Women Lawyers of Alameda County is entering its 27th year in 2007. Great changes for women in the law have been made since we began. Both our bench and bar now claim significant numbers of women in our ranks. But we as lawyers and citizens are far from final success in establishing equality of opportunity and equality of respect for all women. Our US Supreme Court has only one woman justice. And the number of women clerks in the Supreme Court is the lowest since 1994. The ABA report of July 2006 documents the discrimination against women lawyers of color in private practice law firms. Women in every stratum of US life are experiencing a worsening of their situation. The income of families with children has declined since 2000. More women are living in extreme poverty, particularly women of color, the elderly and single mothers.

We have a lot of work to do to continue our mission to be “a voice for women in the law”. I look forward to talking with everyone in our membership about the future of our organization – what we can do together to better the condition of life for women in Alameda County.

WLAC began as an independent organization in 1980, evolving from a woman's committee of the Alameda County Bar Association. As was the fashion at the time, we were loosely
"governed" by a Steering Committee and reached decisions by consensus until we found ourselves unable to obtain insurance for an event because we had no President to sign for the organization. Ellen Beilock recalls that we more or less drew straws and she lost, so she was the first President; others recall that her leadership qualities made her the obvious choice.

The first Judges' Dinner was in the YWCA on Webster Street; we could smell the chlorine from the swimming pool. The event was mobbed, women judges being quite the novelty. There were only 150 women judges nationwide in 1979. This was in the early 80's, by which time Judge Mosbacher had already retired and there were 5 women judges serving in the county, Judges Patel and Deal having already been elevated to the Federal District Court and Court of Appeal respectively. Those 5 were Judges Taber, Collins, Girard, Brosnahan and Sullivan. Since Judge Taber is currently retired (but sitting on assignment), Judge Brosnahan is the senior woman still sitting, having begun her service in 1979.

California Women Lawyers and most local women's bar organizations were founded in the 1970s and early 1980s, when women were first entering the profession in significant numbers, to support women generally and to encourage then Governor Brown to appoint women to the bench, which he did, changing the face of the California judiciary forever. Over the years since then, the agenda has evolved in a myriad of ways. The influence of the women's bars in the judicial appointment process has gone through a number of phases, but it is significant to note that the current governor's appointments have included over 30% women, although none yet in Alameda County.
Priscilla Camp, Former President WLAC

WLAC has provided leadership for the establishment of the Children's Waiting Rooms in Alameda County courthouses. It remains committed to mutual support among women lawyers and to encouraging the appointment of qualified women and supportive men to the bench at all levels. It is developing mentoring programs for young lawyers, and participating in Bay Area diversity programs with minority bar associations. Its Board of Directors is at maximum capacity of 15 for 2007 (plus Judicial Liaison). Members are encouraged to participate in leadership and on committees and new program ideas are always welcomed.