The OWL Award or Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award is given to honor a local, woman lawyer with seven years or more work experience actively promoting the advancement of women. The Rising Star Award is given to honor a local woman lawyer with fewer than seven years of work experience. In March for Women’s History Month the recipients are honored. Previous recipients have worked tirelessly advocating for the advancement of women nationally, statewide within the legal profession and outside it; implementing programs supporting women in the community; supporting young women wishing to join the legal profession; and serving as mentors for other women.

To nominate candidates, please fill out the form below.  In addition to completing the form, you may also email WLASLO a resume, recommendation letters or other supporting documentation about the candidate you are nominating. For more information about the award and its criteria, email WLASLO at womenlawyersslo@gmail.com. 

PRIOR WLASLO AWARD RECIPIENTS

OWL Award Recipients: 

Melodie Rivas (2023) - San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation

Judge Jacquelyn Duffy (2022) - San Luis Obispo Superior Court

Sheryl Wolcott (2021) - San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office

Abby Lassen (2020) - San Luis Obispo Public Health Department

Lisa Sperow (2019) - San Luis Obispo (Faculty, Cal Poly)

Erica Flores Baltodano (2018) - San Luis Obispo (The Baltodano Firm)

Patricia Ashbaugh (2017) - San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo Public Defender) - SLO Bar Bulletin Release

Jan Marx (2016) - San Luis Obispo (Faculty, San Luis Obispo College of Law & former Mayor of San Luis Obispo)

Jennifer Alton (2015) - San Luis Obispo (Alton & Allen, Inc.) 

Alicia Valdez Wright (2014) - San Luis Obispo (SLO County Family Law Facilitator)  

Jacqueline Frederick (2013) - Nipomo (The Frederick Law Firm)

Angie King (2012) - San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo Senior Legal Services Project)

Rising Star Award Recipients: 

Nicole Mullikin (2023) - San Luis Obispo (Law Office of Nicole G. Mullikin)

Sadie Symens (2022) - San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation

Kara Stein Conaway (2017) - San Luis Obispo (Stein-Conaway Law Firm, P.C.) - SLO Bar Bulletin Release

Janet Wallace (2014) - San Luis Obispo (Duggan, Smith & Heath, LLP)

WLA Awards: Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award / Rising Star Award

In 2012, the Board discussion arose about the different awards offered to attorneys within our county. Many women were doing amazing things to help other women lawyers or other women in our community. We were hearing about them but why not honor them. There were plenty awards for to recognize trial lawyers or community involvement but we wanted an award which recognized women helping women. The Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award, otherwise known as the OWL Award, honors a law school graduate, with 7 years or more work experience, and with 3 years of those years of work experience in San Luis Obispo County, who is helping other female attorneys or other women advance in our community. That year, who else can come to mind but our first recipient of the OWL Award - Angie King. Thereafter, other OWL Award recipients included: Jacqueline Frederick, Alicia Valdez Wright and Jennifer Alton. This is us honoring a woman supporting women in the legal profession.