• WLALA President's Message by Farah Tabibkhoei 
• Message from WLALA's Charitable Fund Committee
• Sponsor Spotlight: Crowell & Moring LLP
• CSEC Resource Guide: The Process - by Athena Kieu
• Save the Date: WLALA Holiday Party & Judicial Reception - December 10, 2025
• 2025 John Langston Hall of Fame Event
• Photos: What’s New, Current Trends, and Strategies in Recruiting and Retaining Attorneys at Large and Medium-Sized Law Firms - October 15, 2025
• Photos: APAWLA’s 2025 Dinner Reception - October 9, 2025
• Photos: LLBA 28th Annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner on November 1st at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel
• A “Shield Law” for Lawyers: California Now Protects its Attorneys from Punishment for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Work Banned Elsewhere  
• Judge Christine Gonong | Building Community Through Connection
• Welcome New Members!
• Local Bar Calendar
• Volunteer Opportunity for WLALA Members – 2025 LA County Mock Trial Competition
• CLA-CLS Trial Skills Seminar - November 8, 2025
• California Women Lawyers - Annual Dinner - November 8, 2025
• CJA & Unity Bar "Identifying and Navigating Gender Bias"
• “Brown Bag” Lunch with Judge Jessica C. Kronstadt
• 2026 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship – Deadline April 30, 2026
• Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship - April 30, 2026
• Applications From Public Interest Law Organizations Now Being Accepted For WLALA Foundation’s Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowship
• 2026 WLALA Foundation and ICLC Law Student Fellowship
• Power Lunch Program Sponsorships Available
• WLALA Needs Mentors for Law Students
• Career Center
• WLALA Webinar Recordings
• Contribute to the WLALA Newsletter

Farah Tabibkhoei

WLALA President 2025-2026

November is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month. Each year, this observance reminds us that thousands of individuals and families struggle with food insecurity and unstable housing. Many rely on programs such as SNAP to meet their basic needs, and even temporary disruptions in benefits or employment can leave families facing difficult choices about how to feed their loved ones.

This month, I want to highlight some of the local nonprofit organizations with whom WLALA has partnered that are providing meals, groceries, safe shelter, and supportive services to members of our community experiencing hunger, job insecurity, poverty, or domestic violence. Their work is sustained not only by funding, but by volunteers and community support.

As we enter the Thanksgiving season and reflect with gratitude on what we have, I encourage you to consider donating or volunteering your time with one of these organizations. Even a small contribution can make a meaningful difference for someone in need. 

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LA Food Bank): Since 1973, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to mobilize resources in the community to alleviate hunger. Since its inception, The LA Food Bank has distributed more than 1.9 billion pounds of food. With the help of hundreds of thousands of volunteers annually and an agency network of hundreds of partner agencies, The LA Food Bank serves hundreds of thousands of people on a monthly basis. Each year, WLALA participates in the annual Food From The Bar program, a friendly four-week competition among legal firms, law schools, and legal services organizations to see who can raise the most funds, acquire the most food, and work the most volunteer hours for The LA Food Bank in an effort to feed the children of Los Angeles County who may go hungry in the summer months. Kathleen McDowell was instrumental in introducing Food from the Bar to Los Angeles. To donate to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, click here.

Inner City Law Center (ICLC): Inner City Law Center fights for housing and justice for low-income tenants, working-poor families, immigrants, people who are disabled or living with HIV/AIDS, and homeless veterans. ICLC hosts a free monthly Tenant Rights Clinic the first Thursday of each month where renters can walk in and receive legal advice. To donate to ICLC and for more ways to give, click here. For law students interested in learning about or applying to the 2026 WLALA/ICLC Fellowship Application, click here.

Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law (The Center): The Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law was founded in the early 1980s by Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Bar and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Led by HBCFL’s Executive Director, Stacy Horth-Neubert, The Center has served as a cornerstone of family law and domestic violence assistance for low-income persons in California. To help secure its future, the Harriett Buhai Center has established a new annual giving program, the Century Campaign. To donate, click here. For law students interested in learning about the WLALA/Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law Fellowship, click here.

Downtown Women’s Center (DWC): Downtown Women’s Center is the only organization in Los Angeles focused exclusively on serving women and gender diverse individuals experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1978, DWC’s mission is to end homelessness for women and gender diverse individuals by providing safe housing and supportive services centered on wellness, employment, and advocacy. WLALA volunteers with DWC to prepare a home-cooked meal for more than 100 women in need through DWC’s Cooking Club each year. To donate to DWC, click here.



“Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

— Anne Frank

May we carry this reminder into the season ahead. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.

With Gratitude,

Farah Tabibkhoei

President

Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

Message from WLALA's

Charitable Fund Committee

As this year’s Charitable Fund Chairs, we are honored to continue WLALA’s legacy of uplifting and empowering the next generation of women lawyers. Guided by this year's theme, Opening Doors of Opportunity, we are committed to turning our generosity into scholarship and mentorship opportunities for students who are just beginning the journey many of us once took.

This work has never been more urgent. At a time when the rule of law is being tested and access to justice grows increasingly fragile, safeguarding fairness and equality is both the duty of today’s lawyers, and the legacy tomorrow's lawyers must inherit. Yet with new restrictions on legal education financing, many of those future voices may never enter the profession unless WE ACT NOW.

There is little question that these restrictions will fall hardest on students from underrepresented backgrounds. By limiting access to affordable legal education, those currently in power effectively narrow the pipeline of diverse voices, the very voices most likely to challenge inequities, advocate for marginalized communities, and hold institutions accountable. This strikes at the heart of WLALA’s mission. 

To meet this moment, Charitable Fund is asking you to double your support. Every additional dollar makes a direct and meaningful difference for the students who will carry our mission forward. Our goal is to raise $45,000. Now is the time to invest in the future of our profession. Together we can keep the door of opportunity wide open for those who will carry the fight for justice forward. Make your donation today at: https://wlala.org/give/

Dara Garcia, Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Marina Torres, Charitable Fund Co-Chair

Mary McKelvey

Ruby LeMorin

CSEC Resource Guide: The Process -

by Athena Kieu

Each year, the WLALA Foundation offers a public interest fellowship, called the Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowship. Law students across several states submit proposals to create a project with a tangible product, like a fact sheet or a brochure, to help impacted communities. The fellowship encourages rising legal professionals to become engaged in these communities, and highlights the value of public interest work.

During my time at the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office, I worked under the Dependency Division, observing and conducting hearings relating to child abuse and neglect. My mentors at County Counsel also introduced me to DREAM Court, allowing me to learn about a specific niche within Dependency Law, known as Commercially-Sexually Exploited Children and Youth (“CSEC”). From there, I was able to speak to CSEC attorneys and observe DREAM Court, a specific courtroom in Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court dedicated to handling cases involving CSEC. My experience, as well as some additional research I conducted, allowed me to put together a brochure of some statistics of CSEC, as well as some prevention tips for those in the legal profession who work closely with children and youth.



This project was incredibly meaningful to me because I was able to branch out beyond law school exams and papers, and do real work that could help a community that I am passionate about. My research also taught me a lot more about the subject, itself, alongside the attorneys working at County Counsel. I am grateful that I was able to create such an impactful project and contribute, even if minimally, to a solution to CSEC through the Fran Kandel Fellowship.

Event Sponsors

Solidarity Sponsor

Guardian Sponsor

Sentinel Sponsor

WLALA Offers Complimentary Memberships to Affinity Bar Members

WLALA is pleased to announce the continuation to offer complimentary membership to those who are members of any local affinity bar association this year. Some examples of affinity bars are BWL, CWL, LLBA, MABA and SCCLA just to name a few. We are so grateful to the many relationships WLALA has developed between other organizations and to continue to grow and learn from each other, and, most importantly, advocate for each other. Please pass this offer on to anyone you think may qualify.

 2025 John Langston Hall of Fame Event -

October 11,2025

What’s New, Current Trends, and Strategies in Recruiting and Retaining Attorneys at Large and Medium-Sized Law Firms - October 15, 2025

We had an animated discussion last night about trends and strategies for retaining and recruiting attorneys, at all stages of their career.

⭐️A HUGE thank you to our sponsors - each of you make it possible for us to serve the community ⭐️

🏛️JAMS, thank you for allowing us to use your beautiful, new office space.

💪 Legal Innovators, thank you for the support, ideas, and effort to plan such a wonderful event. Also thank you for hosting our group at the amazing California Club.

And a BIG THANK YOU to our sister bars! We hope to see you all at our next event!

APAWLA’s 2025 Dinner Reception -

October 9, 2025

LLBA 28^th Annual Awards & Scholarship Dinner - November 1^st at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel

A “Shield Law” for Lawyers: California Now Protects its Attorneys from Punishment for Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Work Banned Elsewhere 

by Lara Stemple, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies and International Programs and Senior Scholar with the Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy at UCLA Law 

Many states that ban or restrict abortion also target those helping others access abortion care, including attorneys. For example, in a letter to the law firm Sidley Austin, members of the Texas state legislature threatened felony criminal prosecution and disbarment for attorneys facilitating abortion both inside and outside of Texas. 

At the same time, states seeking to protect health care access have instituted “shield laws” designed to protect patients, health care providers, and helpers from the reach of states that impose civil, criminal, and professional consequences related to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. Many of these shield laws protect health care providers from losing their home state license or being subject to professional discipline if another state tries to punish them. But such provisions do not always explicitly protect other types of licensed professionals. 

Against this backdrop, Assemblymember Rick Zbur introduced AB 1525, which adds attorneys to the list of those shielded by California, and Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed it into law. Until now, the state of California mandated that a California-licensed attorney charged, convicted, or disciplined for an offense in another state report that state’s action to the California State Bar. This would then trigger an automatic disciplinary hearing for the attorney in California. No longer. Thanks to AB 1525, work on abortion, reproductive health more broadly, gender-affirming care, and other “sensitive services” are excluded from California's reporting and reciprocal discipline requirements. 

Now, California lawyers (as well as applicants to the Bar) who have provided legal counsel related to these areas in a state that seeks to sanction such work need not fear professional consequences in California. This helps counter draconian anti-abortion laws aimed to create alarm and orchestrate overly broad compliance among professionals like doctors, nurses, and lawyers. The chilling effect created by such laws can cause those who have invested a great deal in their careers to fear practicing in ways that prioritize the needs of their patients, the rights of their clients, or their ethical duties. Just as earlier shield laws have done for healthcare providers, AB 1525 aims to provide California attorneys the confidence and the freedom to pursue this important work across the country. 

In addition to the leadership of Assemblymember Zbur, UCLA Law’s Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy provided technical advice and organized convenings. The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) and its board member Ariella Thal Simonds played a leading role, as did Laurie Taylor, together with former law students Jenna Karvunidis, Christy Thomas, and I’niah Clark. Ms. Clark, now an attorney, plans to advocate for similar legislation in her state of Oregon, and a similar bill was recently passed in Massachusetts, adding to the ever-growing slate of shield laws across the country. Leaders within the bar associations of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills also supported this effort, and the bill was formally co-sponsored by WLALA, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and Equality California. 

Judge Christine Gonong | Building Community Through Connection

When Judge Christine Gonong first joined the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) four years ago, she was already deeply involved in Los Angeles’ bar association community—particularly with ethnic bar associations, including a long tenure on the board of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA). Over time, she realized that women lawyers face unique challenges that deserve focused attention and collective empowerment. That realization led her to WLALA, where she now serves on the Board of Governors and plays an active role in the Membership Committee.

Judge Gonong’s commitment to mentorship runs deep. Through PABA, she mentored young women attorneys and helped lead the Pinay Powerhouse conferences, which foster leadership and visibility among Filipina lawyers. Judge Gonong was also a long-time member of the Board of Governors for the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance (APAWLA), where she co-founded the Trailblazer Speakers’ Series, which provided virtual mentorship to APAWLA’s membership during the COVID pandemic. When she joined WLALA’s Board, Judge Laura Siegle encouraged Judge Gonong to serve with her on the Membership Committee given her passion for connection and mentorship.

Since then, Judge Gonong has worked to make WLALA more visible to the broader community and to law students. She has helped organize membership drives and networking events, including a successful mixer at Perch that created space for organic connection among judges, seasoned practitioners, and law students. For her, true mentorship happens not through formal pairings, but through authentic conversations in safe, inclusive environments.



As a family law judge, Judge Gonong understands the emotional depth of her work and values the empathy and human connection it requires. Those same qualities guide her WLALA involvement. “The most rewarding part,” she says, “is meeting women at every stage of their careers—hearing their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs. Every interaction helps me grow.”

Her advice to future leaders? “Keep showing up. No one builds a career alone—it takes a village. WLALA is that village. You get out of it what you put in. So show up, connect, and let yourself be seen.”

Welcome to Our New Members

Marilyn Aguilar-Portillo

Diana Alvarado

Steph ArgentKara Asuncion

Madeline Bailey

Sandra Chavez

Jocelyn Chu Vose

Jodi Cleesattle

Myanna Dellinger

Reihaneh Ghazi

Niti Gupta

Arianne Hennis

Alicia Hou

Parand Kashani

Shirley Kumar

Ming Lan

Catherine Macan

Nikki Maragoni-Simonsen

Sasha Maronian

Karen Mawdsley

Kimberley Parkins

Jennifer Prieto

Jill Replogle

Patricia Renee Rodriguez

Anna Tang

Stephanie Thompson

Nicole Simonian

Isadora Sordi Munhoz

Youngwon Woo

Chris Xu

Kiersten Yoon

Monica Zhang

Yunyao Zhao

Local Bar Calendar

Volunteer Opportunity for WLALA Members – 2025 LA County Mock Trial Competition

Dear WLALA Members,

The 2025 Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition is quickly approaching, and we’re still in need of volunteers to help bring this incredible educational program to life!

Each year, hundreds of high school and middle school students step into real courtrooms at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse to argue a case before practicing attorneys and judges. This experience wouldn’t be possible without the support of volunteer attorneys who dedicate their time to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of legal minds.



We are so grateful to those of you who have volunteered with us in the past, and we warmly invite both returning and new volunteers to join us again this season. Attorney participants may also earn up to 2 hours of MCLE credit for their service.

Please consider signing up—and help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues and other WLALA members who may be interested. Every volunteer helps ensure that students receive the guidance and encouragement that make Mock Trial such a transformative experience.

📍 Location: Stanley Mosk Courthouse (111 N. Hill Street)

🗓️ Dates: November 3, 5, 10, 12, and 17

🕔 Times: Trials begin at 5:00 p.m.

Signup Link: https://teachdemocracy.org/mock-trial-program/mock-trial-volunteers.html

Apply Now:

2026 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship – Deadline April 30, 2026

The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Foundation is proud to offer the 2026 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship, awarding up to $5,000 to a high school senior who identifies as a woman and is passionate about law or public service.

Applicants must have been inspired to pursue this path through WLALA’s Power Lunch Program, the WLALA organization, or a WLALA leader. This scholarship honors Judge O’Connell’s legacy of mentorship and civic education.

To apply, submit your contact info, a personal statement, and at least one reference letter by April 30, 2026.

For full details or questions, contact Kay Burt at info@wlala.org.

Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg Scholarship - April 30, 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30, 2026

AWARD: $7,500



The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Foundation is pleased to offer tuition scholarships to law students who plan to follow in the footsteps of Justice Ruth Bader 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. 

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 2026-2027 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. 

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• Personal statement (typed, double-spaced, and no longer than 2 pages) addressing at least the following:
• Your commitment to issues affecting women, children, minorities, and/or marginalized groups, 
• How your commitment to public service will continue after law school graduation in the practice of law in or relating to Los Angeles County,
• Why you need the scholarship and how it will benefit you. 
• Resume;
• Law school transcript, including grades for fall semester 2025 (an unofficial transcript is acceptable); and
• A minimum of one reference letter (no more than three). 

Questions about the WLALA Foundation’s Tuition Scholarships can be directed to either of the WLALA Scholarship Co-Chairs Carmela Pagay, ctp@lnbyg.com and Meehan Rasch, Meehan.rasch@gmail.com.

Applications From Public Interest Law Organizations Now Being Accepted For WLALA Foundation’s Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowship

The WLALA Foundation is now accepting applications from public interest law organizations for the Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowship. The fellowship is available to a public interest law organization that wishes to hire a first or second-year law student (full or part-time) for the summer to work on a social justice-oriented project with a tangible outcome (e.g., brochure, guide, training manual, or PowerPoint).  This year, the fellowship amount has been increased to $10,000 -- $7,500 for the law student and $2,500 for the organization.

The project should benefit an underserved community in the greater Los Angeles area and should be able to be completed by August 31, 2026. The Fellow’s work on the project must be supervised by the organization.

Interested public interest law organizations may apply by sending a letter describing their proposed project to the Co-Chairs of the Fran Kandel Fellowship Committee at wlalapublicinterestfellowship@gmail.com.  The letter should be received by December 5, 2025.  One or more projects will be selected by January 2026. The WLALA Foundation will then accept student applications and partner with the selected organization(s) to conduct student interviews in February 2026.

For more information, including what to include in the letter, please review the Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowship page on the WLALA website (https://wlala.org/fellowships/#kandal). 

Questions? Please contact the Co-Chairs of the Fran Kandel Fellowship Committee at wlalapublicinterestfellowship@gmail.com. 

WLALA Needs Mentors for Law Students

WLALA needs attorney mentor volunteers since our increased presence in the legal community has led to increased participation among local law schools. WLALA's Law Student Mentoring Program pairs law student members with lawyer members to encourage and facilitate the development of women law students. Mentors and mentees are matched based on interests and background where possible. The program is flexible; mentors and mentees choose when and how to stay connected with one another, whether through e-mail, telephone, in-person meet ups, or a combination. Many participants find that the one-on-one mentoring relationship becomes a long-term friendship.

Career Center

WLALA Webinar Recordings

Contribute to the WLALA Newsletter

If you are interested in contributing an article or sharing member news, please reach out to WLALA Communications Chair, Kimberly Kamkar, at kkamkar@nossaman.com. Everyone loves to read about accomplishments, appointments, and promotions! Also, please do not forget to share photos or videos taken at WLALA events. We would love to share them in the newsletter and on our social media!

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.

Instagram: @Womenlawyersla

Facebook: Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

LinkedIn: Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

X: @WLALAtweets @WLALAFoundation

2025 WLALA and WLALA Foundation Board Retreat