The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation (OWLF) is pleased to announce its selection of Legal Aid Services of Oregon as its 501(c)(3) public interest organization partner in the Multnomah Bar Association's Fellows Program for 2019. This is the first year of the MBA’s Fellows Program, which focuses on enhancing the diversity of Multnomah County’s legal community. The OWLF mission is to educate and support women and minorities in accessing and participating in the justice system. LASO provides free civil advocacy and representation to low-income Oregonians on a variety of poverty, gender, and racial justice issues and is dedicated to eliminating barriers to access to justice for underserved populations and cultural communities. OWLF will provide the $10,000 stipend for one Fellow’s 10-week summer internship following their first year of law school. LASO has committed to providing the Fellow with whom it ultimately pairs a meaningful work experience and mentorship. Next summer’s … [Read more...] about 2019 Fellows Program Recipient Announced
Summer Event a Success
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation is happy to share that our Summer Soirée, held on July 12, 2018, was a huge success! We were pleased to celebrate with a wonderful group of guests at Nel Centro in Portland. For more information about the OWLS Foundation grants, which were highlighted at the Soirée, click here. Thank you to everyone who joined for taking part in the festivities--and special thanks to Paulson Coletti for generously sponsoring the event. … [Read more...] about Summer Event a Success
Britanie Martinez is Awarded the Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant
The OWLS Foundation is pleased to award a Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant to Britanie Martinez. The grant is given in honor of Vernellia R. Randall, who has made a lasting contribution to the Foundation and is playing a significant role in efforts to give women and minorities greater access to the justice system. Britanie is the single custodial parent of a three-year-old. She graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School in May 2018 and will take the July bar exam. Britanie is an only child and the first person in her extended family to go to college. She is passionate about immigration and criminal defense law and fighting for clients, including minorities and those in poverty, who deserve quality legal representation. [Post by Terri Kraemer, reprinted with permission from the Summer 2018 issue of the Oregon Women Lawyers AdvanceSheet.] … [Read more...] about Britanie Martinez is Awarded the Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant
Salem Day Out for CourtCare – June 2
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation is proud to support this important event to help fund Mid-Valley Courtcare. The Oregon Women Lawyers Mary Leonard Chapter and Willamette Valley American Inn of Court together with our title sponsor Surety Solutions LLC are proud to present Salem Day Out for CourtCare on Saturday, June 2, 2018. This family-friendly event benefiting Mid-Valley CourtCare will be centered in the alleyway between 1859 Cider Company and Salem Summit Co and progress to neighboring businesses. Attendees can sample cider, beer, wine, mocktails, and small bites. The event will feature exciting raffle prizes and auction items. We are also planning arts and crafts venues for the kids. Salem Day Out for CourtCare has something for everyone and is a great way to enjoy our Salem community and support a great cause. This event aims to raise between $10,000 and $20,000 for Mid-Valley CourtCare, so we definitely need your support! Mid-Valley CourtCare is a charitable … [Read more...] about Salem Day Out for CourtCare – June 2
Request for Proposals – Fellows Program
The Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation (OWLF) is very pleased to announce its participation in the Multnomah Bar Association's Fellows Program. OWLF will provide the $10,000 stipend for one Fellow's 10-week summer internship following their first year of law school. Since OWLF does not employ lawyers or law students, it is seeking a 501(c)(3) public interest legal organization to provide a fellow with a meaningful work experience and mentorship. OWLF will provide $10,000 to its selected partner to be paid to the fellowship intern through the partner's payroll. The first summer internship will be in 2019. There will be some introductory meetings with the Fellows in the fall of 2018. The OWLF mission is to educate and support women and minorities in accessing and participating in the justice system and its partner in the Fellowship program should do work that supports this mission. Any organization that would like to provide a summer internship to a Fellow, paid by OWLF, should … [Read more...] about Request for Proposals – Fellows Program
Dayna Jones Awarded the Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant
Congratulations to Lewis & Clark law student Dayna Jones! She is the recipient of the Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant, which is being awarded by the OWLS Foundation for the February 2018 bar exam. Ms. Jones has focused her studies on environmental justice and Native American Law, while parenting her two children, 10 and 2 years old, during her law school career. Dayna says the following about receiving this award: “Receiving the Vernellia Randall Bar Exam Grant takes a weight off my shoulders that I cannot describe. As a working mother with two children, I constantly balance the stress of financing law school and paying for the roof over our heads; this task is more difficult than most can ever know. Preparing for the bar exam is a difficult process shared by all applicants, but preparing for the bar exam while taking care of children and working is a horse of a different color. Receiving the Vernellia Randall Bar Exam Grant will allow me to focus on the important … [Read more...] about Dayna Jones Awarded the Vernellia R. Randall Bar Exam Grant
OWLS Foundation Celebrates the 2017 Armonica Law Student Grant Recipients
Members of the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation gathered at two events in November, 2017 with recipients and judges to celebrate our Armonica Law Student Grant recipients in Salem and Portland. Congratulations to grant recipients Traci McDowall, Lekha Fernandes, Myla Sepulveda, Marina Spencer and Demi Jacques. Each receives $1000.00 for textbook costs. Many thanks to Judges Stacie Beckerman, Adrienne Nelson, Cheryl Albrecht, Youlee Yim You, Meghan Flynn, and Mary Mertens James, who will each serve as a mentor for the recipients this year. … [Read more...] about OWLS Foundation Celebrates the 2017 Armonica Law Student Grant Recipients
Armonica Grant Recipients Announced
Congratulations to the 2017-2018 Armonica Law Student Grant recipients! The Foundation is proud to offer this grant in honor of late Foundation Board member Armonica Gilford, the first Black female Oregon Assistant Attorney General. The grant is available to third- or fourth-year students attending the three Oregon law schools who can demonstrate a commitment to the Foundation’s goals through their personal volunteer or educational experience. Ethnic minorities and women are especially encouraged to apply. Each recipient receives a monetary grant in the amount of $1000 and is matched with a judge who serves as the student's mentor for the academic year. The recipients and their mentor-judges include the following: Traci McDowall (Willamette University College of Law), to be mentored by Judge Meagan Flynn: Coming from a rural upbringing to pursue her legal education, Traci’s goal is to break the barriers that many young women face in pursuing their dreams. Demi Jacques (Lewis … [Read more...] about Armonica Grant Recipients Announced
Jill Tanner to Receive Oregon State Bar Taxation Section Award of Merit
The OWLS Foundation is delighted that our board member Jill Tanner has been selected as the 2017 Oregon State Bar Taxation Section Award of Merit recipient. Prior to her retirement from the bench, she served on the Oregon Tax Court for nearly two decades, most recently as Presiding Magistrate. The award recognizes her for exemplary leadership and service to the Oregon State Tax Court, the Bar, and the community in general; her professionalism; her commitment to the advancement of women in the legal profession; and for her tireless efforts at mentoring new lawyers. The award will be conferred on Thursday, June 1, at the Oregon Tax Institute. Online registration is available here. … [Read more...] about Jill Tanner to Receive Oregon State Bar Taxation Section Award of Merit
Q&A With Roberts Leadership Conference Grant Recipient Nicole Rose
Jammell Nicole Gamboa Rose is a recipient of the Justice Betty Roberts Leadership Conference Grant. We asked her to share her thoughts about the experience with us. Tell us about yourself: I have been an attorney in Oregon since 2012. My background was in finance; however, I wanted to pursue a career in which I felt I could truly help people who were voiceless or felt voiceless in our society. I had desired to become an attorney since a young age and was encouraged to pursue law school. I graduated from Willamette College of Law and passed the Oregon bar a few months later. I am married to my best friend who I met my first year of law school. We have a beautiful blended family which includes four children-- three girls and a young son. I am a happy and very proud mother of four. I currently work for the Multnomah County Health Department writing complex mental health contracts. I truly enjoy what I do and the people I work with, though my true desire is to have the … [Read more...] about Q&A With Roberts Leadership Conference Grant Recipient Nicole Rose
