Summary of CWL Bylaws

NOTE: This summary is intended to provide general information as to the structure of California Women Lawyers. To the extent that anything in this summary is inconsistent with or less specific than the organization's bylaws, the bylaws are controlling.

Membership: Persons are eligible to be voting members of CWL if they are

1. State Bar members
2. judges in the state
3. full-time faculty or deans at a California law school
4. members of another state's bar
5. 3rd-year students at California law schools
6. California residents who have graduated from law school within the last three years but are not yet admitted to the State Bar.

Voting Affiliate Members: Women's bar associations are eligible to become voting affiliate members if they meet certain basic requirements, make written application to the CWL office, demonstrate that 20% of their members are also CWL members or that their membership includes at least 100 CWL members, and pay $125 per year in affiliate dues. A voting affiliate member may designate an Affiliate Governor as a voting member of the CWL Board.

Non-Voting Affiliate Members: Any women's bar association which meets the requirements in the previous section except for the 20% or 100 CWL members requirement may become a non-voting affiliate member, meaning that it may not designate an Affiliate Governor to the CWL Board.

Termination of Membership: Membership is automatically terminated upon disbarment or suspension from the practice of law, and members may resign by sending written notice of resignation to the CWL office. In neither case will dues be refunded.

Meetings of the Membership: There must be one general membership meeting each year, which usually takes place at the Annual Dinner. Actions requiring a vote of the membership may also be taken without a meeting by mailing ballots to the members.

Board of Governors: The Board must have at least 20 but no more than 75 governors, who must be members both of CWL and the State Bar. The number of district governors and boundaries of their districts conform to those of the State Bar. District governors are elected to two-year terms by the CWL members in their respective districts, and may serve no more than three consecutive two-year terms. Affiliate governors are designated by affiliates entitled to do so (see "Voting Affiliate Members," above) and may serve an unlimited number of two-year terms. In addition, the president, with the Board's approval, may appoint two governors-at-large, as well as a member of the judiciary, to non-voting one-year terms. The immediate past president is a non-voting member of the Board for the year following her presidency. Governors are sworn in at the Annual Dinner. District governors may only be removed by a vote of the members in the relevant district or upon a failure to attend three meetings during the term without a finding of good cause by the Executive Committee. Affiliate governors may be removed only with the consent of the affiliate.

Meetings of the Board: The Board of Governors meets at least once every two months, and must meet once each year in each of the following locations: the Bay area, the Sacramento area, the Los Angeles area, and the San Diego area. The location of the remaining two meetings is designated by the president, with due regard for the geographical diversity of the state. Notice of meetings is published in CWL News, and meetings are open to all members.

Executive Committee: An executive committee composed of the officers and, at the option of the president, two other Board members appointed by the president with the Board's approval, may act on behalf of the Board when circumstances require.

Officers: One must be an active member of the State Bar and of CWL to hold office. The officers include President, President-Elect, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers serve for one year or until the election and installation of their successors, unless an officer resigns or is removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors. If an officer's term as governor expires before her term as an officer, she continues to hold her office until her successor is elected and installed.

Elections: Officers are elected at the July/August Board meeting. Earlier, a nominating committee of at least three persons is appointed by the president and chaired by the immediate past president. At the meeting preceding the election, the nominating committee reports to the Board, and additional nominations may be made from the floor. Candidates submit a one-page candidates' statement within ten days thereafter. The election is held by secret written ballots which are mailed, along with the candidate statements, to voting Board members within twenty-one days following the nominating committee's report. Candidates are prohibited from distributing any written election materials other than the candidate's statement.

Votes are counted by the Executive Director with assistance/coordination of a judicial officer. The results are announced at the beginning of the July/August meeting. Officers are sworn in at the annual meeting, which is usually coincident with CWL's Annual Dinner at the State Bar's annual meeting.

Election of District Governors: By December 1 of each year, notice of the upcoming election, and of which district governors' terms are expiring, is published in CWL News. By December 1 of each year, a nominating committee is appointed. By January 10 each year, applications from those wishing to run for district governor must be submitted to the nominating committee. Applications must include a current resume and a half-page candidate's statement. Thereafter, the ballots and the candidates' statements are published in CWL News. Candidates may not distribute any other written materials in support of their candidacies. Ballots must be returned no later than March 1 of each year. The Executive Director and the Secretary count the ballots and certify the results of the election.