OCWLA Statement Updated April 2024
Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA) proudly celebrates our 49th Anniversary this year. Our enthusiastic and diverse Board of Directors has worked hard to deliver events and programming that reflect our mission of advancing women in the legal profession by providing a professional network to its members, raising awareness of discrimination and bias, and supporting charitable organizations.
Each year, the OCWLA hosts several signature events that continue to be well-attended and successful. In March, we hosted our annual Wine Event at an elegant new venue, the Park Club. We also will host the Women Judges Reception this summer where we honor the many women judges of Orange County’s federal and state bench. We will also be recognizing the California Women Lawyer’s Joan Dempsey Klein Award Winner, the Honorable Elizabeth Macias. In October, we will host our Annual Gala, which is our signature fundraising event. At the Gala, the OCWLA will honor our Attorney of the Year, Judge of the Year, and the recipient of the Advancement of Women Award. OCWLA’s philanthropy recipients will also be recognized at the Gala. We will close out the year with our Holiday Party and Installation Dinner, where we will install our incoming Board of Directors.
In addition to these signature events, OCWLA hosts programs on relevant topics that feature members of the bench and bar. In April, we hosted Equal Pay Day, which is a program that aims to raise awareness about the pay disparity women face and empower its members to address this issue. OCWLA also provides low or no-cost networking opportunities, such as monthly Book Club, philanthropy activities and free coffee meet-ups.
OCWLA, through its charitable arm, the OCWLA Foundation, is dedicated to philanthropic giving to non-profit organizations and charities in the spirit of advancing women’s interests. OCWLA also awards bar stipends and diversity bar stipends twice annually to outstanding law school graduates who are studying for the California Bar Examination.
OCWLA offers free membership to judges, first year admittees and law students, and also offers discounted membership to junior lawyers and government lawyers.
We look forward to working together with our members to advance our mission in the Orange County community.
For more information about OCWLA, visit www.ocwla.org or email info@ocwla.org.
For more information about upcoming events, visit www.ocwla.org.