluations must be received by the Committee before an interview will be scheduled.  WLALA has had a great track record in assisting qualified judicial applicants to be appointed.  Click here to see the Policy Regarding WLALA Rating of Applicants or Candidates for Appointive, Bar Association, and Elective Office.  Print the Request for Evaluation for Elective Officehere.  For more information, please contact the Committee chairs.

Awards & Recognition
Co-Chairs:Hatwell Harris (hartwell.harris@bingham.com), Jennifer Webber (jenwebber@aol.com)
The Awards and Recognition Committee works to promote recognition of WLALA members by evaluating and nominating qualified candidates for the various awards given each year by bar associations and legal publications.
 

Business Development
Co-Chairs:Sarah Gettings (sgettings@akingump.com), Jill Piano (jillpianoesq@aol.com), and Carolyn A.H. Sayers (carolinesayers@yahoo.com)

The Mentoring and Business Development Committee has two distinct aspects which function together to assist women attorneys to progress in their legal careers.  The Mentor program provides a framework in which junior attorneys can learn "lawyer life lessons" from more senior attorneys. It is not time intensive and the Mentor/Mentee pair have usually one telephone conversation per month and two in-person meetings per year.  The Business Development side of the Committee sponsors a major "rainmaking" luncheon in the Spring where members can learn from a panel of top women lawyer rainmakers.  A networking/rainmaking reception with other women professional groups may also be planned after the "rainmaking" luncheon."

Career Development & Life Balance 

Co-Chairs: Stacy Horth-Neubert (stacy.horth-neubert@skadden.com) and Sanjesh P. Sharma  (spsharma@hhlaw.com)

The Career Development & Life Balance is responsible for programs and activities related to balancing work and family.

Career Mentoring

 Co-Chairs: Jessica Pink (jessica@pinklawgroup.com) and Jeanne "Gigi" Wanlass (jcwanlass@yahoo.com)

The Mentoring Committee encourages and facilitates the establishment and maintenance of mentor relationships between less experienced and more experienced lawyers.  The Mentoring Committee organizes an annual mentoring reception, at which potential mentees can match themselves with mentors.  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.  The Mentoring Committee also assists in projects involving the mentoring of high school, college and law students.

Conference of Delegates
Co-Chairs: Shaun Dabby Jacobs (shaun.jacobs@lacity.org), and Holly Roark (holly@roarklawoffices.com)  
The Conference of Delegates is a group of bar associations from all over California that meets at the State Bar Convention each year to propose and debate revisions to California law.  If passed by the Conference, the resolutions can go on to the State legislature.  Getting a resolution passed by the Conference involved a combination of advance preparation, marshaling your allies and negotiating or bartering wit your opponents, and skillful argument on the Conference floor.

The WLALA delegation has a long history of active involvement in the Conference.  In the past, we have passed resolutions regarding family leave, child pornography, and domestic partnership.  Some of our resolutions have gone to Sacramento, been carried as a bill, and passed into law.

Our work begins in early winter when we brainstorm potential legislation and draft resolutions that either propose new laws or revise existing laws.  Then we review the other delegations' legislation and make comments.  And we will culminate our work at the Conference at the next State Bar Convention in the fall.

Domestic Violence Project
Chair: Adrienne Hahn (adrienne@vsbllp.com)
The Sojourn legal clinic, a weekly clinic in Santa Monica sponsored by the Domestic Violence Project of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, assists battered women with a variety of legal issues.  Volunteer attorneys answer legal questions, make necessary referrals, explain the legal process, and inform victims of their rights.

Since 1977, Sojourn Service for Battered Women & Children has served women and children harmed by domestic violence, working to help them regain control of their lives. A 24-hour hotline, crisis shelter, comprehensive children's program, community education programs, free
legal clinic and full-time court advocacy, support groups and an on-call emergency response team serve to break the cycle of violence in these families, and to educate society about crimes against battered women and their children.

Financial Development
Co-Chairs: Kelly Hanker (khanker@sdmp.com), Meredith G. Karasch ( mkarasch@lcwlegal.com), Cathy Ostiller (cathy.ostiller@usdoj.gov), and Heather Stern (hstern@coxcastle.com)

The primary task of the Financial Development Committee is the coordination of WLALA's annual fundraising gala. The Committee planned and produced the 2006 Summer Fundraiser, "WLALAPalooza," on June 22, 2006. The Committee solicited and organized over 300 Silent Auction items, arranged acknowledgment of prior year's donations, coordinated the donation, purchase of components and assembly of more than 40 baskets donated by the Board of Governors, solicited major opportunity drawing prizes, printed opportunity drawing tickets, located and made arrangements for all site facilities, coordinated the sale of raffle tickets, handled consignors, printed and distributed flyers, arranged for all required permits and insurance, solicited and sold tickets to the event, arranged for the donation of printing services for posters and signs, handled advertising, printed and organized bid sheets and related items, arranged for the donation of postage, arranged for printing of invitations, designed and printed the event booklet, printed posters, arranged and performed placement of Silent Auction items and bid sheets, solicited firms for sponsorship, coordinated bid finalization, item distribution and payment operations and ran the Event!

Fran Kandel Public Interest Grant
Chair: Patricia Daza (patricia.daza@gmail.com), Jennifer Leland (jjwaldner@yahoo.com)
The Fran Kandel Public Interest Grant is awarded by the WLALA Foundation annually to law students for summer projects which make governmental and social service agencies more accessible and responsible to individuals or groups whose needs are not adequately met.  Since 1985, the grant program has awarded 32 summer grants to law students totaling over $115,000.  The committee's work is seasonal; we do not meet every month.  From approximately December-February, the committee is responsible for promoting the grant program to law students, soliciting applications, reviewing applications, interviewing three to four finalists and selecting a candidate (s) to recommend to the Board as a grant recipient (s).  Committee members volunteer to participate in some or all of these activities as they can.  Even if you just have a few hours of time, we welcome your contribution to this valuable and important endeavor! 

History Project
Chair: Eileen Decker (eileen.decker@lacity.org)
Records, archives, and preserves significant events in women's legal history in Los Angeles.

In-House Counsel
Co-Chairs: Stacy Bratcher (stacybratcher@msn.com), and  Jilana L. Miller (jilana_miller@ea.epson.com)  
This Committee focuses on the career paths and needs of women practicing in corporate law departments.  Women comprise roughly 15% of Fortune 500 general counsel. This Committee's role is to help expand this statistic by mentoring women in-house and addressing the unique professional needs of women in corporate law departments.  The goal is to use committee activities as a means of fostering the professional development (and network) of women in the in-house legal community so as to eventually expand the ranks of women in upper level positions in corporate law departments. The committee will initiate educational programming and networking opportunities to provide women with practical information concerning such issues as (a) how to obtain and keep an in-house counsel position; (b) how to rise through the ranks of a corporate structure to obtain coveted leadership positions; and (c) how to navigate a corporate law department structure , whether large or small. To that end, the committee will leverage the expertise of women general counsel in the Los Angeles area, as well as others in the legal community to create a space where women can maintain a dialogue about in-house counsel careers, balance and advancement.   

Jail Project
Chair: Aide Ontiveros (aide.ontiveros@wilsonelser.com)
Jail Project volunteers provide assistance in civil matters to inmates at the county women's jail facility.  They do not personally represent inmates, but instead offer short-term counseling in selective areas of civil law, to help the inmates maintain control of their lives during their incarceration.  A large percentage of these women are young mothers who need help with child-related matters.  The women's facility is located downtown at the intersection of Vignes and Bauchet streets, near the MTA building.  Jail Project volunteers generally offer their services one Thursday evening a month, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 :30 p.m.  For further information, contact Chair Paige Gold at (213) 507-6456.

Legislation
Chairs: Nina D. Froeschle (froeschle@lbbslaw.com) 
Analyzes pending legislation that has significant impact upon women.

Membership                                       
Co-Chairs: Michelle Michaels (michelle@michaelslawoffice.com), and Jeanne "Gigi" Wanlass (jcwanlass@yahoo.com)
Works to enhance and diversify membership.

Law Student Mentoring  

Co-Chairs: Kimberly Arnal (karnal@blackcompeanhall.com), and Kimberly Encinas (kimberly.encinas@mto.com)

The Mentoring Committee encourages and facilitates the establishment and maintenance of mentor relationships between less experienced and more experienced lawyers.  The Mentoring Committee organizes an annual mentoring reception, at which potential mentees can match themselves with mentors.  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.  The Mentoring Committee also assists in projects involving the mentoring of high school, college and law students.

Pro-Choice & Reproductive Rights
Co-Chair: Anna Raimer (aeraimer@jonesday.com), and Kiran Singh (kirans321@gmail.com)   
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.

Scholarships
Co-Chairs: Elaine Mandel (elainemandelpeters@gmail.com) and Michelle Mehta (mmehta@nrdc.org)
The Scholarship Committee manages the law student scholarships awarded by the WLALA Foundation each year.  The Committee develops and proposes  scholarship application guidelines to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.  The Committee distributes the approved guidelines to all of the law schools with students who meet the criteria and promotes the opportunity at local campuses.  The Committee then reviews all of the applications and recommends awardees to the Executive Committee and the Board. After the Board approves the awardees, the Committee notifies them and coordinates their attendance at the Installation Dinner.  Through the Committee's work, many law students become familiar with WLALA and ultimately join the organization.

Solo and Small Firm Practice
Co-Chairs: R.J. Molligan (rjmolligan@aol.com) and Holly Roark (holly@roarklawoffices.com)
 Provides support and addresses issues unique to those engaged in solo or small firm practice.

Website Committee
Chair: Amy Jensen (ajensen@hinshawlaw.com)  

To apply for the 2010-2011 Board of Governors, please CLICK HERE.