WLALA's Executive Committee with Supervisor Holly Mitchell (from left to right): Jeannine Taylor, Noelle Natoli, Mary McKelvey, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Janet Hong, Jennie Wang VonCannon and Farah Tabibkhoei
War . . . and Peace
by Mary McKelvey
The dynamics of war are as old as humankind. Since the beginning of time, individuals, states, and political factions have gained sovereignty over regions through the use of violence and destruction. I understand that there is both great tragedy and great nobility in battle. There will always be things we must fight for and things we must stand against. The end of slavery in our own country came only after a bloody war that left an indelible imprint of divisiveness in our nation that remains today. It is the collateral damage that is much harder to reconcile, as it is the most vulnerable among us who bear the brunt of the carnage.  
Pivoting to an In-House Counsel Career
Presented by WLALA's In-House Counsel Committee and Career Development & Life Balance Committee
27th Annual Litigators Forum:
The Future of Litigation As We Emerge From COVID-19
Presented by WLALA's Litigation Section
Leaving the Practice of Law:
How to Find a Rewarding Career Outside of the Traditional Law Firm Environment
Presented by WLALA's Career Development & Life Balance Committee & Business Law Section
Dessert Tasting Fundraiser & Virtual Social

Presented by WLALA's Young Lawyers Committee together with Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance (APAWLA)
On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, WLALA and APAWLA held a virtual dessert tasting and social event with delectable desserts provided by the extremely talented Clarissa Effa of Cottage Confectionary.
All proceeds went to the WLALA Foundation Charitable Fund and APAWLA Giving Circle. Click below to make your tax-deductible donations to these worthy organizations:
Galentines Gala
On Thursday, February 17, 2022, WLALA was proud to sponsor a table at the annual Womxn of Color Collective and Law Women Galentines Gala: A Celebration of Women in the Law.
Fran Kandel Fellowship
The WLALA Foundation Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowship enables law students to work with an organization or individually to develop and implement a project in the field of public interest law, in the spirit of Fran Kandel. The WLALA Foundation is a non-profit charitable corporation created to increase the utility of the law as an instrument of social justice. Since 1985, the
WLALA Foundation has awarded over 30 law student grants totaling over $157,000.

The WLALA Kandel Fellowship is designed to fund particular projects with a tangible outcome. While not intended for purely academic research, the fellowship can support an internship with a project component. Strong preference is given to applicants who have the support of a sponsoring organization and who have arranged for an organization or suitable individual to supervise their project. Each Kandel Fellow may receive up to $5,000 as a stipend. Fellows may also accept school or other public interest funding.

The purpose of the WLALA Kandel Fellowship is to:

● Provide help to the disadvantaged by funding original projects that will directly benefit the underrepresented in the greater Los Angeles area;

● Educate and expose law students to legal concerns affecting the disadvantaged; and,

● Encourage the legal community’s involvement in public interest law by funding students who show the capability of and commitment to assisting those in need.
Hon. Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship
The WLALA Foundation is pleased to offer the 2022 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to a woman high school senior who is (a) interested in the field of law or public service and (b) who was inspired in this career choice by the WLALA Foundation’s Power Lunch Program, the WLALA organization, or by a WLALA leader.

Judge O’Connell, a long-time board member of WLALA, created the Power Lunch Program to provide civic education, judicial mentorship, and exposure to the judicial branch to local high school students. As part of the Power Lunch Program, students visit courthouses to have lunch with judges, lawyers, courtroom staff, and members of law enforcement.

The recipient of the Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship will receive up to $5,000 and be announced publicly at the WLALA Installation Dinner in September, which recipients are required to attend.

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
  • Be a woman high school senior;
  • Interested in the field of law or in public service;
  • Inspired to pursue this career choice by:
  1. the WLALA Foundation’s Power Lunch Program;
  2. the WLALA organization; or
  3. a WLALA leader.

To apply, please submit all of the following information/materials:

  • Your contact information (name, email address, and phone number);
  • A personal statement addressing where you have applied to college and/or where you have been accepted into college, your career goals, and how you were inspired to pursue this career by the WLALA Foundation’s Power Lunch Program, the WLALA organization, or a WLALA leader. Your personal statement must be typed, double-spaced, and a maximum of three pages;
  • Your high school transcript, including grades for fall semester 2021; and
  • A minimum of one letter of recommendation and a maximum of three letters of recommendation.

Email your completed application to: [email protected] (please include “2022 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship Application” in the email subject line) or mail your completed application to Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Attn: 2022 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship Application, 634 South Spring Street, Suite 617, Los Angeles, CA 90014.

All applications must be emailed or postmarked no later than April 30, 2022.

Questions about the WLALA Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship should be directed to Kay Burt at [email protected].
RBG Equality Scholarships 
“[I]f you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself… something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you." - Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The WLALA Foundation is pleased to offer 2022 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Equality Scholarships, tuition scholarships to law students who plan to follow in the footsteps of Justice Ginsburg by fighting for social justice, equality and inclusion, and have a demonstrated commitment to issues affecting women, children, minorities, or other historically marginalized groups.

As it did last year, the WLALA Foundation will award one-time tuition scholarships of a minimum of $5,000 for the 2022-2023 academic year to law students whose prior and current activities, and future plans demonstrate a commitment to issues affecting women, children, racial minorities, or other historically marginalized groups. The scholarships will be announced publicly at the WLALA Installation Dinner in September 2022, which recipients are required to attend.

To be eligible, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Be currently enrolled in an accredited law school, and plan to be so enrolled in the 2022-2023 academic year;
  • Upon graduation from law school, plan to practice law in Los Angeles County or engage in legal work that affects Los Angeles County; and
  • Be in the top fifty percent of their class.
Apply to Join WLALA’s Nominating Committee
WLALA is accepting nominations for members of the 2022 Nominating Committee, which will interview and select the nominees for WLALA’s Executive Committee for the 2022-2023 year. The Nominating Committee consists of Immediate Past-President Jessica Kronstadt, President-Elect Janet Hong, and five WLALA members, no more than three of whom may be current Board members. The five members will be elected by mail in or electronic ballot vote. Nominations for the committee must be made no later than 10 a.m. on March 5, 2022.

Anyone interested in serving on the Nominating Committee should email Jessica Kronstadt, Janet Hong, or Kay Burt; or call (213) 892-8982.
Become a WLALA Officer
WLALA is accepting 2022-2023 Officer applications. If you have served on the WLALA Board for at least one year, you may seek election as an Officer. The deadline for submitting an application is March 31, 2022.
DATE CHANGE: On May 1st, 2022, the Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) will honor WLALA's Immediate Past President Jessica Kronstadt at its annual gala, which is entitled "Wonder Women: A Gala to Honor Leading Women of Los Angeles."
Welcome to Our New Members
Ghadah Abdalkarim
Maribel Reynoso Blunt 
Rebecca Brown
Scott Carr
Sophia Carrillo
Lan Quach Chao
Phyllis Cheng
Stepahnie Cubacha
Daniella Daniali
Evynn Davis
Monica Guizar Eckart
Samantha Flattery
Keith Goffney
Suko Gotoh
Karen Herrera
Kayla Horacek
Ji-In Houck
Ayano Ichida
Jacqueline Jones
Kara Kartchner
Anna Khachatryan
Annika Krafcik
Anthony Lai
Jessica Lara
Debby Lin
Karla Luviano
Kiesha Mayes
Sahra Mirbabaee
Elizabeth Nguyen
Adrian Roxas
Lauren Celine Torres
Chelsea Nicole Viola
Jasmine Wetherell
Roberta Yang
Zhe Yang
Abigail Zelenski
Carol Alexis Chen
Carol Alexis Chen has always been a champion of girls and women, especially in the legal profession. Now, as WLALA's Chair of the Joint Task Force on the Retention and Promotion of Women Lawyers and LACBA Liaison, she has a platform to support and promote the community of strong women in WLALA and empower them in the legal profession. Carol was taught by her multi-generational immigrant family to dedicate her life to adding value and having a sense of purpose. Ever cognizant of the sacrifices her parents made for her family, it was important to her to make a difference when she became a lawyer. 

She worked at a large law firm as an associate and clerked for a couple of years, then joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California ("USAO"), where she worked in the Civil Division for four years before joining the Criminal Division, where she spent over 11 years. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she was able to lead community and law enforcement outreach and reach out to the underserved—to do good and not just put people in prison—especially in her last role as the first female chief in office history of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Section which became the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section under her leadership.

Carol left the USAO in 2021 to join Winston & Strawn as a partner, where her practice areas include white collar and complex litigation, government and internal investigations, and consulting on the creation and implementation of compliance and remediation programs—especially with respect to anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act, and health care laws and regulations, and the False Claims Act. Carol is also co-chair of Winston & Strawn's Asian Leadership Initiative, which works closely with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to hire, retain, and promote Asian American Pacific Islander attorneys at her firm. She serves on many non-profit boards and bar committees, and as a mentor for her alma maters and other organizations, including the Mentorship Board for which she mentors young lawyers in South Africa through virtual meetings. She sees her service on WLALA’s Board as an extension of her lifelong dedication to promoting and increasing the representation of women—particularly women of color—in the legal profession. Welcome Carol!
WLALA Congratulates Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson on Her Nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court

Judge Jackson’s legal and academic credentials are exceptional and extraordinary. Recognized as one of the brightest and most principled legal minds in the country, Judge Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where she has also served on the Board of Overseers, and earned her law degree cum laude from Harvard Law School. Referring to the crucial role of the judicial branch, she declared that "America is the greatest beacon of hope and democracy the world has ever known."

If she is confirmed, the Supreme Court would have four female justices serving simultaneously. To date, there have never been more than three women serving on the Court at the same time. Judge Jackson’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court represents a historic victory, blazing a trail for future Black Supreme Court justices. Judge Jackson’s climb to the top echelons of the judiciary serves as an inspiration and guiding light for all women, especially Black women and girls, who aspire to become successful lawyers and esteemed members of the judiciary. WLALA celebrates and fully supports Judge Jackson in this important and pivotal moment in history.
Hon. Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux: The First Latina Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California
Judge Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux made history on January 18, 2022, when she became the first Latina Bankruptcy Judge appointed in the Central District of California. Having spent more than 20 years practicing bankruptcy law at Public Counsel, she ran the largest bankruptcy pro bono program in the country, and she worked extensively with the bankruptcy courts on access to justice issues. Since most bankruptcy judges had corporate backgrounds, she was initially hesitant about applying. However, after several judges encouraged her to apply, she decided to submit her application.

As she moved forward through the interview process, Judge Reyes Bordeaux began to realize the significance of her potential appointment as the first Latina Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California. She recalls telling a friend in the Latina Lawyers Bar Association (LLBA) about her appointment, and her friend's elated and emotional response at her history-making appointment. Due to Judge Reyes Bordeaux’s work in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, she was keenly aware of the low percentage of Latina attorneys (less than two percent) and Latina judges in the country. She hopes that her appointment will inspire more women and diverse candidates to apply so that our Courts reflect the rich diversity of our state and country. She also plans to continue working with local bar associations and schools to encourage more women of color, and women in general, to apply to the bench because diverse representation is so needed and valuable.
Judge Reyes Bordeaux's personal experience of interpreting for family members at just five years old made her sensitive to the tremendous obstacle that language barriers have on individuals trying to access our Courts. She hopes to continue working with the Courts on making them accessible, fair, and just to all parties appearing before them. She has greatly enjoyed working with her colleagues in the Riverside Division—they have been extremely supportive and welcoming. She looks forward to working with them and bringing her experience, intellect, creativity, and hard work on serving the United States Bankruptcy Court Riverside division. 

WLALA congratulates Judge Bordeaux on her historic appointment!
ICLC Housing Justice Post-Graduate Fellowships
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) is a non-profit poverty law firm headquartered in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood. ICLC has been serving the poorest and most vulnerable individuals and families in Los Angeles County since its inception in a Skid Row soup kitchen in 1980. Founded on the basic principle that every human being should always be treated with dignity and respect, ICLC’s staff of more than 100 attorneys, paralegals, tenant organizers, and other professionals provides free legal representation to thousands of homeless and working poor clients.

ICLC is offering full-time, two- and three-year legal fellowships beginning in Fall 2022 to current third-year law students or recent law school graduates in the following practice areas: Homelessness Prevention, Landlord/Tenant, Eviction Defense, Citation Clearing, and Public Benefits.
APAWLA Young Lawyers and Law Students (YLLS) is having an ongoing Resume Review Workshop. To participate you must be an active APAWLA member. Please send in a Word copy of your resume and/or cover letter to [email protected]. You will be assigned an APAWLA board member who will review and suggest revisions in the document with track changes. The anticipated turnaround for feedback is one week. Please be sure to maintain prompt communication. This is an ongoing workshop open until the end of the pandemic.
JALBCA's Monthly Breast Cancer Support Group
Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert ("JALBCA") is pleased to announce that it has established a Support Group for legal professionals and their loved ones who have been touched by breast cancer. The group will meet by Zoom from 6-7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Upcoming Support Group meetings will be on March 3, 2022, April 7, 2022, May 5, 2022, and June 2, 2022.

Please join us to share your experiences and feelings in an inclusive and confidential environment with JALBCA members and other legal professionals and their loved ones who recently have been diagnosed with breast cancer and/or are breast cancer survivors and/or have otherwise been touched by breast cancer.
Career Center
Did you know that your WLALA membership allows you to access our exclusive Career Center? The Career Center has employment opportunities ranging from non-profit organizations to government employers to law firms.
WLALA Webinar Recordings
WLALA webinars have been recorded and are available for purchase. Following your purchase, access to the recording will be sent via email. If MCLE credit applies, the materials will be sent after we receive confirmation that the video has been viewed.
iDepo will make a donation to WLALA if you schedule a court reporting or videotaped deposition with them as follows:

  • $20 donation to WLALA for each court reporting services of at least 100 pages per day.
  • $50 donation to WLALA for each videotaped deposition with at least 100 pages per day.

When scheduling, please email or call and mention code "WLALA." 
Email [email protected] or call 323-393-3768. 

iDepo will send donations to WLALA within 90 days after receipt of payment of invoices.
The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles ("WLALA") promotes the full participation in the legal profession of women lawyers and judges from diverse perspectives and racial and ethnic backgrounds, maintains the integrity of our legal system by advocating principles of fairness and equality, and improves the status of women by supporting their exercise of equal rights, equal representation, and reproductive choice.
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