Women’s Section

The Women’s Section has been a strong presence in CCCBA for over 25 years. Its members include attorneys practicing in all areas of the law who live or work in Contra Costa County.

The goals of the section are:

To further the interests of women in the legal profession and the judiciary;
To stimulate interest in and encourage discussions regarding legal and social issues of concern to women;
To promote a spirit of mutual support, cooperation and service and to foster social contacts among the Members of the Section;
To offer scholarships and support to deserving law students who have shown leadership potential, achieved academic success, and helped to advance women’s issues;
To promote diversity, equity and inclusion; and
To extend our network of contacts and support of women’s interests through affiliation with California Women Lawyers.

Men are welcome to join. The CCCBA Women’s Section is a proud Affiliate of the California Women Lawyers (www.cwl.org). Members of the Women’s Section receive a discounted membership to CWL.

The Women’s Section provides networking opportunities for its members to meet other attorneys and professionals. The section hosts informational programs and lunches, some offering MCLE credit and others focusing on matters of more personal interest, such as job opportunities and rainmaking.

The Women’s Section annually awards the Honorable Patricia Herron and Honorable Ellen James Scholarship to deserving law students who have shown leadership potential, achieved academic success, and helped to advance women’s issues. The section hosts a scholarship fundraiser each spring, usually in the form of a silent auction and wine-tasting. We gratefully accept donations to the Scholarship Fund anytime .

All members are invited to attend the board meetings which are held on the first Tuesday of each month. If you would like to serve on the board or want further information, please contact the section at [email protected].

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The Honorable Patricia Herron and The Honorable Ellen James
2022 Scholarship

The Contra Costa County Bar Association’s Women’s Section is happy to announce The Honorable Patricia Herron and The Honorable Ellen James Scholarship for 2021. This scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving law student (or students) with demonstrated leadership potential, academic success, and a commitment to women’s issues and Contra Costa County.

Though things have changed quite a bit over the last 12+ months, the Women’s Section is happy to continue to be able to offer this scholarship with the support of its members and local law firms and other legal vendors. The scholarship award(s) range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the number and quality of our applicants. We are very proud of the scholarships we have been able to provide in the past and the students who have earned them. The scholarship helps deserving law students purchase textbooks, cover a portion of their school tuition, and continue pursuing their dreams of becoming a lawyer.

Please distribute the Scholarship Announcement to your students/interns and/or post it in a readily available location to ensure your students/interns are aware of this great opportunity. As noted on the announcement and application, the application deadline TBA.

We look forward to finding this year’s deserving recipient(s)!

Questions? Contact Crystal L. Van Der Putten, Livingston Law Firm, 925-952-9880 or [email protected]

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The Women’s Section congratulates 2021 scholarship winners:

Gabriella Sergi attends UC Hastings College of the Law and expects to graduate in May 2022.

Sydney Mastey attends Golden Gate University School of Law and expects to graduate in May 2022.

The CCCBA Womens’ section would like to acknowledge and
offer special thanks to the following firms and companies
for their generosity to the Womens’ Section 2021 scholarship fund

PLATINUM ($1000+)

Brown, Gee & Wenger LLP

Hon. Clare Maier

GOLD ($500+)

Ferber Law, P.C.

Martin & Vanegas, APC

McKenna Brink Signorotti LLP

Morrill Law

SILVER ($250+)

All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc.

M.S. Domingo Law Group, P.C.

Haylen Real Estate Investments