WLALA Newsletter: March 2021 |
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Thank You To Our Annual Sponsors |
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President's Message
By Jessica Kronstadt
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In the United States, March is celebrated as Women's History Month. Women’s History Month is a time to honor all women and to reflect on women’s diverse and intersectional voices, achievements and struggles. Women’s History Month began in Santa Rosa, California as a local celebration. In 1978, during the week of March 8 – which corresponded with the March 8 recognition of International Women’s Day – the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration. That movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations. In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians successfully lobbied for national recognition. In February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the that Week of March 8 be recognized as National Women’s History Week. In his remarks designating March 2 through March 8 as Women’s History Week, President Carter said:
From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this Nation. Too often, the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.
To read the rest of Jessica's President Message, please CLICK HERE.
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To view sponsorship opportunities, please CLICK HERE.
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History Made - A Conversation With
Hon. Samantha P. Jessner
On February 24, BWL President Michelle Kazadi and WLALA President Jessica Kronstadt moderated conversation with Judge Samantha Jessner, the first African American Woman to be elected as Assistant Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
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WLALA Postcard Designed by Polk Paper |
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WLALA President Jessica Kronstadt has donated these beautiful postcards, which were specially designed for WLALA by Schuyler Polk of Polk Paper and Grace Cope. Only a limited number of sets of these postcards are available and the sets may be purchased HERE.
All proceeds will benefit the WLALA Foundation.
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ICLA/WLALA Fellowship Recipients Announced
The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Foundation’s and Inner City Law Center’s (ICLC) fellowship is a 10 week program awarded yearly for the summer for students who have demonstrated a commitment to advocating for the underserved. There is a stipend of $6,000 for each fellow from the WLALA Foundation. The fellows work with ICLC’s Homeless Veterans Project and focus on issues affecting women veterans, including those who have been victims of military sexual trauma. The fellows assist with intake, research issues affecting the ability of women veterans to receive discharge upgrades and benefits, review and analyze client files, draft applications in support of discharge upgrades and benefits, and work directly with Homeless Veterans Project staff on all matters applicable to their clients.
WLALA is delighted to announce the 2021 fellows: Leilani Stacy and Galyn Sumida-Ross. Leilani Stacy is a 1st year student at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law graduating in May 2023. Leilani received a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Wellesley College. She worked for the Mayor’s Office of Food Access, the Office of Civic Engagement, Goldman Sachs, and for the Fulbright Association in Lisbon, Portugal as a Fulbright Research Scholar. Galyn Sumida-Ross is a 1st year student at UCLA School of Law graduating in May 2023. Galyn received a B.S. in International Culture and Politics from Georgetown University. She worked for various public service organizations such as: Partners for Justice, Wilmington, DE, Ayuda, Washington, D.C., Amigos de las Américas, Yucatán, Mexico, and the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
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Build Genuine Connections to Grow Your Network and Develop Business
By Fiammetta S. Piazza
On February 17, 2021, the Business Development Committee of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) hosted “Networking in a Pandemic: Business Development in the COVID-19 Era.”
Elaine Chang and Robyn Bacon, Co-Chairs of WLALA’s Business Development Committee introduced the event and panelists. Ms. Chang noted that despite this time of change and disruption, the remote environment has also allowed for unique opportunities in networking and business development, including the opportunity to hear from a group of individuals so geographically distant as the panelists.
The three speakers included Gray Mateo-Harris, equity partner at Fox Rothschild LLP and regional practice leader for the firm’s labor and employment department; Karen Wickre, Silicon Valley connecter, author, and senior advisor at Brunswick Group; and Deb Feder, business development coach and strategist at Feder Development LLC. Gleam Davis, corporate counsel at AT&T and Santa Monica City councilmember, moderated the program.
To read the rest of this article, please CLICK HERE.
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Profile on Acting Attorney and WLALA Board Member Tracy Wilkison
By USC law student and WLALA member Martina Fouquet
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Tracy Wilkison’s voice exudes passion as she talks about her path to becoming the Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of California. Raised in upstate New York near the Adirondack Mountains, Ms. Wilkison did not know anyone in her life who was a lawyer. Ms. Wilkison’s strong interest in reading, writing, and advocacy led her to believe a legal career was the right fit for her. Eager for exposure to the legal practice, Ms. Wilkison’s father would take her to the family lawyer so she could learn more about legal careers. While an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, Ms. Wilkison worked at the State’s Attorney’s Office in Prince George’s County. Despite being assigned data entry tasks, Ms. Wilkison took advantage of her proximity to prosecutors and reached out to learn more about their practice. Ms. Wilkison was invited by the prosecutors to lunches and hearings, where she admired how prosecutors could have a positive impact on people’s communities and lives. The hard work and enthusiasm displayed by the Maryland prosecutors stuck with Ms. Wilkison as she went on to become a student at Harvard Law School.
To read the rest of this article, please CLICK HERE.
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Nominations for WLALA’s Nominating Committee |
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WLALA is accepting nominations for members of the 2021 Nominating Committee, which will interview and select the nominees for WLALA’s Executive Committee for the coming 2021-2022 year. The Nominating Committee consists of Immediate Past-President Jennifer Leland, President-Elect Mary McKelvey 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, 2021. Anyone interested in serving on the Nominating Committee should contact Jennifer Leland jleland@RobinsKaplan.com, Mary McKelvey at mmckelvey@polsinelli.com or Kay Burt at info@wlala.org or (213) 892-8982.
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Become a WLALA Officer
WLALA is accepting 2020-2021 WLALA 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, 2020. You can fill out the application HERE.
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2021 WLALA Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowships
Application Deadline March 12, 2021
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Calling all 1L and 2L law students who are motivated to create a public interest project during their 2021 externship! WLALA’s Fran Kandel Public Interest Fellowships award up to $5,000. Application due March 12, 2021. More information, including the application and examples of past projects, is available on the WLALA webpage under the law students tab.
For more information and to apply, please CLICK HERE.
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WLALA Foundation 2021 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship Application Deadline June 30, 2021
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The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA) Foundation is pleased to offer the 2021 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a woman high school senior, who is interested in the field of law or public service, and 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, who was 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 come to courthouses to have lunch with judges, lawyers, courtroom staff and members of law enforcement. The recipient of the 2021 Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell Scholarship will receive up to $5,000 and be announced publicly at the WLALA Installation Dinner in September 2021, which recipients are required to attend.
For more information and to apply, please CLICK HERE.
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WLALA’S 2021 RBG Equality Scholarships
Application Deadline April 30, 2021
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“[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." RBG
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. WLALA is an active bar association that seeks to promote the interests of women, and to promote equality and equal opportunity of all people. The WLALA Foundation’s special projects include the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law, which assists low income individuals in preparing and handling pro per family law matters; the Downtown Women's Center, which is the only organization in Los Angeles exclusively dedicated to addressing the needs of women overcoming poverty and homelessness in Skid Row; and the Fran Kandel Public Interest Grant, which provides financial assistance for special projects undertaken by law students working in the public interest. WLALA's numerous committees include a group that provides pro bono legal advice to victims of domestic violence.
For more information and to apply, please CLICK HERE.
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Get to Know the New Board: Melody Saadian
Each month, WLALA will feature a 2020-2021 WLALA Board Member so you can get to know more about her role within WLALA, her professional experience and her personal interests.
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Melody Saadian is a plaintiffs' attorney at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, and focuses her practice on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death. Ms. Saadian currently represents hundreds of wildfire victims throughout Southern California. Ms. Saadian earned her J.D. from Southwestern Law School. While attending law school, she was selected as a member of Southwestern’s Trial Advocacy Honors Program, participated in various trial competitions, and served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Yvette M. Palazuelos of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Saadian studied Business Administration with an option in Business Law and a minor in Writing and Rhetoric at California State University Northridge, where her academic achievements placed her on the Dean’s Honor List.
Ms. Saadian is a member in good standing of the State Bar of California, and is admitted to practice in state and federal court.
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Of Interest
Julie Werner Simon, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Southwestern Law School and WLALA Member, recently had an article published by American Constitution Society (ACS) Blogs’ Expert Forum, which is available here
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Complimentary WLALA Membership for WLALA's Local Sister Bar Organizations
WLALA is offering one complimentary year of membership to WLALA's local sister bar organization members at APAWLA, BWL and LLBA. Offer is good until December 31, 2021. Membership will be good for one year after you register.
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WLALA Membership for New Admittees and Law Students is FREE
WLALA offers free memberships to New Admittees (those who passed the bar less than a year ago) and Law Students. Don't forget to pass the word along and join today and see what WLALA has to offer!
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WLALA-LACBA's Podcast: 19th Amendment Speaker Series
There are a few ways to access the podcasts:
The Apple Podcasts page - If you have an iPhone/iPad you can open the show in the Podcasts app – you can subscribe so you’ll be alerted when each episode is released
This page will be updated by Tuesday each week with a player that allows you to listen to each episode from the webpage.
Spotify – you can listen in the Spotify App and website as well:
You can also find it listed on these other sites and may find a more convenient way to listen by checking them out.
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COVID-19 News Updates
WLALA has created a COVID-19 page to inform our members of current news related to COVID-19. To view the page, please CLICK HERE.
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WLALA Webinar Recording's |
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WLALA webinars have been recorded and are available for purchase. To view all recordings, please CLICK HERE. Following the purchase, the recording will be sent via email. If MCLE credit applies, the materials will be sent after we receive zoom confirmation that the video has been viewed.
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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.
IDepo will send donations to WLALA within 90 days after receipt of payment of invoices.
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Member News
On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, from 6:00-7:00pm, tune in as Conference of California Bar Associations (CCBA) will be taking over the airwaves. Specifically CCBA’s officers, including WLALA Board member and CCBA’s CFO Shaun Dabby Jacobs, will be featured on the “Your Legal Rights” weekly feature on KALW-91.7 FM (NPR’s oldest affiliate in the NorCal region). For more than 35 years, Your Legal Rights has provided KALW listeners with free legal information and guidance, carrying on the work of the program’s founding host, Chuck Finney. They will be taking questions from listeners and will discuss CCBA, its role in Justice Through Laws, and diversity in the practice. For more information regarding CCBA, go to ccba.law
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Fall 2021 Law School Externship Program |
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The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California seeks to hire exceptionally talented law students, especially those from diverse backgrounds, who wish to serve the public and the cause of justice by becoming legal externs. The Office is now accepting applications for its Fall 2021 Law School Externship Program. Applications are due March 15, but externs are hired on a rolling basis. For application information, please CLICK HERE.
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Summer 2021 Law Fellowship Opportunity
The deadline for 1Ls and 2Ls to apply has been extended through Sunday, March 14, 2021.
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Athene Law, LLP (Athene) and the Center for Legal Affairs of the California Medical Association (CMA) proudly announce a first-of-its-kind equity and inclusion Health Law and Policy Fellowship (Fellowship) for summer 2021, designed to increase access to the health care law sector for law students from underrepresented communities and backgrounds. With the long-term goal of increasing diversity in the health law segment of the legal profession, the Fellowship is designed to provide law students demonstrating high potential with an intensive and meaningful legal experience at two prominent health law organizations. For application information, please CLICK HERE.
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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 apawla.ylls@gmail.com. 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.
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Upcoming Local Bar Events and News |
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Invitation to Judge: The American Mock Trial Association
The American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), a non-profit that hosts trial advocacy competitions for undergraduate students, invites you to judge at one of its tournaments during February and March. To sign up to judge, just complete this registration form HERE.
VOLUNTEER MOCK TRIAL JUDGES NEEDED!
UCLA’s Undergraduate Mock Trial Program seeks volunteer judges, attorneys or law students to serve as Presiding Judges or Scoring Judges for the only two Los Angeles area collegiate mock trial tournaments of 2021. For more information and to volunteer, please CLICK HERE.
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To view the rest of the local bar events and news, please CLICK HERE.
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Request for Attorney Mentors for WLALA Law Student Mentor Program
Over 100 mentorship opportunities now available! Has a mentor impacted your career?
Now is the time to pay it forward! WLALA has over 100 women law students seeking a mentor like you.
CLICK HERE to show your interest and share how much time you’d be willing to commit, no amount is too small and the rewards are unlimited!
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WLALA Networking Facebook Page
We are excited to announce that WLALA has created a Facebook page for members called WLALA Networking where you can connect with other members of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. You can join HERE. Please note that you must be a member to join. Before posting, please be sure to read the Rules and Guidelines here:
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New Members
Michelle Ahn, Andrea X. Ales, Helen Bendix, Simone G. Bishara, Liz Burnett, Dajana Buzo, Olivia Davis, Brittaney de la Torre, Maria G. Diaz, Sadie H. Diaz, Katie Dimas, Lorrina Duffy, Joanna Edstrom, Shayna Elian, Taylor E. Farias, Alexa Fifield, Brianna Figueroa, Jacquelyn P. Goldman, Zalondria Graham, Wendy Hale, Jessica M. Hammond, Sharon M. Hernandez-Lopez, Jade L. Husain, Kendall M. James, Soraya Kelly, Cindy Kemakolam, Karina Therese A. Laigo, Stacy Lee, Mindy LeMoine, Valerie Li, Elizabeth Little, Gemma Malki, Sharon Mayer, Patience McHenry, Nicholas McLaughlin, Mairin McQueen, Kristin Adbel Messih, Ayda Mirafshar, Kayla Murphy, Wendy On, Lisa Ow, Rena Patel, Jessica Pettit, Joshua Quaye, Meredith B. Rasmussen, Jillian Rosen, Susan Rosenthal, Emma S. Sholder, Kelsey Thayer, Amelia E. Tidwell, Iyaunna Towery, Linh Tran, Genovpetry Uyuni, Esmeralda Verdin, Andrea Vizzo, Josephine Von Schorlemer, Whitney Williams, Robert Winter, Saundra Wootton, Erica Yen, Karisa You, Veronica Zamago.
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WLALA Job Bank
Did you know that your WLALA membership allows you to access the WLALA Job Bank? The Job Bank has employment opportunities from different non-profit organizations and law firms.
Frost Law Firm, A growing plaintiff firm focused on asbestos and toxic torts has an immediate need for an experienced (1 to 5+ years) litigation attorney to help manage their growing caseload. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Parker Milliken seeks an associate attorney with at least three years of experience. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
LimNexus is seeking a litigation associate for our Los Angeles office. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Department of Industrial Relations is hiring for an Attorney III. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Agricultural Labor Relations Board is hiring for an Attorney III. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Agricultural Labor Relations Board is hiring for a Deputy General Counsel IV. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
McGuireWoods is seeking junior-senior level Associates to join its Corporate & Private Equity department. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) is seeking a talented, full-time Attorney to represent vulnerable clients in SSI, SSDI, and CAPI disability establishment hearings. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) seeks an experienced, dynamic, and creative Managing Attorney to provide leadership support and subject matter expertise to ICLC Attorneys and legal support staff. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) seeks a talented full-time Staff Attorney to serve our clients who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
The Office of the Attorney General is seeking to fill attorney positions throughout the State of California. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Slaughter, Reagan & Cole, LLP is hiring for an Associate Attorney. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Scali Rasmussen has an opening for a Paralegal. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Scali Rasmussen has an outstanding opportunity for a Transactional Attorney in its downtown Los Angeles office. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Scali Rasmussen has an opening for a Litigation Secretary. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Scali Rasmussen has an outstanding opportunity for a Litigator in its downtown Los Angeles office. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Kutak Rock LLP's Los Angeles office is seeking a Public Finance/Real Estate Finance Associate Attorney with 1-3 years of experience. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
The Office of the Attorney General is seeking to fill attorney positions throughout the State of California. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
California Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General Environment Section is hiring for Deputy Attorney General III. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Public Counsel is hiring for Staff Attorney positions, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Project and Children’s Rights Project. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
You must be a current member and logged into the website to view job postings. If you need help obtaining your username and password, please email info@wlala.org. To view the WLALA Job Bank, please CLICK HERE and click on the Search Openings link in the upper left corner of the page.
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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.
- WLALA Mission Statement
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The WLALA newsletter is a publication of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Contents do not necessarily reflect the views of WLALA. To advertise and for rates, contact the WLALA Office at info@wlala.org. The newsletter welcomes articles, submissions and information about our members’ activities. For information about submissions to the WLALA newsletter, please contact Farah Tabibkhoei at ftabibkhoei@reedsmith.com.
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