Hot! About Gloria Allred Influential California Lawyer Women's Rights Attorney

I start every day with the knowledge that helping people and fighting for justice is my duty, and that nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifice, self-discipline, and courage.

Gloria Allred , Fight Back and Win

Gloria Allred was born on July 3, 1941 an only child in a working-class home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She earned her B.A. with honors in English from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her M.A. from New York University and her J.D. cum laude from Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles. She was also awarded an Honorary J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law.

In addition to being an attorney, Ms. Allred has held California life credentials in secondary school education and supervision. She taught in public schools for six and one half years, and was also a lecturer at the University of Southern California for several years.

Gloria Allred is a three-time Emmy nominee for her commentaries on KABC television in Los Angeles, and she was selected as one of the most important radio talk show hosts in America by USA Today. She has won the presidential award from the National Association of Woman Lawyers and the President s Award for Outstanding Volunteerism, presented to her by President Ronald Reagan at the White House. She has been voted by her peers as one of the best lawyers in America.

Ms. Allred is a founding partner of the law firm of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg . Her law firm handles cases involving employment discrimination, including sex, race, age, physical handicap, sexual orientation discrimination, Aids discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. The firm is also well-known for their work on behalf of victims in civil rights, rape, child sexual abuse and murder cases.

Over the course of her 30 year career, Gloria Allred has won countless honors for her pioneering legal work on behalf of women's rights and rights for minorities.

An active feminist, Ms. Allred founded and is currently serving as President of the Women's Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund (WERLDEF).

In May, 2001 she received the Judy Jarvis Memorial Award from the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts for her outstanding contributions to talk radio.

Articles by her or about her have appeared in publications such as Time Magazine, The New York Times, Ms. Magazine, The American Lawyer, The Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Herald Examiner and The London Times. In July 1990, Los Angeles Magazine named her "One of the 30 Most Powerful People in Los Angeles" and in 1994, "One of the 50 Most Interesting People in Los Angeles." Time Magazine called her "one of the nation's most effective advocates of family rights and feminist causes."

In 1985, Ms. Allred was awarded the President's Award by the National Association of Women Lawyers. In 1986 she received a commendation from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for her "exceptional record of achievement" and a commendation from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley "for her many outstanding contributions to the justice system."

In June 1986, at a White House Luncheon, President Ronald Reagan presented her with the "1986 President's Volunteer Action Award" for outstanding volunteerism for her development of an innovative child support amnesty program in California.

Ms. Allred is also the only individual in the nation to win the 1986 Public Service Award from the National Association of Federal Investigators, and she was voted one of 1987's "Best Lawyers in America" by lawyers who won that honor in 1986. She won this honor again by being chosen by her peers as one of the best lawyers in America in 1991.

In 1998, the Los Angeles Business Journal named her one of The 50 Most Powerful Women in Los Angeles Law. In 2000, The Daily Journal named her One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in California. Most recently, Ms. Allred was named a Southern California SuperLawyer by Law and Media and Los Angeles Magazine.

Ms. Allred was named a 2004, 2007 and 2009 Southern California SuperLawyer by Law and Media and Los Angeles Magazine. In 2006 she was honored by her high school as a Distinguished Daughter of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, an honor that she received at a ceremony in Philadelphia. Also in 2007 she was presented the Silver Achievement Award by the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, for distinguishing herself in the community through professional, volunteer and/or philanthropic work resulting in significant change . In addition, in 2009, she was selected by New York University to receive their Distinguished Alumnus Award which she accepted at their commencement in May 2009.

Ms. Allred has two grandchildren, Sarah and Sam. Her daughter, Lisa Bloom, is a CBS News Legal Analyst, appearing frequently on The Early Show, and CNN Legal Analyst, appearing daily on CNN and HLN prime time shows.