Congratulations to those students who are recipients of the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation’s Armonica Law Student Grant for the 2021-22 academic year! They are Neal Alnajran (Lewis & Clark), Jessica Charles (Willamette), Neeka Dabiri (Lewis & Clark), Kristen Holtvoigt (Lewis & Clark), Kaitlyn Lindaman (University of Oregon), and Halie Quiring (University of Oregon). Each grantee will be matched with a mentor (a judge or senior attorney) and will receive a monetary award of $2,000 for law school expenses. The Armonica Law Student Grant is named for the late Armonica Gilford, an active board member of Oregon Women Lawyers and the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation, and a treasured member of the wider legal community. To learn more about Armonica, click here. Applicants for the grant must be in their final year of legal studies at an Oregon law school. Applications for the 2022 grants will be accepted beginning on August 1. … [Read more...] about Armonica Law Student Grant recipients named for 2021
Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant Recipient is Lewis & Clark Law Student Destini Martinez
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation congratulates Lewis & Clark Law School student Destini Martinez, the recipient of a $5,000 Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant. Destini plans to take the February 2022 Oregon Bar exam. She hopes to pursue public interest work serving women and minorities as she moves forward with her legal career. The Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant is awarded two times each year. Parents in their last year of law study who intend to practice law in Oregon are invited to apply in advance of the February and July bar examinations. For more information on the application process, click here. … [Read more...] about Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant Recipient is Lewis & Clark Law Student Destini Martinez
Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant Awarded to Ana Escobedo-Barraza
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation is pleased to announce that Willamette University College of Law student Ana Escobedo-Barrarza has received a 2021 Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant. Even as a young child she was drawn to defending human rights--immigrant rights in particular. She has focused her academic career on developing skills that will help to support underrepresented communities. She plans to practice in Oregon and hopes to use her legal skills, first-hand experiences, and linguistic abilities to help people in the areas of immigration, and family law. A second Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant will be awarded in the fall. For a complete description of the grant’s details and deadlines, please click here. … [Read more...] about Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant Awarded to Ana Escobedo-Barraza
Meet Pamela Domingo, 2021 MBA Bar Fellow
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation is delighted to sponsor University of Oregon law student Pamela Domingo as a Multnomah Bar Association Fellow assisting Legal Aid Services of Oregon this summer after completion of her first year of law school. Her current areas of particular interest include criminal law, immigration law, family, law, environmental law, and public interest. Pamela was born in the Philippines and lived there until the fifth grade. She immigrated to the United States at the beginning of sixth grade and has lived in Portland ever since. She attended Warner Pacific University and majored in Criminal Justice with a minor in Human Development. As an undergrad she spent most of her summers as a College to County intern with Multnomah County. Her service to Multnomah County includes assistance as a bilingual on-call elections worker. When Pamela isn't studying, she volunteers as part of the Interfaith Movement for Immigration Justice. She also enjoys dancing, trying new … [Read more...] about Meet Pamela Domingo, 2021 MBA Bar Fellow
Congratulations to 2020 Armonica Law Student Grant Recipients!
From a field of many deserving applicants, six Oregon law students at three Oregon law schools have been chosen to receive 2020 Armonica Law Student Grants. From Lewis & Clark Law School: Amanda Haines and Roxana Manesh; from University of Oregon School of Law: Cecilia Le and Sarah Osborn; and from Willamette University College of Law: Kirsten Parsons and Cindy Strahl. To learn more about the grant, click here. … [Read more...] about Congratulations to 2020 Armonica Law Student Grant Recipients!
Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant Awarded to Hope Skelton
Congratulations to 2020 Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant recipient Hope Skelton of Willamette University College of Law. The Foundation is impressed by Hope’s commitment to public service and her tenacity as a single parent and first-generation college student. She plans to begin her legal career as a public defender and aspires to eventually open her own practice that will focus on defending women in cases of revenge porn, harassment, domestic violence, and more. “I want to make the law more accessible to women and empower them through the law to assert their rights over situations where they may feel powerless and hopeless,” shares Hope. The Foundation is honored to support Hope in her pursuit of these impressive and selfless professional goals. The Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant is named in honor of Vernellia R. Randall, who has made a lasting contribution to the Foundation and is playing a significant role in the efforts to give women and minorities greater access to the … [Read more...] about Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant Awarded to Hope Skelton
Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation Statement in Support of the Black Lives Matter Movement
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation believes that Black lives matter. We share in the collective grief and anger following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Oregon’s own Patrick Kimmons, Terrell Johnson, Keaton Otis, Andre Gladen, Quanice Hayes, Kendra James, Jason Washington, James Perez, Byron Hammick, Aaron Campbell, Koben Henrickson, John Elifritz, Christopher Kalonji, William Patrick Floyd, and too many others nationwide and here in Oregon at the hands of police and white supremacist vigilantes. When the system fails one of us, it fails us all. As legal professionals, we have a duty to stand up and demand a more just society. As members of our community, we have a duty to listen. To educate ourselves. To understand. To act. Our mission at the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation is to provide access to justice opportunities and grants to women and underrepresented members of our community. Today, in the spirit of our mission and common humanity, we … [Read more...] about Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation Statement in Support of the Black Lives Matter Movement
Lewis & Clark Law Student Queenisha Rynders is Named 2020 MBA Fellow
Queen Rynders, a Lewis & Clark law student, has been named a 2020 Multnomah Bar Association Fellow, supported by the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation for an assignment this summer with Legal Aid Services of Oregon. She hopes to earn a certificate in international law. From 2015 to 2018 she taught in Egypt, Colombia, and the United Arab Emirates. She is a US Air Force veteran and is the recipient of a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. … [Read more...] about Lewis & Clark Law Student Queenisha Rynders is Named 2020 MBA Fellow
Vernellia R. Randall Grant Awarded to Judy Kim
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the February 2020 Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant is Judy Kim of Lewis & Clark Law School. The bar exam grant is named in honor of Vernellia R. Randall, who has made a lasting contribution to the Foundation and is playing a significant role in the efforts to give women and minorities greater access to the justice system. This grant is available to parents with children under the age of 18. Applicants must be in their final year of law school and intend to practice law in Oregon. For more information about the grant criteria and deadlines for future awards, click here. … [Read more...] about Vernellia R. Randall Grant Awarded to Judy Kim
OWLS Foundation Advisory Board Member Cristina Sanz Receives Katherine H. O’Neil Volunteer Service Award
On October 18, 2019 at an event marking the 30th anniversary of Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS) Cristina Sanz was presented with the Oregon Women Lawyers Katherine H. O'Neil Volunteer Service Award. The award is presented to a member of Oregon Women Lawyers who, like Katherine O'Neil, epitomizes steadfast dedication and long-term volunteer service to promote women in the legal profession. The inaugural award was presented to Katherine O'Neil in 2009 at an event marking the organization's 20th anniversary. Here are excerpts from Trudy Allen's speech describing Cristina's service: Cristina was a charter member of OWLS and served on the OWLS Board from 1993 to 1996, when she represented Southern Oregon and made sure to make the trips to Portland (or other venues around the state) for board meetings. She ensured that the OWLS Board had a warm welcome when it traveled to Southern Oregon for meetings. And a few years ago, she helped bring OWLS’ Road to the Bench presentation to … [Read more...] about OWLS Foundation Advisory Board Member Cristina Sanz Receives Katherine H. O’Neil Volunteer Service Award