Q&A with Washington women lawyers President DEBRA HANNULA
Q. How and when did your bar association get started?
On Aug. 10, 1971, 34 women lawyers and law students met in Seattle to officially found Washington Women Lawyers. The organization emerged during a pivotal time when women were breaking barriers across Washington’s legal landscape. WWL’s first president was Jane Noland, elected in 1978, and early members included Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst, Hon. Patricia C. Williams, Hon. Kathleen O’Connor, and Hon. Faith Ireland. Founding members also included Mary Ellen Krug, Janice Niemi, Betty Bracelin, Chris Young, Ruth Nordenbrook, Lee Kraft, Betty Fletcher, and many other pioneering women lawyers. The organization built upon a legacy that included Rebecca “Reba” Jane Hurn, who in 1913 became the first woman admitted to the WSBA; Carolyn R. Dimmick, who became the first female justice on the Washington Supreme Court in 1981; and Barbara M. Durham, who became the first woman chief justice in 1995. WWL was created with stated goals to promote implementation of equal rights for women, help qualified women secure leadership positions, interview and rate judicial candidates, and prevent discrimination against women in the legal system and beyond.
Q. What are some of the core goals and/or purposes of your bar association?
WWL’s mission is twofold: to further the full integration of women in the legal profession, and to promote equal rights and opportunities for women while preventing discrimination against them. We work toward these goals through comprehensive programming that includes continuing legal education, networking opportunities, mentorship initiatives, judicial evaluations, and advocacy on issues affecting women lawyers and the communities they serve. Our work extends beyond supporting women lawyers to advancing gender equity in the justice system and society at large.
Q. What need does your bar association fill that is unmet elsewhere?
As Washington’s largest organization dedicated specifically to women in the legal profession, WWL fills a unique role by combining statewide reach with localized chapter support. Our judicial evaluation program provides independent, thorough assessments of judicial candidates examining fairness, temperament, and commitment to equal justice. We also preserve and honor the history of women in Washington’s legal profession through our Legacy Project, which documents the experiences and contributions of pioneering women lawyers and judges. Additionally, our network of local chapters across Washington provides community-specific programming and support that larger, more general bar associations do not replicate.
Q. What are some of the opportunities or benefits that your members receive?
WWL members benefit from extensive networking opportunities through both statewide events and local chapter activities. Our annual event brings together hundreds of women lawyers, judges, and legal professionals. We offer high-quality continuing legal education programs tailored to issues relevant to women in practice, mentorship opportunities connecting experienced lawyers with those earlier in their careers, and a job listings board to help members identify career opportunities. Law student memberships are free. Members can also participate in our judicial evaluation process and serve on committees and the state board, developing leadership skills while advancing WWL’s mission.
WWL also co-sponsors events that enrich our members’ professional lives. WWL co-sponsored Women in Democracy’s extraordinary day at the state Capitol, featuring a discussion with six Washington Supreme Court justices, Capitol tours, the opportunity to witness the Legislature in session, and dinner at the Governor’s Mansion. WWL also co-sponsored the University of Washington School of Law’s “Leading with Purpose: Diversity, Law and Community Impact” on Feb. 12, 2026, hosted by the UW Women’s Law Caucus, where Justice Steven C. González moderated a panel on the experiences of lawyers from historically underrepresented groups. The evening also offered a wonderful opportunity to connect with law students—and we are already planning a follow-up line dancing outing at Steel Creek in Tacoma, proof that community building takes many forms!
Q. Does your bar association offer any mentorship or scholarship opportunities?
WWL provides mentorship opportunities through our local chapters, connecting members across experience levels for professional development and support. The Washington Women Lawyers Foundation, our charitable arm, supports educational opportunities and scholarships, working to eliminate discrimination and promote diversification in the legal profession. We also collaborate with law schools and other organizations to support women law students and recent graduates.
Our King County WWL chapter has a robust scholarship program. In 2025, they granted two scholarships and awarded five inaugural emergency funds to law students at Seattle University School of Law and UW School of Law, providing relief to students experiencing financial hardship or significant, unanticipated obstacles.
Q. What is a recent bar association accomplishment, current project, or event that you are excited about?
Our Legacy Project continues to be one of our most meaningful initiatives, preserving oral histories and honoring pioneering women in Washington’s legal profession. These recorded interviews ensure that the experiences and contributions of leaders like Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst are preserved for future generations. Our judicial evaluation program remains a cornerstone of our work, providing independent, thorough assessments of judicial candidates. At our Oct. 18, 2024, annual event, past President Quinn Dalan presented the President’s Award to Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation and its executive director, Marichuy Alvizar. The founders of UNA are immigrants or daughters of immigrants who have seen firsthand how structural racism fuels health disparities, food insecurity, digital exclusion, and harsh immigration enforcement, and who envisioned UNA as a space to build power, foster healing, and uphold dignity for all.
WWL’s advocacy also produced concrete legislative wins during the 2026 state legislative session. Among the bills WWL supported that were signed into law: the Immigrant Worker Protection Act (HB 2105), which requires employers to notify workers before documentation inspections and restricts access to worker records without a subpoena or judicial warrant; SB 6002, which creates a regulatory framework limiting how state and local agencies use Automated License Plate Reader systems and establishes a private right of action for violations; SB 5855, which prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings that obscure their identity and requires visible name identification; HB 2632, which modernizes state law by replacing the term “alien” with “noncitizen” in statutes and official documents; and SB 5917, which expands access to mifepristone and misoprostol by removing restrictions on the state’s distribution of its stockpile of these medications. These legislative victories reflect WWL’s commitment to civil rights, immigrant justice, reproductive rights, and government accountability.
MORE ONLINE > Learn more about Washington Women Lawyers (WWL) by visiting www.wwl.org.
Q. How can WSBA members support the work of your affinity bar association?
WSBA members can support WWL by joining as members, regardless of gender—our membership is open to anyone who supports the full integration of women in the legal profession and equal rights for women. Members can participate in our programs, attend events, and engage with local chapters. Lawyers can serve as mentors, volunteer for judicial evaluation committees, or join WWL committees and leadership positions. Supporting the WWL Foundation through donations helps fund scholarships and educational programming. WSBA members can also amplify our voice by sharing our programming, supporting our legislative and policy advocacy, and using our judicial ratings when making endorsement decisions.
Q. Is there anything else you would like WSBA members to know about your bar association?
WWL has been a vital part of Washington’s legal community for over 50 years, and our work is more relevant than ever. Significant challenges remain—from wage gaps and advancement barriers to work-life balance issues and implicit bias. WWL provides a welcoming, supportive community for women lawyers at all career stages and practice areas, with free student memberships and programming designed to ease the transition into practice. Our local chapters mean that members throughout Washington, not just in Seattle, have access to community and support. WWL is a volunteer-driven organization, sustained by members passionate about advancing our mission. We invite all WSBA members who share our commitment to equality and justice to join us.
About the author
Debra Hannula is in-house counsel for The Patrick Group, judge pro tempore, and president-elect of Washington Women Lawyers. She is a co-author of It’s All About the Face: A Master Esthetician Schools a Clueless Attorney About the Ins and Outs of Skincare and a contributing writer for Real Change, Seattle’s award-winning street newspaper sold by homeless and low-income vendors, covering issues of economic, social, and racial justice. She can be reached at: