California Women Lawyers

What California Women Lawyers does

California Women Lawyers (CWL) is a 501(c)(6) statewide professional membership association founded in 1974 to advance women in the legal profession in California. Headquartered in San Diego at 630 1st Ave., PMB 349, with a mailing address in Carmichael, the organization serves women attorneys at all career stages — from new practitioners building client bases to experienced attorneys seeking judicial appointments — together with law students and regional women lawyer affiliates across California. CWL claims to have represented the interests of more than 70,000 women in the legal profession over its 50+ year history and describes itself as the only statewide bar association for women in California.

CWL's operations are built on a Wild Apricot-powered membership management platform that handles member profiles, event registration, and the website, with Zoom used for virtual/hybrid event delivery and Google Analytics for visitor tracking. The product surface consists of: annual and lifetime CWL membership; an on-demand MCLE content library (most recently expanded in September 2025 with a four-part AI-in-law series and in November 2025 with pay equity, immigration, and litigation programs, priced at $15 per event for members and $25 for non-members through 2030); the CWL Awards program (Fay Stender, Joan Dempsey Klein, Judith Soley, Rose Bird); the Annual Dinner; and the affiliated CWL Foundation — a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 73-1727694) that administers the annual $5,000 Nancy E. O'Malley Scholarship to a California law student.

The revenue model is community-led and diversified across recurring membership dues (annual + lifetime options), per-event CLE registration fees, corporate and law firm sponsorships (Annual Dinner and event sponsors), and tax-deductible donations to the CWL Foundation. Member acquisition is driven by a network of regional women lawyer affiliate organizations (Orange County, Los Angeles, Marin, San Diego, Ventura, Alameda, Santa Clara, and Queen's Bench), law school outreach, mentorship programs, and the website. Leadership is volunteer-based, headed by President Pa'tanisha E. Davis Pierson with a Board of Directors that includes the Foundation Chair (Jodi Cleesattle), Treasurer (Camille Granville), Secretary (Shawntay Jordan), and additional board members.

Name

California Women Lawyers

Legal name

California Women Lawyers

Website

https://cwl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Women Lawyers is a 501(c)(6) statewide professional bar association founded in 1974 that serves California women lawyers and law students through membership services, on-demand MCLE programming, mentorship, judicial pipeline support, and the affiliated CWL Foundation's scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Professional Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Legal professional association
• Women lawyers advocacy
• Continuing legal education
• Legal networking
• Bar association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and lifetime membership dues from women lawyers and legal professionals across California. The organization offers lifetime membership options.
2. Event Registration Fees: Fees charged for on-demand CLE events and programs, with pricing for members and non-members.
3. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs: On-demand CLE programming on topics including AI in law practice, immigration, pay equity, and litigation.
4. Donations to Foundation: Tax-deductible donations to The CWL Foundation (501(c)(3) nonprofit) supporting scholarships for law students committed to issues affecting women and children.
5. Sponsorships: Annual and event sponsorships from law firms and corporate sponsors supporting the organization's programming and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

California Women Lawyers is a statewide professional membership association that provides women lawyers and legal professionals with membership-based access to continuing legal education (CLE) programming, networking events, mentorship, advocacy, judicial evaluation support, and recognition through awards. It operates the affiliated CWL Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds scholarships for law students committed to issues affecting women and children.

Product overview

California Women Lawyers (CWL) is a statewide professional bar association offering a membership-based platform with several interconnected programs. The core offering includes membership services providing access to professional development, networking, and advocacy resources. Educational programming is delivered through On-Demand CWL Events, a library of MCLE courses including AI-focused content. The CWL Foundation (501(c)(3) nonprofit) operates alongside the association to provide scholarships via the Nancy E. O'Malley Scholarship program. Awards programs recognize achievements in advancing women in law. The Annual Dinner serves as the flagship networking event. The organization uses Wild Apricot membership management software for operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The CWL Foundation: 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides education about women in the legal profession and society, works with bar associations and law schools to conduct outreach, and awards scholarships to law students.

Products and services

• CWL Membership Annual and lifetime membership providing women lawyers access to professional development resources, networking opportunities, mentorship, educational events, awards programs, and advocacy for women in the legal profession.
• On-Demand CLE Programs A library of pre-recorded continuing legal education programs available on-demand to members and non-members on topics including AI ethics, immigration law, pay advocacy, and litigation. Members pay $15 per event and non-members $25 per event.
• Annual Dinner Annual flagship event bringing together CWL members to celebrate achievements, network, and honor award and scholarship recipients, supported by law firm and corporate sponsors.
• CWL Awards Program Recognition programs including the Fay Stender Award, Joan Dempsey Klein Award, Judith Soley Award, and Rose Bird Award, honoring women who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and advancement of women in law.
• Nancy E. O'Malley Scholarship Annual $5,000 scholarship awarded to a law student demonstrating financial need, academic merit, and commitment to issues affecting women and/or children. Applications open August 1 and close September 25 annually.
• The CWL Foundation A 501(c)(3) nonprofit established by California Women Lawyers that provides education about women in the legal profession and society, conducts outreach with bar associations and law schools, and awards scholarships to law students. Tax ID 73-1727694.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• The CWL FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by California Women Lawyers to provide education about women in the legal profession and society. Works with bar associations and law schools to conduct outreach and award scholarships. Tax ID: 73-1727694.
• Zoom Video CommunicationscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides video conferencing platform for CWL's virtual and hybrid events and programs. User consent required for sharing personal data including name and email for event registration.
• Wild ApricotcoreTechnology or IntegrationMembership management software platform powering the CWL website, event registration, membership profiles, and online functionality.
• Orange County Women Lawyers Association (OCWLA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate hosting events including Book Club meetings, Women Judges Reception, and MCLE programs. Events promoted through CWL's platform.
• Queen's Bench Bar AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate co-hosting MCLE programs including 'Storytelling with Digital Evidence' and the 2026 Gala event.
• Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate hosting events including 2026 Installation & Awards Dinner, 31st Annual Litigators Forum, and various MCLE programs.
• Marin County Women LawyerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate celebrating their 50th Anniversary Party in September 2026.
• Santa Clara County Bar Association Women Lawyers SectioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate hosting the Annual Mary Jo Levinger Woman Judge of the Year Ceremony & Reception.
• Women Lawyers of Alameda CountycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate hosting the Annual Spring Reception.
• Women Lawyers of Ventura CountycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional affiliate hosting MCLE programs on burnout prevention and stress management.
• Law Schools (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Pepperdine, Golden Gate, Loyola, Lincoln, USF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited California law schools from which Nancy E. O'Malley Scholarship recipients are selected, demonstrating commitment to issues affecting women and children.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Bar Association - Women Lawyers Division: Division of the National Bar Association focused on women lawyers of color. Comparable in mission (advancing women in law) and offering CLE/networking/advocacy, though differentiated by its diversity-focused mission.
• National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL): National-level membership organization advancing women in the legal profession. Direct peer: both serve women lawyers, offer CLE programming, and advocate for gender equity in law, but NAWL operates nationally while CWL is California-only.
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA): Nonprofit advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Comparable in mission (underrepresented groups in law), CLE/event programming, and member/affiliate structure, though MCCA's focus is on diverse corporate counsel.
• Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia: Membership association for women lawyers in the DC jurisdiction. Comparable as a jurisdiction-specific bar association offering CLE, networking, and advocacy with a similar membership and event-based business model.

Others

• LawPay: Payment processing platform built for the legal profession. Not a direct competitor, but a comparable technology/services vendor that serves CWL's customer base (California women lawyers) with a complementary offering.
• National Women's Law Center: Federal advocacy organization focused on gender justice. Adjacent rather than directly competitive: both serve women's advancement, but NWLC focuses on policy/legal advocacy for women broadly while CWL serves women lawyers specifically.

Emerging players

• Ms. JD: Nonprofit focused on the success of women in law school and the legal profession. Comparable in mission (advancing women in law) and offering mentorship, programming, and community, with a more student-and-early-career focus.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: The largest US national bar association. Overlaps with CWL on CLE programming, judicial evaluation, and advocacy for women in the profession (via the Commission on Women in the Profession), but serves all attorneys and offers a much broader portfolio.
• State Bar of California: The official California bar regulator. Overlaps with CWL on California-only geographic focus and on serving California lawyers, but CWL's advocacy and member services are a niche overlay rather than direct competition.
• Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC): Global membership association for in-house counsel. Comparable as a membership-based legal professional association with CLE, networking, and resources, though it serves in-house lawyers broadly rather than women specifically.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CWL_tweets
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaWomenLawyers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-women-lawyers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Women Lawyers