ORANGE COUNTY WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION

Welcome to September, OCWLA Members!

Thanks to all of you who helped honor our women judges at the Annual Women Judges Reception on August 21. We had a record turn-out for the event with 144 registered. We are very grateful to our gracious host, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, who helped coordinate the event as it has done the last several years. 

We are also very grateful to our sponsors, including Gill Law Group, PC, CalPrivate Bank, Bock & Plummer, Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo LLP, Steno, Carno Law Group, Kahana Feld, Judicate West, Cottle Keen Lopiccolo & Heyde, LLP, Buchalter, JAMS, Minyard Morris, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Leslie Law Firm, Mediator Michelle A. Reinglass, Montage Legal Group, Traut Injury Law, Aptus Court Reporting, Silvana Sarkis, and Krystal Mosqueda. Without you this special event would not be possible.

We would also like to thank our gracious sponsors Bock & Plummer, Silvana Sarkis, Leslie Law Firm, and Lexitas Irvine for hosting our first annual Suffragette Day Coffee. Members were able to enjoy breakfast and coffee with colleagues from across Orange County while celebrating the remarkable women who fought for women’s right to vote. We also heard from the League of Women Voters on their work to protect voting rights.

We have an exciting MCLE opportunity coming up September 26, when two former homicide prosecutors will present on the People v. Hosein Nayeri case. The case is the subject of the Hulu documentary “Devil in the Desert,” and the ABC podcast of the same name hit the number one spot in the country for several weeks this summer. Matt Murphy is now with ABC, and Heather Brown has her own practice where she specializes in representing victims of sexual assault. Get your ticket now to hear from these two fantastic speakers while enjoying a delicious lunch at the Pacific Club—this event will sell out.

Also coming up this month is our members-only book club on September 29 at Mimi’s Café in Tustin. OCWLA Past President and current Board Member Dana Heyde will lead the discussion on Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore.

We have worked with professionals this year to help our members to hone their personal brand and marketing message. Our final event in the professional tool kit series will be generously hosted by the Veronica Beard store in Fashion Island. Members can register to attend this private shopping experience with a friend or client, and the store has graciously agreed to donate 15% of the proceeds to the OCWLA Foundation. Don’t miss this great opportunity to support the OCWLA Foundation, update your wardrobe and network with colleagues and clients. The event will be on October 9 from 4-7 pm.

I’d like to take the opportunity to also give recognition to this year’s OCWLA honorees who will take center stage at the OCWLA Golden Legacy Gala at the VEA hotel on October 16:

Gala tickets are selling fast and the event will sell out. Secure your spot with a sponsorshipto market your business. We are also still soliciting donations for our silent auction.

Also, it’s time for OCWLA’s annual election for ten (10) Director positions. If you are interested in running, and a current member, please find more information here.

Finally, we’d like to highlight some fall pro bono opportunities for our members:

Veterans Legal Institute: 

VA Hospital in Long Beach Clinic

September 19

Family Law Clinic

September 19

Elder Law & Disability Rights Center:

Sign up here!

Estate Plan Clinics

Part 1: September 6, Part 2: September 20 in Mission Viejo

Limited Conservatorship Clinics

September 13 & October 11 at CHOC

Please contact these organizations to reserve your spot!

May your fall be productive and full of happy surprises.

Warmly,

Tracy Hughes

Raines Feldman Littrell LLP

2025 OCWLA President