California Lawyers Association Appoints 2024-2026 Delegates for its Delegation to the American Bar Association House of Delegates

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (August 1, 2024) – The California Lawyers Association (CLA) is proud to announce today the selection of its delegates and alternate delegates to represent CLA in the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates. Serving as the legislative body of the ABA, the House of Delegates formulates policy for the ABA, may adopt rules consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws, and is the ultimate governing body of the ABA.

After an application and thorough review process, the CLA Board of Representatives recently approved four new CLA delegates and two alternate delegates. This distinguished group will play a vital role in shaping policy and governance within the ABA, the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. Selected for the 2024-2026 term, the four chosen delegates include:

CLA Delegates

• Justice Lee Edmon – Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal Second Appellate District, Division 3 (Pasadena, CA)
• Rinat Klier-Erlich – Founding Partner who heads the Los Angeles office of Zelms Erlich Lenkov & Mack (Woodland Hills, CA)
• Michaela F. Posnter (Young Lawyers Delegate) – Associate Attorney for Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld (Los Angeles, CA)
• Troy Van Dongen – Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP (San Francisco, CA)

CLA Alternate Delegates

• Stephanie Joseph – Staff Counsel at the California Teachers Association (Los Angeles, CA)
• Toby Rothschild – Of Counsel to OneJustice for Practicing Law Institute (Westminster, CA)

CLA’s selection process aimed to reflect the diverse backgrounds and expertise of its membership. The appointed delegates represent a broad spectrum of practice areas, geographic regions, and professional experiences, ensuring a well-rounded and inclusive approach to policy-making.

“As we prepare for the upcoming term, I am excited about the potential for our delegation to influence policy and bring positive change,” said Chris Nguyen, CEO of the California Lawyers Association. “Each member of our delegation is committed to representing CLA’s values and priorities on a national stage. We are very pleased with our new CLA Delegates – who offer a diverse and wide range of experience and depth of knowledge – and sincerely thank our outgoing delegates for their dedication and years of service.”

Once appointed, the Delegates and Alternate Delegates will serve a two-year term which will begin after the 2024 ABA Annual Meeting and will conclude at the close of the 2026 ABA Annual Meeting. Delegation members may serve up to three two-year terms and no person may serve for more than six consecutive years. 

For more information about the ABA House of Delegates, please visit americanbar.org. For more information about the California Lawyers Association, the statewide voluntary bar association for all California attorneys, please visit www.calawyers.org. 

About California Lawyers Association

Established in 2018 and headquartered in Sacramento, California Lawyers Association is the statewide voluntary bar association for all California attorneys. CLA’s mission is to promote excellence, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law. Visit us at www.calawyers.org to learn more about CLA or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or X.

Media Contact

Angel Duan
Media Relations Manager
angel.duan@calawyers.org