California Lawyers Association’s 2025 Annual Legislative Day: A Powerful Opportunity to Engage on Issues Mattering Most

More than 2,000 bills are introduced by California’s Senate and Assembly lawmakers each year. Over the past 30 years, about 1 out of every 2 bills introduced reached the governor’s desk. Ultimately, the number of those bills then signed into law is about 84%. It’s interesting data provided by California Globe. More importantly, it is a reminder of the significance to be aware of both proposed and enacted legislation and the resulting impacts to the legal profession, access to justice, and the rule of law.

To ensure attorneys have entry to lawmakers, California Lawyers Association (CLA) hosts its Annual Legislative Day every spring, inviting CLA members to participate. This year’s event was held on April 9, 2025, at the Capitol Events Center in Sacramento. Nearly 100 CLA members met with legislators, policy advisors, attorneys, and legal professionals to learn about pressing issues and have their questions answered on a range of initiatives.

“Legislative Day is a day when attorneys come together from all practice areas to interact with some of the key decision-makers from all three branches of government,” explains CLA President, Betty Williams. “We learn more about what our state executive branch and legislators are working on, and how we can be most effective as attorneys on issues we care about. For example, we can weigh in early on matters of interest, and if a bill will be difficult to comply with as written, we can offer suggestions to remove perceived roadblocks. Additionally, it is always inspiring to hear from the judicial branch regarding matters of importance.”

Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary, Jith Meganathan, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, led off the day’s agenda, welcoming CLA members and encouraging engagement. Tracy Kenny, Supervising Attorney, Judicial Council Office of Governmental Affairs, shared her perspective on judicial branch priorities. Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan also gave remarks, including that he admires the work of the legal profession. Assemblymember Bryan currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, as well as Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion. In 2024, he was elected Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus

Senator Thomas J. Umberg, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about several matters of interest to the legal profession. He is the author of legislation allowing remote conferences, hearings and proceedings. He spoke to the group about the continued importance of this legislation, urging attorneys to let their elected members know that the legislation is going to sunset in 2027 and to ask that they vote to extend the law or put it permanently into place. He also spoke about legislation he is carrying this year, including bills relating to civil discovery and attorney advertising.

Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Vice Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee then offered her thoughts about small business, saying it is the “backbone” of  America. She is passionate about making certain that regulations coming into play don’t unfairly impact small business owners.

Saul Bercovitch, CLA’s Chief Governmental Affairs Officer, noted, “When the Sections were still part of the State Bar, a few Sections  held their own legislative days, focusing on their specific practice areas. After CLA was created, we started holding our Annual Legislative Day, expanding the program significantly to include issues of general interest to the legal profession as a whole.”

Reflects Michele Brown, Chair, CLA Governmental Affairs Committee. “When we first launched CLA’s Legislative Day, maybe forty people attended,” says Brown. “Each year, it has gotten bigger. Every member of CLA is invited to attend.” She continues, “The legislators want to know what we, as attorneys, are interested in and what is important to every litigant. Our elected leaders want to know what is affecting the practice of law and what our litigants need. It’s a really good way for members of the legal professional to have one-on-one contact with the legislature. They answer every question asked by a CLA member, even when they are difficult. There is no other situation where you have that kind of access and two-way exchange. You’re not.”

CLA Vice-Chair, Ireneo Reus, says that he has attended every CLA Legislative Day since 2020, whether in-person, or virtually during the COVID crisis. “Legislative Day kept me going through the pandemic and broadened my participation in CLA,” he recalls fondly, encouraging all CLA members to attend. “It is a good way to communicate with key stakeholders from the governor’s office, the legislature, and with people on both sides of the aisle. You feel like you can make an impact on the broader community and advocate for access. It is also an important way to demonstrate that CLA has a statewide presence with the elected leaders who represent California.”

Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California, the Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye, provided the keynote speaker address. She currently serves as President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. In her speech, she gave a call to action telling lawyers to, “… stand up and defend the rule of law.” She noted that people see attorneys as guardians of democracy.

CLA was pleased to honor California Assemblymember Ash Kalra as “Legislator of the Year,” acknowledging his extraordinary service. Assemblymember Ash Kalra was originally elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fifth term in 2024. Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He is also Chair Emeritus of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus that works to ensure that key legislative priorities are successfully passed on civil rights, criminal justice, economic and worker justice, environmental justice, and housing justice.

“The people we meet with are heavy hitters,” notes CLA Vice-Chair Reus. “They affect the role of attorneys and how we practice.”

Brown notes that there are plans in 2026 to add private tours of the State Capitol and to provide CLA members with the chance to meet in small groups with elected officials representing their regions. “It’s a labor of love,” she says.

As an organization, CLA has consistently been at the forefront of advocating on behalf of the legal profession. The organization has played a pivotal role in driving the conversation on a number of issues that are of interest to its members and the legal profession at large. CLA’s goal is to continue to be the voice of the legal profession.

To learn more about CLA advocacy, please visit: https://calawyers.org/advocacy/