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Happy September, OCWLA Members & Friends!
From Recognition to Action
August gave us a meaningful opportunity to gather as a community and celebrate the extraordinary women serving on our bench at OCWLA’s annual Women Judges Reception. We were especially proud to honor Tracy Miller and Judge Allison Chan, whose accomplishments, leadership, and service reflect the importance of representation throughout our legal system.
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Recognition matters. When we take the time to acknowledge women who lead with excellence, integrity, and courage, we affirm that their contributions are seen and valued. We also provide the next generation of attorneys with visible examples of what is possible.
But recognition cannot be the conclusion of our work. It must inspire us to act.
We turn recognition into action when we mentor a newer attorney, make an introduction, recommend a qualified woman for an opportunity, or encourage someone to pursue a leadership position she may not yet believe she is ready to hold. We do it when we attend educational programs, support one another’s professional development, volunteer in our community, and continue advocating for a legal profession in which every woman has the opportunity to thrive.
This work does not always occur on a stage or in front of an audience. Often, its greatest impact is found in quieter moments: offering thoughtful advice, sharing hard-earned experience, extending an invitation, or simply making space for another woman’s voice to be heard. These individual acts, repeated throughout our community, create lasting institutional change.
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One important way to turn commitment into action is through service on OCWLA’s Board of Directors. Board service offers members an opportunity to help shape our programs, strengthen our community partnerships, support the next generation of women lawyers, and contribute directly to the continued growth of our organization. It is also an opportunity to develop meaningful professional relationships and leadership skills while serving an organization whose mission has advanced women in the legal profession for decades.
As we look toward the coming year, I encourage members who care deeply about OCWLA’s mission to consider becoming more involved—whether by seeking a position on the Board, serving on a committee, sponsoring a program, or volunteering at an event. You do not need to wait until you feel completely ready or have all the answers. Leadership often begins with a willingness to step forward, contribute your perspective, and do the work alongside others who share your commitment.
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Our upcoming educational programs provide additional opportunities to put our mission into practice. This month, we invite you to join us for our September1 hr Civility in the Legal Profession MCLE: Civility Matters: Beauty, Liability & the Art of the Deposition, onSeptember 14.We will also offer our November CLE "From the Battlefield to the Bench: Two Vietnam Veterans on Service, Justice & the Law"in honor ofVeterans Day, onNovember 18.These programs reflect OCWLA’s commitment to providing timely, substantive education while creating opportunities for our members to learn from and connect with leaders throughout the legal community. I hope you will make plans to attend both programs.
As we move through September, I encourage each of us to consider how we can carry the energy of celebration forward. Whom can we mentor? Whose work can we elevate? Where can we advocate for greater inclusion? And how can we use our own positions—wherever we may be in our careers—to open a door for someone coming behind us?
OCWLA’s strength has always come from members who do more than believe in our mission. They put that mission into practice. Through our CLE programs, professional development opportunities, community partnerships, philanthropy, mentorship, and meaningful connections, we continue transforming shared values into measurable impact.
That work will also be on full display at ourAnnual Gala on October 15. The Gala is not only a celebration of the remarkable individuals and organizations strengthening our legal community; it also supports OCWLA’s continued efforts to advance women in the profession and create opportunities for future leaders. I hope you will join us for an evening that celebrates how far we have come while recommitting ourselves to the work that remains ahead.
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To everyone who attended, supported, sponsored, or helped organize the Women Judges Reception, thank you. Your presence demonstrated that honoring women’s leadership is not merely ceremonial—it is a reflection of the community we are committed to building together.
May the recognition we shared in August become the action we carry forward in September and throughout the remainder of the year. Whether through mentorship, education, Board service, community engagement, or the simple act of supporting another woman, each of us has the ability to move our mission forward.
Together, we can ensure that every achievement we celebrate becomes a foundation for the next.
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Heidi Plummer
2026 OCWLA President
Bock & Plummer, Attorneys at Law
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