Message from Monique D. Jewett-Brewster, Chair of the Business Law Section

It has been my pleasure this year to meet many members of the Business Law Section at various events hosted by the BLS or California Lawyers Association.  When I make these members’ acquaintance, I make a point of asking why they joined the BLS, or what they enjoy most about their membership. Almost without fail, the members respond that membership in the BLS helps them stay on the forefront of developments in their industry or field of substantive business law expertise.  Given this response, I strongly encourage all BLS members to explore the recently debuted CLA website, at https://calawyers.org/ (rightfully proclaiming our CLA as “The Bar Association for All California Attorneys”).  There, under the “Education” drop-down menu, those interested may review the CLA’s catalog of online for participatory MCLE credit programs put on by the BLS or other Sections, or based on areas of legal specialization or MCLE credit.

Further, you may not be aware that as a member of the BLS, you can receive an hour of free MCLE each month! This month, the BLS is pleased to showcase its “Cyberspace Law 101: Representing Clients on the Internet” program. Speakers Raffi Zerounian, Shabnam Malek and Robert Hawn, a past Chair of the BLS, will cover protecting client IP on the internet, data breaches, and privacy policies and terms of use, as well as the ethical implications of using the internet to promote your law practice.  This program offers 1.5 participatory MCLE credits in legal ethics, and is free during the month of May for BLS members.

The second most popular response to the question of why members join and remain part of the Business Law Section is to create relationships which can help our lawyers grow their practice and meet their clients’ needs.  In other words, to network.  Our Section leadership is hard at work planning live programming which lets practitioners meet members of other Sections and local bar associations while they obtain MCLE credit. As discussed in detail below, the May 17 event co-sponsored by the BLS and the Solo and Small Firm Sections (offering 3 hours of MCLE credit), is only one such program.

Thank you for your candor when you meet me. I welcome your in-person feedback on how we can improve your BLS membership experience. Keep it coming via e-mail as well, please, at mjb@hopkinscarley.com. 

Monique D. Jewett-Brewster
Hopkins & Carley, A Law Corporation (San Jose)
Chair, Business Law Section
California Lawyers Association