2026-2027 WLALA Board of Governors and Board of Directors | | 2026-2027 WLALA Foundation Board of Governors | |
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President's Message by Jennie VonCannon
- Programs:
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WLALA Awards and Installation Dinner - September 18, 2026
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Los Angeles City Attorney Candidate Townhall: General Election Edition - September 17, 2026
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Drag Bingo - October 23, 2026
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Walk, Talk & Connect - November 7, 2026
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Save the Date: WLALA Holiday Party
- News:
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Congratulations to Laura V. Farber, Brigit Greeson Alvarez, and Leana Taing!
- Welcome New WLALA Members!
- Photos:
- Spill the Tea: Egg Freezing
- CAALA in Las Vegas
- MCBA's 35th Anniversary Celebration at the Bonaventure Brewing Company
- WLALA and WLALA Foundation Board Retreat
- Local Bar Calendar:
- Application for Appointment to Serve on State Bar Committees
- 2026 POWER Act Webinar for District Courts in the Ninth Circuit
- VABASC’s Happy Hour Social
- LGBTQ+ LA - Backyard Brunch for the Rainbow Bunch!
- 49th Annual California Mock Trial
- Resources:
- Power Lunch Program Sponsorships Available
- WLALA Needs Mentors for Law Students
- Career Center
- WLALA Webinar Recordings
- Contribute to the WLALA Newsletter
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Jennie VonCannon
WLALA President 2026-2027
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Welcome to the 2026–2027 WLALA Board year! I am excited to be installed as WLALA’s 107th President at the Awards & Installation Gala on September 18, 2026, and even more excited to honor our inspiring award recipients: Genie Harrison Law Firm (Trailblazer Award), Catherine Lhamon (Distinguished Service Award), and Women of Signature Resolution (Advancement of Women Award). It’s going to be a great night, and I invite you to join us in celebration.
My theme for the year is Connection That Counts: Together We Rise. As the first Taiwanese-American and Brazilian-born president in WLALA’s history, I wanted a theme that captured what being part of WLALA means to me. When I reflected on what I value most about this organization, I kept coming back to the relationships I’ve built with people who share an interest in WLALA’s mission to advance women’s full participation in the legal profession and promote equality and justice.
Making a real connection with another person can be powerful—and it is something I fear we have gotten a little rusty at in the years since the pandemic. So my theme is also a call to action. To WLALA’s Officers, Boards of Governors and Directors, members, and everyone reading this newsletter: have a conversation with someone you don’t know and find something you have in common. Reach out to someone you haven’t connected with in a while. Introduce two people who might be able to help, encourage, or open a door for one another.
Make your connections count—for yourself, for others, and for the legal profession.
| | September 11th is the Last Day to Purchase Tickets! | | Congratulations to Laura V. Farber! | | |
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WLALA proudly congratulates longtime member Laura V. Farber on her recent election as President-Elect of the American Bar Association (ABA).
Laura has been actively involved with the ABA for more than 30 years and has served in numerous leadership roles within the organization. As President-Elect, she will spend the coming year working alongside current ABA President Barbara J. Howard before assuming the ABA presidency in August 2027. At that time, she will become the organization’s 151st President and its first Latina president, as the ABA celebrates its 150th anniversary.
Read more about Laura’s election, her distinguished career and ABA leadership, and her vision for the year ahead in Hahn & Hahn LLP’s announcement:
| | Congratulations to Brigit Greeson Alvarez! | | | |
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WLALA proudly congratulates Brigit Greeson Alvarez, our incoming President-Elect, on her recent promotion to Senior Deputy County Counsel!
Congratulations, Brigit, on this wonderful accomplishment!
| | Congratulations to Leana Taing! | | | |
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WLALA is thrilled to congratulate Leana Taing, our incoming First Vice President, on her recent promotion to Senior Deputy County Counsel!
Congratulations, Leana, on this well-deserved achievement!
| | Spill the Tea: Egg Freezing on August 27 at HRC Fertility | | Left to Right: Dr. Shahin Ghadir, Farah Tabibkhoei, Dr. Sahar Wertheimer and Dr. Rachel Mandelbaum | | Left to right: Andie Fields, Neda Saghafi, Mia Munro, and Joanna Curtis | MCBA's 35th Anniversary at the Bonaventure Brewing Company | |
Left to right: Maribel Reynoso, Hon. Holly Fujie (Ret.), Carley Palmer and
Hon. Christine Gonong
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WLALA and WLALA Foundation
Board Retreat
| | Welcome to Our New Members | | |
Cynthia Anyaso
Lauren Cruz
Heather Dopke
Phoebe Douvan
Lillian Gage
Isabella Gaddini
Isabella Garcia
Asli Goncay
Elianne Gutierrez
Janet Hur
Zulema Isais Cardenas
Madeleine Jackman
Cathy Jiang
Damariz Juarez
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Danielle Kim
Caelan Koncan
Sowmya Kumar
Alexa Lee
Akwe McDaniels
Kayla Misa
Oluwagbemisola Osinubi
Ylene Pierre
Kayla Pressley
Asiyah Rajab
Jaquesha Scott
Anne Slusser
Ava Wu
| | Application for Appointment to Serve on State Bar Committees | | |
The State Bar of California is accepting applications for an attorney position on the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE). Pursuant to Rule 9.4 of the California Rules of Court, this recruitment is for an attorney who has been admitted to practice law in California within three years of the date of appointment.
Applications are open through October 16, 2026.
Newly admitted attorneys interested in contributing their perspective and experience to the work of the CBE are encouraged to apply.
Learn more and apply!
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In Honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Invite EVERYONE to Join Us for a Spectacular Sunday Brunch!
Date: October 4, 2026
Place: Private Residence in Highland Park
(Address Provided Upon Registration)
Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cost: $40 (Includes Food, Mimosas, Aguas Frescas, and More)
Parking: Street Parking (Rideshare/Metro Encouraged)
*** Questions? Email Us***
women.lgbtqpluslawyersla@gmail.com
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This year’s mock trial case drops September 10 and thousands of LA County students are ready to dig in. With schools registered and students getting ready for another season, we need attorneys, judges and law students to preside over and score trials and bring the competition to life in the courtroom.
No litigation experience necessary. Parking, refreshments, and up to 2 MCLE credits will be provided.
2026 Los Angeles County Mock Trial Dates
Monday, Nov. 2 – Senior Division Round 1
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Junior Division Round 1
Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Senior Division Round 2
Thursday, Nov. 12 – Junior Division Round 2
Tuesday, Nov. 17 – Senior Division Round 3
All trials begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be held at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse (110 N. Grand Avenue).
Sign Up Now
Select the Volunteers tab to sign up.
Please forward to colleagues who might be interested. Every volunteer means more students get their day in court.
Questions? Contact Sean-Michael Ramirez
sean-michael@teachdemocracy.org
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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.
| | 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 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. | | Contribute to the WLALA Newsletter | | If you are interested in contributing an article or sharing member news, please reach out to WLALA Communications Chair, Joanna Curtis, at communications@wlala.org. 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. | |
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