CLA Board Goals for 2024

January 2024

By Tara R. Burd
Chair, CLA Board of Representatives

January is a time for new beginnings. On behalf of the California Lawyers Association Board of Representatives, we are thrilled to welcome our new CEO, Chris Nguyen. Upon notice of the position’s vacancy, the Board quickly created an executive search committee comprised of leaders from CLA and California Lawyers Foundation, with CLA President Betty J. Williams at the helm. The executive search committee underwent numerous cycles of review and interviews before making its determination. We are particularly looking forward to Chris’s collaborative leadership, operational acumen, and creative revenue strategies. 

To continue this year’s strong start, the Board will meet in Sacramento for its long-range planning meeting later this month. We will take this time to focus on our core values and priorities for 2024 through 2026. Each member of the CLA Board has invested years of time and energy in CLA’s mission and the goals of the Sections. This dedication deserves the space and opportunity to identify and execute plans for our next phase of growth. As Board chair, I am committed to ensuring we have the time and tools to reach our next destination. 

On deck for 2024: 

This year’s Legislative Day, scheduled for April 3, 2024, is going to be bigger, better, and more collaborative than ever! That is saying a lot, given the rich history of excellent presentations and participation in this important event. CLA continues to be a leader in advocacy for issues that impact California lawyers. In the last year, we were involved in issues related to the California Bar Exam, professional responsibility and support for legal aid. Continuing our legislative advocacy remains a priority for CLA. 

The Annual Meeting will look a bit different this year. We will still be joining with the California Judges Association in September, but we will reduce programming in order to best meet the priorities of our members and volunteers. Stay tuned for more updates! Do you have ideas and visions to share for an annual meeting or CLA-wide program? Contact us at info@CAlawyers.org. 

CLA is also rolling out a new Association Management System in Q1, which is going to be so awesome. While members may not see the full impact of the updated day-to-day AMS, the new system will dramatically improve the way CLA staff and volunteers work together to serve the legal community. We are improving our master calendar, membership management tools, registration processes, and so much more! 

If you are looking for new ways to volunteer to support your legal community, please reach out! From Health and Wellness and DEI initiatives to practice-specific topics, programming, and articles, CLA has opportunities for everyone!