Minnesota Women Lawyers

What Minnesota Women Lawyers does

Minnesota Women Lawyers, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1972 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The organization serves more than 1,200 members including women attorneys, judges, law students, and legal employers across Minnesota, with day-to-day operations run by a three-person staff led by Executive Director Debra Pexa. Revenue is generated through tiered annual membership dues (Standard, SELECT self-selected dues from $0 to $175, and Premier), event sponsorships, partner contributions, and the MWL Foundation (a separate 501(c)(3) charitable entity incorporated in 2014).

MWL's core offerings center on a community-led GTM anchored by signature programming including the annual Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture and the Annual Meeting, the monthly Member Monday CLE Series, the Student to Attorney Mentor Program, and three annual law student scholarships. The organization operates four regional chapters (Central, Northeastern, South Central, and St. Croix Valley) and ten-plus affinity groups (e.g., Alternative Legal Careers, Corporate/In-House, Solo & Small Firm Practitioners, Black Women Attorneys), and maintains a members-only online community (MWL Exchange) powered by the YourMembership SaaS platform. Additional resources include the MWL Equity Toolkit (Compensation, Leave Policies, Workplace Arrangements & Culture) and the Volunteer Connections community service initiative.

The organization's strategic agenda advances equity, leadership, and inclusion in Minnesota's legal profession through the Partner Leadership Council (employing partners such as Ballard Spahr, Barnes & Thornburg, Dorsey & Whitney, Fredrikson & Byron, Greenberg Traurig, and Robins Kaplan), law school partnerships with Mitchell Hamline, University of Minnesota, and University of St. Thomas, and volunteer partnerships with organizations including the Infinity Project, Tubman, Dress for Success Twin Cities, and the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys. Governance is exercised by an elected Board of Directors under an annually rotating President (FY26-27: Karen Opp, the 55th President).

Name

Minnesota Women Lawyers

Legal name

Minnesota Women Lawyers, Inc.

Website

https://mwlawyers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Minnesota Women Lawyers is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1972, serving 1,200+ women attorneys, judges, law students, and legal employers through mentorship, CLE programming, equity initiatives, and advocacy across Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Professional Association

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Women bar association
• Legal professional membership
• Attorney professional development
• Women in law networking
• CLE legal education

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues provide baseline financial support for MWL's operations and programs. Dues are tiered based on bar admission year, with SELECT membership allowing self-selected amounts ($0-$175) for those who qualify, particularly public/non-profit/solo/part-time attorneys. Premier memberships offer higher-tier benefits at increased dues levels. Membership runs July 1 to June 30 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Minnesota Women Lawyers is a nonprofit professional membership association serving women attorneys, judges, law students, and legal employers in Minnesota. Its core offering is annual membership (with Standard, SELECT self-selected dues, and Premier tiers) bundled with programming including CLE courses, the Wahl Lecture and Annual Meeting, mentorship, affinity groups, regional chapters, the MWL Exchange online community, scholarships, equity research, and volunteer opportunities.

Product overview

Minnesota Women Lawyers is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional bar association serving over 1,200 women attorneys, judges, law students, and legal employers in Minnesota. Founded in 1972, MWL offers membership at multiple tiers (Standard, SELECT self-selected dues, and Premier), with member benefits including affinity groups, regional chapters, and the MWL Exchange online community powered by YourMembership. Signature programs include the annual Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture (Fall) and Annual Meeting (Spring), MWL Member Monday CLE Series providing free CLE credit, the Student to Attorney Mentor Program, and three law student scholarships. MWL Foundation (501(c)(3)) supports charitable activities including scholarships and leadership development. Additional offerings include the MWL Equity Toolkit, Volunteer Connections with community partnerships, and the Partner Leadership Council connecting legal employer partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MWL Membership Professional association membership for women attorneys, judges, law students, and legal employers in Minnesota. Offers multiple membership levels (Standard, SELECT with self-selected dues $0-$175, and Premier) with the membership term running July 1 to June 30 annually.
• MWL Member Monday CLE Series Monthly CLE programming free for MWL members. Most programs offer 1.0 CLE credit and are held remote or in-person during the 2nd week of each month.
• Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture Annual signature event honoring Justice Rosalie Wahl, featuring women leaders who inspire future leaders. The 31st Annual Wahl Lecture was held in Fall 2025.
• MWL Annual Meeting Annual meeting featuring high-profile national leaders as keynote speakers. MWL celebrated its 54th Annual Meeting in May 2026.
• Student to Attorney Mentor Program Mentorship program matching law student members with attorney mentors to help navigate law school and develop fulfilling careers.
• MWL Foundation Law Student Scholarships Three scholarship programs providing financial assistance to Minnesota law students: MWL Foundation Law Student Scholarship ($2,500), Leslie Altman Memorial Scholarship, and Hollins-Matchett-Mitchell Scholarship for women/nonbinary students of color.
• Social Justice Writing Award Cash prize of $2,500 awarded to law students for scholarly papers on law and social justice topics. Presented annually at the Wahl Lecture.
• Affinity Groups Member groups focused on common interests or professional goals including: Alternative Legal Careers, Book Club, BWA@MWL (Black Women Attorneys), Corporate/In-House, Legal Athletes, Legal Wine Lovers, Newer Lawyers, Professional Parents, Rainmakers, and Solo & Small Firm Practitioners.
• Regional Chapters Four regional chapters across Minnesota: Central Chapter (St. Cloud area), Northeastern Chapter (Duluth area), South Central Chapter (Mankato area), and St. Croix Valley Chapter. Each elects its own leadership and coordinates events.
• MWL Equity Toolkit Comprehensive toolkit focusing on three primary areas: Compensation, Leave Policies, and Workplace Arrangements & Culture. Developed from the Pay Equity Initiative to promote equal pay for women attorneys.
• Volunteer Connections Community service initiative partnering with organizations focused on ending violence against women, pay equity, access to justice, and girl empowerment. Includes MWL Week of Service annual event.
• MWL Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable organization powering MWL's philanthropic initiatives including scholarships, leadership programs, and professional development. Supports MWL's mission-based efforts.
• Annual Awards Three annual awards: Community Impact Award (established 2022), Myra Bradwell Award (established 1984), and Service to MWL Award. Recognize attorneys and organizations advancing women in law.
• Partner Leadership Council Council convening MWL's legal employer Partners to exchange ideas and best practices for advancing women attorneys. Representatives collaborate on programs and initiatives.
• MWL Exchange (Online Community) Online community platform for MWL members to connect with one another, share resources and ideas, and build meaningful relationships. Accessed through the YourMembership platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established in 1972 with 15 founding members; now over 1,200 members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Infinity ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWL partners with the Infinity Project to increase gender diversity of the state and federal bench through outreach, awareness campaigns, and member engagement to support recruitment and advancement of women in the judiciary.
• TubmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWL partners with Tubman for volunteer opportunities including the annual 'Coat Corral' coat drive providing warmth to individuals and families fleeing violence during Minnesota winters.
• Dress for Success Twin CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWL partners with Dress for Success Twin Cities for clothing drives, helping provide professional attire to women building confidence for workplace success and employment opportunities.
• Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River ValleyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWL hosts 'Girl Scout Day at the Capitol' annually to help Girl Scouts learn about Minnesota history, discover how bills become laws, practice oral advocacy skills, and meet with legislators.
• 2026 MWL Partner Firms (Partner Leadership Council)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMWL Partners include major Minnesota law firms and legal employers such as Ballard Spahr, Barnes & Thornburg, Dorsey & Whitney, Fredrikson & Byron, Greenberg Traurig, Robins Kaplan, and others who participate in the Partner Leadership Council to advance women attorneys.
• YWCA MinneapolisminorOthersMWL lists YWCA Minneapolis as a volunteer opportunity partner, supporting their mission to eliminate racism, empower women and girls, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity.
• Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (TCDIP)minorOthersMWL supports TCDIP's mission of building a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive legal community in the Twin Cities, promoting Minnesota as a great place for attorneys of color to develop professionally.
• Korn FerrycoreOthersEmployer of MWL FY26-27 President Karen Opp, SVP and Associate General Counsel, who leads the legal function for the firm's consulting and digital businesses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL): The U.S. national bar association for women lawyers, offering membership, networking, awards (such as the NAWL Award) and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a women's bar association, but operating nationally versus MWL's Minnesota focus.
• Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis: Regional women's bar association serving the St. Louis metro area with networking, CLE and advocacy programs. Comparable as a smaller geographic women's bar association with similar member services.
• National Bar Association - Women Lawyers Division: The women's division of the National Bar Association, supporting Black women attorneys and allies. Comparable as a women's bar association within a larger legal profession membership body, focused on professional development and advocacy.
• New York Women's Bar Association: One of the oldest and largest women's bar associations in the U.S., serving women lawyers in New York with similar programming (CLE, mentoring, affinity groups, advocacy). Directly comparable in mission and offerings, though operating in a different state.
• California Women Lawyers: California statewide bar association for women attorneys, founded 1974, providing networking, advocacy and professional development. Directly comparable in mission, structure and programs to MWL, but operating in a different (larger) state.
• Chicago Women's Bar Association: Illinois-based women's bar association offering CLE, mentoring, networking and advocacy for women in the legal profession. Closely comparable in programming mix, scale and member-base composition to MWL.

Emerging players

• Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF): National organization focused on advancing women in law through certification (WILEF Gold Standard) and education for law firms and in-house departments. Comparable as an organization advancing women in the legal profession, but focused on employer-level recognition rather than individual membership.
• Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Minnesota (MAMAS): Minnesota-based nonprofit providing mentorship and support for attorney mothers and working parents. Comparable as a Minnesota legal-community nonprofit serving a defined subset of women attorneys with networking and mentoring programming.

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota State Bar Association: Minnesota's mandatory statewide bar association, of which MWL is physically co-located (City Center, Minneapolis). Comparable as a Minnesota legal membership body, but with broader scope, mandatory membership for many lawyers and much larger scale.

Regional players

• Hennepin County Bar Association: County-level bar association serving Minneapolis-area attorneys with CLE, networking and section programming. Comparable as a Minnesota-based legal membership organization providing overlapping professional development services, though without a women-focused mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-women-lawyers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Women Lawyers