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

As we embark on this new year, I would like to share our Business Law Section’s long range strategy plan—which our BLS Executive Committee recently updated to more fully reflect our Section’s values and goals. The BLS remains focused on its primary goal of creating and delivering high quality content to its members, and continues to disseminate this content through its fifteen Standing Committees’ “eBulletin” updates, the quarterly Business Law News and Annual Review of current developments, and our monthly eNews newsletter. However, another important goal of the BLS is to increase the diversity of its members and leadership by creating an inclusive environment where all business lawyers feel welcome and have access to the knowledge and networks that can help them thrive in their careers.

To that end, the BLS is excited to expand its strategic partnerships to cross-promote and create synergy both within the other Sections of the California Lawyers Association (CLA), and with other local and affinity bar associations that share the BLS and CLA’s goals of helping lawyers stay on the cutting edge of the changing legal landscape, and furthering diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession.

As just a few examples:

• The BLS is partnering with the California Young Lawyers Association (CYLA) to update the “10 Minute Mentor” video series available on YouTube and provide junior lawyers with on-demand access to mentoring ranging from programming on entry-level practice skills to business development strategies.
• Our Section is exploring more opportunities to present live MCLE programming for its membership, and is planning a Business Law Summit tentatively set for March 28, 2019 to provide education on a number of hot button topics collaboratively with the BLS’ Standing Committees and other Sections of the CLA.
• The BLS and CLA are reaching out to local and affinity bar associations to explore collaborative activities which best suit their respective needs, whether MCLE education-based or by providing networking to create opportunities for meeting new referral sources and business partners.
• Finally, as part of the BLS’ efforts to cross-promote other organizations’ events reflecting the Section’s values, this Black History Month, on February 13, 2019 in San Francisco, the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) will present “The Case of the Missing Black Associates: A CMCP Minority Associate Retention Project”. To learn more and register, please click here.

It is our Section’s goal to provide you with the best membership benefits and opportunities for your personal and professional growth. There are a multitude of ways to join the BLS in this effort. Please reach out to me at mjb@hopkinscarley.com, or any of our dedicated BLS leaders, to learn how.

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