Forward Thinkers: An Interview with California Lawyers Association CEO, Chris Nguyen, and Nicole Stragalas, Chief Member Experience Officer

December 2024

Many organizations use their year-end publications and messages as an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months. Leadership shares its accomplishments, highlighting the best of the best. In this interview, California Lawyers Association (CLA) Executive Team members Chris Nguyen and Nicole Stragalas take a different approach, inviting CLA members to learn about what lies ahead, with a focus on ensuring a thriving community for lawyers and legal professionals into the future.

It is clear, in their responses, that Nguyen and Stragalas have made a sincere commitment to growing CLA. As the premier volunteer Bar Association in California, CLA’s Executive Team wants to take the organization even further. Nguyen and Stragalas are both honored to work among the nonprofit’s 45,000 members which include nationally recognized experts in their fields serving as judges, lawyers, paralegals, law practice administrators, and law technology specialists. Both emphasize resources and opportunity as keys to long-term success, with a fundamental goal to provide pivotal benefits to all members.

Here’s what they have to say:

Q: CLA’s theme for 2025 is to, ‘Connect. Lead. Achieve.’ What does that mean to you?

CN: It’s a no brainer. That’s what we do every single day. If you are a CLA member, you can literally connect with 45,000 legal professionals throughout our entire state. That’s a benefit that isn’t available anywhere else in California. These connections may be informational, or social, but they are absolutely invaluable. We help put people together to collaborate, as well as to commiserate. And that’s powerful. Our members are also leaders. Some are the authority in their specialty. Others quietly work in the background for their clients, advocating for what is right. We have other members who are new and bring a fresh approach and point of view. Everyone is a stand out in their own way, and that’s how we achieve as individuals and as a critical player in California’s justice system.

NS: You know, CLA’s own members developed our new theme. They spent significant time deciding what they want to embody and how they wish to represent others. In my time here it is obvious that everyone ‘walks the talk’ and shares their energy to make a difference. Connect, lead, and achieve are three formidable words which describe a formidable group of people in the legal field.

Q: Why should CLA members continue to invest in the organization?

CN: I think the better questions is, ‘Why wouldn’t you want to invest in yourself as a legal professional?’ That’s what it means to be part of California’s largest volunteer Bar Association. Our members have invested years in themselves through education, committing their financial resources, and making a decision to join the legal community. We have 50,000 members and we will continue to grow. As an attorney or paralegal or law administrator, there is no other organization which provides our resources, both tangible and intangible. It doesn’t make sense not to be part of something with endless potential. The financial investment is small and the benefits are so consequential.

NS: It is definitely an investment to belong to any organization. But CLA isn’t just any nonprofit or professional space. It’s a rare relationship among colleagues. It’s mentorship. It’s education. It’s being part of something larger than yourself, whether you’re still in school or you are nationally regarded as a standout in your legal specialty. It’s being with others who are committed to ensuring legal justice and the effectiveness in the legal system. It’s an investment worth making for yourself, but also for the practice of law. I’ve had members tell me that CLA changed their legal career. Many members have become friends. That’s something special.

Q: What are you most excited about for 2025?

CN: I’ve been with CLA for less than a year. In that time, I’ve been fortunate to attend an event or participate in a discussion with almost every Section and Committee. I’ve listened to what our members want. High on the list is to see their organization grow. I’m excited that we are launching campaigns this upcoming year to gain new membership. That means we will increase potential. We will also increase revenue sources, and that will allow CLA to expand its in-person and online activities, its programs, and the benefits we provide. What’s exciting about growth in 2025 is that we are intentional about it. We are looking to increase attorneys from small firms, attorneys from different demographics, ethnicities and geographical regions so that CLA will mirror the richness of the state. We want to be an organization of opportunity for members.

NS: I think I’m most excited about the ‘Leveling Up Your Practice’ event that we are adding this year. It’s going to be held in mid-July in Los Angeles. We are developing two tracks for people who want to grow their practice. One will be for solo and small firm practitioners, and the other track is for mid-size firms that are looking to grow into large practices. CLA is offering these two tracks specifically focused on the business world. As Chris said, we are listening to what our members need.

Q: What specific benefits and networking opportunities will be new to CLA in 2025?

CN: We are evolving and looking to several new opportunities. I anticipate that we will reach out and share more information with more Minority Bars and Affinity Bars, as well as unrepresented communities. We want to make sure that underrepresented people to have a voice. I also see more partnerships among the CLA Sections. There are a lot of subject matters that are going to be contentious over these next years. Immigrations. Tax. The Environment. Even if you don’t practice in one of these areas, I think our members will want to be involved.

Q: What marketing tools and services will be offered by CLA for its members in 2025?

NS: We’re going to have a new online community to communicate with other Sections. It’s called The Docket, and we’re excited to offer this communications tool. We have listened to everyone talk about making connections, and we understand the significance of that. This platform will help our members conduct more cross-Sectional work. We are also actively partnering with new organizations to bring additional resources to the attention of our members in support of their professional advancement and growth in their career. And, we are also going to provide more published resources for our Sections to promote their own services and events as part of CLA.

Q: What can CLA members do to engage in their own organization?

CN: I think they shouldn’t forget what excited them about joining CLA in the first place. They need to convey that. Whether it’s to gain new knowledge, to mentor others, to give back through civic engagement, there was something, or maybe even several reasons that brought our members here. Every person is going to be different, but they each had goals or ambitions or objectives when they originally joined, and those reasons are still valid. Our members should continue to participate and where possible, encourage others to participate. I recently was telling some young lawyers to just participate in one event. Any event they want, but participate in at least one.

NS: Join the online community in January. And, consider joining more than one Section.   And inside your Section, participate in one of their committees. I think members should also consider being part of a CLA-wide committee. If you want to get involved, you should be part of a Section and part of the bigger picture. I encourage everyone to attend as many live, in-person events as well as the live, virtual events. For example, our Solo and Small Firm Summit will be held in early summer. It’s completely virtual which means anyone can be involved.

Q: Is CLA moving to “Infinity and Beyond?”

CN: What does that mean? Yes, absolutely! CLA is going to claim its place in the nation as one of the premier voices. We will  continue to grow our impact on cutting edge topics like the environment, climate change, and immigration. It doesn’t matter where you stand, we have diverse perspectives and we want to have a voice at the municipal and state levels. Trade. Tariffs. California’s economy is the fifth largest in the world. We have forty million residents. That should be CLA’s collective in the state discourse, the national discourse, and in some cases the international discourse.

NS: Yes! Both Chris and I see the tremendous opportunities for our members and advancing the CLA mission. We are moving into action now. This isn’t theory or just talking about it. This is really about going out and ‘grabbing it.’  We are moving with confidence, swiftness and clarity.