About
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc.
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. is a non-profit corporation whose mission is dedicated to charitable, educational and community-based services, and addressing the needs and concerns of African-American women in the legal profession. BWL was founded in 1975, by then Judge Vaino Spencer* and then U.S. Congresswoman Yvonne Burke. It was originally named the Black Women Lawyers of Southern California. Attorneys Sandra Carter and Shirley Henderson, the Co-Convenors, were charged with spreading the word about this new organization. To help with this task, they enlisted the Founding Convenors: Attorneys Irma
J. Brown, who became the first woman judge appointed to the Compton Municipal Court and was later elevated to the Superior Court; Linda Taylor Ferguson*, Lola McAlpin Grant, Michele Washington McLaughlin, Brenda Shockley, and Maxine Thomas* who later became the Assistant Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court and then the Presiding Judge of that Court. Maxine Thomas was the first African-American woman to hold these positions. The first BWL meeting was a luncheon at the Medallion Restaurant in Los Angeles to discuss the marked absence of an organization which supported African-American women in the legal profession. The dialogue and events that followed became the genesis of BWL.
Over the years, BWL branched out and grew through its various community projects and committee activities. On an ongoing basis, BWL provides law student mentorship, including annual programs to assist students with preparation for the California bar exam. BWL also has moderated public election forums, given holiday food baskets to needy families, made donations to shelters for the homeless and battered women, and expanded its outreach programs to local schools.
In 1982, BWL, under the stewardship of then President Mablean Ephriam (Judge Mablean), and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (“WLALA”), co-founded the Family Law Center now known as the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law (“Center”). It was renamed in memory of one of its most dedicated volunteers. The Center has evolved into one of the primary providers of pro bono family law services in Los Angeles County. In recognition of BWL’s significant community contributions as a founder and co-sponsor of the Center, the National Conference of Women Bar Associations presented its first annual Public Service Award to BWL and WLALA in July 1985. Later, the Los Angeles County Bar joined the Center as a sponsor.
In 1991, BWL was among the various ethnic minority bar associations that formed the Multicultural Bar Alliance. Through its continued involvement and support of this alliance, BWL offers a needed channel for communication for attorneys of color, both outside and within the African-American community.
In 1992, the BWL Foundation was established to support and fund BWL’s numerous charitable, educational and community-based services. The viability of BWL’s programs is dependent upon your support and commitment. Thank you for your interest and commitment to our organization.