2026 MARGARET A. GANNON (MAG) LEGAL EDUCATION STIPEND
Applications are now closed.
Women Lawyers of Alameda County (WLAC) established the Margaret A. Gannon legal education stipend fund to provide financial assistance to help offset some of the costs of a bar review course (or related study materials) for law students and graduates who are preparing to take the July California Bar Exam.
Up to four $2000 stipends will be awarded at the WLAC Spring Reception.
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Individuals eligible to receive a WLAC Margaret A. Gannon legal education stipend must:
(1) Join WLAC before or at the time of submitting a stipend application (free for students!);
(2) Intent to apply for the July 2026 California Bar Exam & provide proof upon registration;
(3) Not currently be a member of any state bar; and
(4) Intend to pursue a legal career.
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To apply for this scholarship, please provide the following:
(1) a personal statement;
(2) your current resume;
(3) you current law school transcript;
(4) a letter of recommendation;
(5) an updated headshot; and
(6) a 50-100 word biography.
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Your personal statement should be a one-page statement (limited to no more than 800 words) describing your professional goals and also your involvement with women’s issues— particularly with law-related organizations, such as WLAC. Please include your connection, if any, to Alameda County; and why receiving this stipend would be important to you, including your financial need, if any.
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Please email one PDF file that contains you application materials to womenlawyers@gmail.com.
Please include the following language at the bottom of your personal statement, along with your dated signature:
”The information given by me on the attached resume and this personal statement is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that all application materials submitted will become the property of WLAC.” -
2026 RECIPIENTS
Hyunsun (Allison) Jeon (UC Berkeley Law)
Metyia Phillips (UC Berkeley Law)
Millie Hernandez (McGeorge School of Law)
Stephanie Bernaola (UC Davis School of Law)
2025 RECIPIENTS
Brooke Harris (UC Law SF)
JoAnne Lee (UC Davis School of Law)
Katelyn Donaldson (American University Washington College of Law)
Mariam Daoud (University of Southern California Gould School of Law)
2024 RECIPIENTS
Thao “Annie” Le (University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law)
Basira Qazizada (UC Berkeley Law)
Estefani Munive (Golden Gate University School of Law)
Risa Nagel ( UC Berkeley Law)
2023 RECIPIENTS
Alysyn Martinez (UC Law SF)
Sydney Moon (UC Berkeley Law)
Tae Evans (UC Berkeley Law)
Taylor Flores (Golden Gate University School of Law)
2022 RECIPIENTS
Ezera Miller-Walfish (UC Law SF)
Gabby Sergi (UC Law SF)
Jameelah Najieb (UC Law SF)
Natalie Thompson (UC Law SF)
2021 RECIPIENTS
Alice Giang
Amara Blades
Cecelia Salem
Liliana Lopez
2020 RECIPIENTS
Ashly Mirador
Heather Turner
Jessica Herrera
Jessica Juarez
Norjmoo Battulga
2019 RECIPIENTS
Christina Alvernaz
Justine Joya
Melissa Herrera
Michelle Human
2018 RECIPIENTS
Alexis DeBose
Faride Perez-Aucar
Lisa Pinelli
Mia Akers
2017 RECIPIENTS
Antoinette Rodriguez
Cara Alsterberg
Deborah Awolope
Emmaline Campbell
Theresa Brick
2016 RECIPIENTS
Ariel Vento
Emily R. Champlin
Fanna Gamal
Kiran Sidhu
2015 RECIPIENTS
Alexandra Medina
Hon. T. Le
Sonya Laddon Rahders
2014 RECIPIENTS
Angela Habibi
Holly Pearson
Shauna Madison
2013 RECIPIENTS
Leah Abraham
Maria Dominguez
2012 RECIPIENTS
Diva Aziz
Mika Domingo
Nedda Black
2011 RECIPIENTS
Katie Londenberg
Lynn Ta
Natalya Attestatova
2026 KAZAN McCLAIN PARTNERS’ FOUNDATION BAR STUDY SCHOLARSHIP
Applications are now closed.
The Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation Bar Study Scholarship was created in 2023 to provide financial assistance to law students to help offset the cost of a bar preparation course. This scholarship supports the values shared by Women Lawyers of Alameda County (WLAC) and represents the Foundation’s mission statement. The Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation was formed in 1994 and over the years has disbursed over $25 million in grants to a wide array of community and civic organizations, including $6 million for mesothelioma research. Its mission is to benefit the public through grants to organizations and individuals, including enhancing access to, participation in, and education about the legal system and governmental processes.
This $4,000 scholarship will be awarded to the top recipient based on their exceptional academic achievements and demonstrated commitment to the study of law.
The recipient will be awarded at the WLAC Spring Reception.
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Individuals eligible to receive a WLAC Margaret A. Gannon legal education stipend must:
(1) Join WLAC before or at the time of submitting a stipend application (free for students!);
(2) Intent to apply for the July 2026 California Bar Exam & provide proof upon registration;
(3) Not currently be a member of any state bar; and
(4) Intend to pursue a legal career. description
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To apply for this scholarship, please provide the following:
(1) a personal statement;
(2) your current resume;
(3) you current law school transcript;
(4) a letter of recommendation;
(5) an updated headshot; and
(6) a 50-100 word biography.
-
Your personal statement should be a one-page statement (limited to no more than 800 words) describing your professional goals and also your involvement with women’s issues— particularly with law-related organizations, such as WLAC. Please include your connection, if any, to Alameda County; and why receiving this stipend would be important to you, including your financial need, if any.
-
Please email one PDF file that contains you application materials to womenlawyers@gmail.com.
Please include the following language at the bottom of your personal statement, along with your dated signature:
”The information given by me on the attached resume and this personal statement is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that all application materials submitted will become the property of WLAC.” -
2026 RECIPIENT
Simone Browne (UC Berkeley Law)
2025 RECIPIENT
Angelica Cesar (UC Berkeley Law)
RHODA AND JUDGE STUART HING SCHOLARSHIP
2026 scholarship not yet open.
The WLAC/Rhoda and Judge Stuart Hing Scholarship was created in 2018. As an attorney, Judge Hing was a Board member of WLAC, and even after his appointment to the Alameda County Superior Court in 2008, he continued to serve for almost a decade as a judicial liaison to the Board. This Scholarship represents a continuing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality, values shared by WLAC and the Stuart and Rhoda Hing Charitable Trust.
Women Lawyers of Alameda County is pleased to announce that we will again be awarding one $5,000 law student scholarship, courtesy of the Stuart and Rhoda Hing Charitable Trust. The scholarship will be presented at the WLAC Annual Judges’ Reception.
Photo by Mariah Weaver, Oakland 2023
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A copy of your certified law school transcript;
A current resume;
A personal statement which meet the requirements under “personal statement” (no more than 2 double-spaced pages).
1 letter of recommendation addressing the candidate’s suitability for this scholarship;
A statement confirming availability to attend the WLAC Annual Judges’ Reception on October 23, 2025.
Headshot
50-to-100-Word Bio
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Submit a personal statement addressing why the candidate exemplifies the requirements below:
1. Diverse (Demonstrate two or more intersecting background factors: e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ect.);
2. A law student (must have completed at least one year of law school and is currently in good standing);
3. An individual with a demonstrated commitment to advocating for issues impacting women and/or the advancement of women in the legal profession;
4. Engaged in a leadership role in her/his/their community or demonstrates significant leadership potential;
5. Actively engaged in the Alameda County legal community; and
6. Able to attend the WLAC Annual Judges’ Reception to receive the Scholarship.
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Interested candidates should email the following submissions in a single pdf to WLAC at womenlawyers@gmail.com.
File Name: “Last_First_Hing Scholarship”
Subject line: “WLAC/Hing Scholarship Application”
Finalists may be contacted in mid-October to schedule an interview.
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2025 RECIPIENT
KHUE MAI TRAN, BERKELEY LAW
2024 RECIPIENTJOHNSENIA BROOKS, BERKELEY LAW
2023 RECIPIENT
JACQUELINE MEJILA-CUÉLLAR, UC LAW SF
2022 RECIPIENT
NARISA ABHASAKUN, UC LAW SF
2021 RECIPIENT
SALINA ISAQ, UC HASTINGS
2019 RECIPIENT
MARIAH COOKS, GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY
2018 INAUGURAL RECIPIENT
JANANI RAMACHANDRAN, BERKELEY LAW
Simone Browne
2026 Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation Scholarship Recipient
2026 Scholarship Recipients
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Simone Browne (she/her) is a JD candidate at Berkeley Law with a deep commitment to both human rights and intersectional feminism. As a law student, she has performed hundreds of hours of pro bono with Berkeley’s International Human Rights Workshop and Name and Gender Change Workshop, and has served on the editorial boards of the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law, and Justice and the Berkeley Journal of International Law. Simone is excited to continue providing legal services to marginalized communities in the Bay Area, particularly through a gender justice lens.
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Allison Jeon is a third-year student at UC Berkeley School of Law. Originally from South Korea, Allison moved to the United States at age fifteen, a transition that ultimately fueled her passion for writing and advocacy. Her legal interests are focused on litigation and international arbitration, and she is particularly dedicated to advocating and uplifting women within the legal profession. Upon graduation, she aspires to support global expansion for Asian businesses while remaining an active mentor for women in the East Bay legal community. In her free time, Allison enjoys exploring coffee shops throughout the Bay Area.
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Metyia (muh-tie-ya) Phillips is a 3L at Berkeley Law from Houston, Texas. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of San Francisco in 2023 with a major in Politics and double minors in African American Studies and Public Service & Community Engagement. Metyia is currently the 3L Editor-in-Chief of the Berkeley Journal of Black Law and Policy. She is also a Criminal Law and Immigration Project Intern at the ACLU of Northern California. After graduation, Metyia will begin a federal clerkship in the Central District of California. Outside her academic pursuits, she loves indoor cycling, Black romance novels, and traveling.
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Millie Hernandez, a J.D. Candidate at McGeorge School of Law, is a first-generation Latina and daughter of immigrants committed to community empowerment and legal education access. She serves as Manager of the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, is a member of the Women of Color Collective (WOCC) and the Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA), and has worked with the Prisoners Civil Rights Mediation Clinic. Outside of law school, she is a LEAP Fellow supporting first-generation and underserved students. Passionate about mentorship, Millie is deeply grateful to the WLAS Scholarship for supporting her legal education.
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Stephanie Bernaola is from Oakland, California. She worked seven years as a victim advocate at the state and federal levels, specializing in sexual assault and human trafficking cases. She entered law school to pursue advocacy for abused children and attends UC Davis School of Law. At Davis, Stephanie served as Chair of the Humanitarian Aid Legal Organization, expanding public interest opportunities for students. She also served as Retention and Recruitment Chair for the Latinx Law Students Association, sat on King Hall’s Community Engagement Committee, collaborated with UCD CARE Advocates, and volunteers with community organizations supporting survivors, youth, and undocumented families.
Hyunsun (Allison) Jeon
2026 MAG Scholarship Recipient
Metyia Phillips
2026 MAG Scholarship Recipient
Millie Hernandez
2026 MAG Scholarship Recipient
Stephanie Bernaola
2025 MAG Scholarship Recipient

