About Shelly Mandell

 
 

Shelly M. Mandell

 

Education:

1987 J.D. (Law Degree) Southwestern University School of Law

 

Career History:

 

1988.1991         Partner, Civil Litigation Director/Law Office of

                        Maynard D.Davis

                   Responsible for Litigation from Complaint through

                   trial, including pre-trial research, motions,

                   discovery, theory and client contact. Three actual

                   jury trials and hundreds of hours on court work.

 

1989-present Counsel to the National Organization for

                        Women, Los Angeles

                        Defended Chapter as well as individual members

                   in SLAP suits. LA NOW Political Action Committee,

                   and the LA NOW Education Fund.

                    

1992.1993     Litigator/All Woman Firm of Abbitt and

                       Bennett

                       Directory of all Civil Litigation from complaint

                  through trial.

 

1993-1997      Partner, O’Donnell & Mandell
Focus on Sexual Discrimination, Interviews, and represented thousands of women bringing discrimination claims against employers, educational facilities and in housing.

 

1997-present Owner, Shelly M. Mandell, A Professional Law Corporation
Currently own a small firm. One (1) Associate Attorney, two (2) Council Attorneys, four (4) onsite staff, and two (2) offsite paralegals.

                   Focus in Family Law and maintaining an office for LA NOW in my legal suite.

 

Civic Affiliations:

                        National Organization for Women:

                        President LA NOW, Current; 1995-1999 Officer

                   of LA NOW;

President, LA NOW 1980-1981; California NOW State Vice President, 1978-1980; National NOW Board of Directors, 1978-1989; Political Organizer & Political Action Chair 1980-present.

Century Freeway Affirmative Action Committee:

Board Member, 1983-1993; Board Chair, 1987-19991

Fund for the Feminist Majority:

A national network set up to assist women in getting legal representation for sexual harassment cases.

Women’s Referral Service

 

Memberships:

                        Los Angeles County Bar Association –

                        Family Law Section

                        Santa Monica Bar Association

                        Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association

                        Women Lawyers of Los Angeles

                        Beverly Hills Bar Association

 

                        Ms. Mandell has been a community activist for over

                   25 years. As a member of NOW in the late 70’s she

                   headed the task force for the organization’s political

                   and legislative action, directing the Equal Rights

                   Amendment Extension campaign in California. She

                   has been one of the organizations premiere national

                   political organizers, and tours the country speaking

                   and conducting seminars as an advocate for women

                   Ms. Mandell commenced her advocacy for women’s

                   right as a political activist and continues as an

                   attorney representing women who need a strong

                   voice to establish or protect their rights. She

                   refocused her firm’s practice to include sexual

                   harassment, in the wake of the Clarence Thomas

                   hearings, as the rise of public consciousness

                   created an increased need for qualified attorneys in

                   this area. However, she continues to focus her

                   personal legal efforts in the area of family law.

 

Political:

                        Political Action Committee Chair and Member for

                   over twenty (20) years, interviewing and

                   recommending endorsements by NOW on the

                   local, chapter, state and national level,candidate                     recruitment, selection and fundraising. Delegate

                   to four Democratic National Convention. Recent

                   strong supporter of Hillary Clinton

 

Media:

                   Primary media contact and spokesperson in the

                   Los Angeles area for NOW on women’s issues. She

                   does all television, radio and print interviews.

                   Recent involvement in the Mayoral and other city

                   races has redefined and refreshed the media

                   contact list.