Q&A with MAMA Seattle President Darcel Lobo
Q. How and when did your bar association get started?
The Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle (MAMA Seattle) was founded in 2006 to empower attorney mothers and encourage professional success while celebrating our roles as attorneys and mothers. We are devoted to furthering the interests of mother attorneys in the Seattle area, in Washington, and throughout the nation.
MAMA Seattle is a source of support for attorney mothers—a place where we can network, share experiences, learn from each other, problem solve, and talk about issues we face in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.
Q. What are some of the core goals and/or purposes of your bar association?
The core goal of MAMA Seattle is to support mother attorneys in both their legal careers and their roles as parents. We have thoughtfully designed programming, in which we create opportunities to strengthen professional networks and grow thriving practices. Our offerings include CLEs, networking events (with and without children), leadership development, and meaningful mentorship connections. We serve mother attorneys across all practice settings—solo practitioners, mid-sized and large-sized firms, in-house counsel, government attorneys, as well as those in non-traditional legal careers.
Q. What need does your bar association fill that is unmet elsewhere?
MAMA Seattle creates a safe space for mother attorneys to share experiences and support each other not just with their careers as attorneys, but also for them as a whole person. There’s a lot of juggling that happens as a mother and as an attorney, and we strive to help them excel at both.
We also have our Ladder Down program that we co-sponsor with FDCC (Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel) which is a year-long business development and leadership training program for select participants. Accepted participants commit to a one-year program in which they will discover their strengths, hone their self-advancement skills, and make important career connections through large and small group sessions and panel presentations led by a combination of experienced coaches/faculty, attorneys, and judges in the Seattle community. The program is open to women from all practice areas and experience levels, including in-house attorneys, government attorneys, and attorneys in private practice. We’ll begin accepting applications in the fall, and more can be learned at: https://mamaseattle.org/programs/ladder-down/.
Q. What are some of the opportunities or benefits that your members receive?
We offer free CLEs for our members, lunch seminars where we focus more on the “mama” side of our lives, networking opportunities, social events for families, and a place where mama attorneys can go to share knowledge and experiences to help support each other.
Q. Does your bar association offer any mentorship or scholarship opportunities?
Yes! It’s in our name; we have offered one-on-one mentorship, small groups mentorship opportunities, and are continually expanding to find new ways to approach mentorship in a way that is viable and sustainable for our members.
Q. What is a recent bar association accomplishment, current project, or event that you are excited about?
Since our January annual meeting, our board has been working diligently to bring programming to our members that will best serve them and meet their needs. From virtual events to in-person events, we are ensuring that our members receive significant value and support from our association.
Our Ladder Down committee is hard at work kicking off new events for 2026 to ensure connections with our alum, and to also gear up for an amazing 2027 cohort—make sure to follow us on LinkedIn to stay tuned: www.linkedin.com/company/mama-seattle/.
Also, MAMA Seattle was honored in March 2026 for its partnership with Ladder Down and one of our founding members, Rachel Black, received an award for the work she has done for MAMA Seattle and Ladder Down. We’re truly grateful to have her as an integral part of our association and the award is well deserved!
Q. How can WSBA members support the work of your affinity bar association?
Our biggest annual event is our Annual Banquet, which will be on Oct. 19, 2026—it’s our 20th annual banquet, so save the date now! It’s an amazing event where we honor our members, enjoy an amazing lunch, and present our MAMA Seattle’s Betty Binns Fletcher Leadership and Justice Award to an individual who has paved the way to success for and has served as an inspiration to other mother attorneys striving to excel in their legal careers while balancing family life and motherhood.
Also, if you are a mama attorney or you know someone who is, please encourage them to join our association. We would love to have them join us!
Q. Is there anything else you would like WSBA members to know about your bar association?
On a personal note, I want to share and encourage mama attorneys to join our organization. This is an association for mama attorneys from all career paths, even if you’ve taken some time off from your career. As a solo, I have found tremendous value in having a safe space to discuss some of the hardships that come with juggling my personal and professional life, and I have met so many amazing mother attorneys who have been supportive and encouraged me in my career.
Also, we will begin accepting applications in the fall for board members to join us in our 2027 year and will also be opening applications for our Ladder Down 2027 cohort this fall as well. If you or someone you know may be interested, please invite them to contact President Darcel Lobo (darcel@dallawfirm.com).
MORE ONLINE > Learn more about Mother Attorneys Mentoring Assoc. of Seattle by visiting https://mamaseattle.org/.
About the author
Darcel Lobo is the current president of MAMA Seattle. She became a solo attorney in 2016 as a working lawyer mom who was seeking a fulfilling career that would allow her the flexibility she wanted to take care of her family while also continuing to develop her career as an attorney. Since doing so, she has spent a significant amount of time mentoring and coaching other lawyers who are seeking happiness and fulfillment in both their personal and professional lives. She opened her coaching business, DAL Coaching & Consulting, in 2022 to help lawyers build better lives and law firms. She can be reached at: