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Standing Committee
Mentorship CommitteeWe know women rise by lifting each other up. We are committed to uplifting you and doing the same for others. Applications for the 2026–2027 Law Student Liaison Program are open now through August 21st at 12:00 PM (noon) Pacific · Click to apply How we work
Meets monthly (second-to-last Thursday)
Open to
Every member: mentors and mentees both
Contact
Our chargeFrom the bylaws
It shall be the duty of the Mentorship Committee to plan, organize, schedule and coordinate programs and events that provide mentorship opportunities by and for members. Bylaws, Article VI, Section D.12 · Restated 2024 In practiceCareers turn on someone senior taking an interest. We make that less a matter of luck: pairing members, running the programs, and building the occasions where the conversation can start. It runs in both directions. Law students and new admittees get someone to ask; experienced members get the part of the profession that is genuinely rewarding. What we do
Signature programsGet Into the Legal Loop (GILL)Founded in 2019 by Past President Hana Hardy Gunther, GILL is our annual Women's History Month service day, connecting Bay Area students and recent graduates with mentors and the resources to pursue a legal career. Historically held the first week of March, it draws nearly 150 registrants each year plus a waitlist, and is co-hosted with sister bars including the Women Lawyers Sections of the San Mateo County and Santa Clara County Bar Associations. Judges, attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and other legal professionals interested in volunteering as a keynote speaker, panelist, or mentor can write to mentorship@queensbench.org. Law Student Liaison Program (LSLP)A yearlong leadership-development program for 2Ls, 3Ls, 4Ls, and recent graduates of Bay Area law schools, built around a capstone project. Liaisons take part in workshops throughout the year while receiving academic support and mentorship directly from Queen's Bench leadership, and often go on to become promising talent at local firms and leaders in Queen's Bench and other women's bar associations.
Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are open now through August 21st at 12:00 PM (noon) Pacific. The online application, a PDF version, and a flyer with eligibility requirements are available on the application page.
Congratulations to the 2024–2026 liaison cohort: Marah Ajilat (UC Berkeley Law JD ’25), Chandler Baladjanian (Santa Clara Law JD ’26), Saamia Aziz (UC Law San Francisco JD ’26), Asha Kadakia (Santa Clara Law JD ’26), Amina Khribeche (USF Law JD ’26), Bailee Magee (USF Law JD ’25, 2023 Agnes O'Brien Smith Scholarship recipient), and Mandalyn Millhouse (USF Law JD ’25). BARBRI PartnershipSince 2024, the committee has partnered with BARBRI to expand what we can offer law student members and recent graduates: workshops on study skills, plus two scholarship programs. The Law Preview Scholarship sends an incoming 1L to BARBRI's Law Preview summer boot camp; the Full Circle Bar Prep Scholarship provides a 2L, 3L, 4L, or law graduate with a BARBRI Firm Pass Plus package, including a full bar prep course, essay and multiple-choice tutoring, and Critical Pass and AdaptiBar access. Members can access study materials when they join or renew. Scholarship applications: bit.ly/GILL-Scholarships. Who leads this committee
Alexandra SepolenCo-Chair
Associate Attorney, Stross Wess Cutcher & Levin LLP, San Mateo
Linda AndersonCo-Chair
Partner & Certified Family Law Specialist, Flicker Kerin LLP
Michèle BissadaCo-Chair
Mediator, Arbitrator & Private Judge, Signature Resolution
Reach the whole committee at mentorship@queensbench.org. It reaches the chairs and the Administrator, so nothing falls through when leadership rotates in January. Good to knowWhat a meeting looks likeProgram planning, then one of two things: a group discussion on a mentorship topic (résumé and cover letter feedback, interview preparation, salary negotiations, handling difficult opposing counsel) or a guest speaker on a practice area or skill of interest to members. We let the membership know the anticipated topic, and whether a speaker is presenting, ahead of each meeting. When we meetThe second-to-last Thursday of each month, with no meeting in July. Register for an upcoming meeting here. You don't have to be on the BoardCommittee chairs and members are drawn from the whole membership, not just the Board; the Executive Committee is the only exception. The President nominates each committee's chair and a majority of the Board approves the selection. Board service, more often than not, grows out of committee work. (Bylaws, Art. VI, §C.) Join this committeeThere's no application and no vetting. Tell us you're interested and we'll bring you in on the next round of work. Come to one meeting before you decide whether it's for you. Committee leadership, programs, and meeting schedules are current as of July 2026 and change from year to year. Corrections and updates: admin@queensbench.org. |