California Lawyers Association
At Your Service
March 2024
By Betty J. Williams
CLA President
An important benefit of being a member of California Lawyers Association is having access to a remarkable range of resources to help you better serve your clients and your communities. Our sections provide many of CLA’s most successful programs.
Since being sworn in as President last year, I’ve had the opportunity to join several section programs and found each one valuable, even those that were not focused on my practice area, taxation.
For example, I recently attended the Privacy Law Section’s 2nd Annual Privacy Summit. I was impressed by the industry visionaries and top echelon regulators who shared the most updated information in privacy law, including enforcement priorities, trends in privacy litigation, anticipated legislation, and emerging issues relevant to all California lawyers. The energy at the two-day event in Los Angeles was palpable, and I can personally attest that all lawyers can benefit from hearing what Privacy Law has to say!
When I asked Privacy Law Section Chair Nick Ginger how the section created such a successful program in only two years, he talked not only about the dedication of the section’s leadership, the CLA planning and execution team, and the sponsors, but he described the drive to deliver the best possible experience to the section members, a theme consistent throughout CLA. Nick further stated that he mirrored what he observed from years of attending the annual meeting of the Taxation Section, which similarly attracts national speakers and sponsors annually.
Coming up March 8–10, the Real Property Section is having its Real Property Law Retreat and 9th Annual Women in Commercial Leasing Law Symposium in Rancho Mirage. This is a rare chance to hear from keynote speakers, including a renowned economist, a psychologist, and an Indian Law attorney. I hope to see you there!
I am particularly excited about Legislative Day on April 3, even though, professionally, I am not involved in lawmaking. Last year’s sold-out event featured a keynote speech by Attorney General Rob Bonta, whose work intersects with numerous practice areas. It is a rare opportunity to learn how the wheels of government turn and recognize the movers and shakers from all three branches of government who work so hard on behalf of all Californians. I can’t wait to see what the organizers bring us this year!
It isn’t too soon to plan for the 2024 CLA Annual Meeting, scheduled for September 5–8 in sunny San Jose, California! This year, the meeting will focus on our volunteer leaders from all sections and committees. There will be new, member-focused education and networking events, along with our cherished swearing-in ceremony with the California Judges Association. I’m also excited about the expanded closing night event!
I am so proud of our many leaders who embody the ethos of putting our members first and thinking daily about giving them the resources they need to succeed. I have witnessed it time and again in ways big and small. At the Privacy Summit, for example, Nick Ginger brought the section’s entire Executive Committee on stage to recognize their leadership and excellence in volunteerism. When the lunch buffet line began, he made sure the hundreds of attendees were the top priority as he waited to be last in line. It was a small gesture, but just another example of how our leaders demonstrate to members that we are at your service!