Janet Wallace is a founding partner of O'Leary Wallace LLP. In addition to her legal work, Janet teaches legal courses at Cuesta Community College and California State University East Bay.
Janet previously practiced at the local law firms Duggan Smith & Heath LLP and Adamski, Moroski Madden Cumberland & Green LLP. As a law student at UC Davis School of Law, Janet interned with the Office of General Counsel for the University of California and with California’s Legislative Counsel, and was co-teacher in the University Honors Program.
Janet had a varied career before attending law school including teaching high school photography and Advanced Placement Studio Art, advising an award-winning robotics team, working for the President of the United States in White House Management and Operations, and serving constituents as a field representative for the California State Assembly.
Janet lives in Atascadero with her husband, Will, a school administrator, and their son. Janet and Will are licensed foster parents. They enjoy traveling to new cities, visiting art museums, and crafting the perfect vodka basil gimlet.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, History of Art and Architecture, University of California, Santa Barbara
Juris Doctor, University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall)
Affiliations
American Bar Association
American Bar Association’s Woman Advocate Committee
State Bar of California
San Luis Obispo Bar Association
San Luis Obispo Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Division, Board of Directors
Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo, Past Member of the Board of Directors
Ms. JD, Board Emerita
Hospice SLO County; Planned Giving Committee Member & Advisory Counsel
Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, Past Member of the Board of Directors
Studios on the Park, Board of Directors, Past Chairperson of the Board
San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, Past President and Past Member of the Board of Directors
Cuesta College Book of the Year Committee, Member
Cuesta College Peace and Justice Committee, Member
Leadership San Luis Obispo Class XXII
San Luis Obispo Library Foundation, Past Member of the Board of Directors
American Association of University Women (Former)
$tart $mart, Trained Facilitator
Awards & Recognition
Women of Distinction, Progress for Women, Cuesta College and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County’s Women’s Legacy Fund
Hands on Hero, First 5 San Luis Obispo County
Top Ten Real Property Cases of 2013, California Real Property Journal
Frank J. Pentangelo Award, SLO County Bar Association
Top 20 Under 40, San Luis Obispo Tribune
Inaugural “Rising Star” Award, Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo
Person Who Makes a Difference, Antelope Valley Press
Special Service Award, Antelope Valley Union High School District
Witkin Award for Academic Excellence, UC Davis School of Law
Outstanding Writing Award, UC Santa Barbara
Speaking Engagements
Implicit Bias in Business; Atascadero Chamber of Commerce Coffee Talks; 2020
Implicit Bias in Education; Atascadero School Middle School; presenter; 2020
Bias in the Legal Profession; San Luis Obispo County Bar Association; presenter; 2019
Disruptive Innovation; Women Lawyers Association, San Luis Obispo; presenter; 2018
Estate Planning Faux Pas of the Rich and Famous, Lifelong Learners of the Central Coast
Business Succession Planning; Good Morning San Luis Obispo; presenter
Estate Planning Faux Pas of the Rich and Famous, Central Coast Paralegal Association and Young Lawyers Association; presenter
Gender Bias Against Women in the Law; National Association of Women Lawyers Foundation; panelist
Grit and Growth Mindset; Women Lawyers Association, San Luis Obispo; presenter and moderator
How to Succeed as a New Associate; Ms. JD Conference on Women in the Law; San Francisco, panelist
Display Your Passion: Getting Involved; Ms. JD Conference on Women in the Law; Austin, Texas, moderator
Lean In: Women Lawyers Leaning In; Women Lawyers Association, San Luis Obispo; panelist
Status of Women in the Legal Profession; Women Lawyers Association, San Luis Obispo; presenter
Motherhood: Reclaiming our Past, Transforming our Future; University of Denver, Sturm College of Law; panelist
Writing
Her Story: Lessons in Success from Lawyers Who Live It; associate editor and author of "All this Luscious Chaos: On Fostering, Adopting, and Doughnuts for Breakfast"; forthcoming April 2017
First Women series; SLO County Bar Bulletin, 2015-2016
Ms. JD: Funding the Legal Education of Ugandan Women; SLO County Bar Bulletin, November-December 2013
Judging Parents, Judging Place: Poverty, Rurality, and Termination of Parental Rights; Missouri Law Review, Winter 2012