Meet CLA Chair Terrance J. Evans: You’ve Heard from Him, Now Get to Know Him

November 2024

They say you only have one chance to make a first impression. Spend 30 seconds speaking with Terrance J. Evans, and he is someone you won’t forget. His passion for the legal profession and his commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are obvious. The charismatic manner in which he discusses civil rights for all people is undeniable. He stands out and up in California and across the United States for his belief that when people connect, they learn from each other, help each other, and can create whatever they want to create.

Mr. Evans smiles when he shares his story about first becoming involved with the California Lawyers Association (CLA) Litigation Section more than a decade ago (prior to the separation from the State Bar). Retired Judge, Rick Seabolt, a past chair of the Litigation Section, and former partner at Terrance’s firm—Duane Morris LLP—encouraged Terrance to apply.

“I admit, I didn’t immediately submit my application to join the Litigation Section ExCom,” says Evans. “But Rick was my mentor. He followed up with me, and he made sure I applied. That’s how I first became involved in the Litigation Section.”

Described as a “powerhouse” by colleagues, Evans represents clients in complex commercial litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.  He is a partner in the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices of Duane Morris LLP, where he serves as the co-leader of the firm’s Banking and Financial Services practice. Over the years, he has represented clients in a wide range of cases, including banking, real estate, insurance coverage, products liability, and civil rights matters. Evans readily acknowledges that he “loves being in court.” He also contributes hundreds of hours to pro bono work each year, centered on civil rights issues, elder abuse, and government benefits. He thinks it is imperative to help people who are struggling, one of the key factors in his decision to become a lawyer.

“I wanted to help the community and my family.  It is important for me to have a positive impact on those around me,” he explains. In addition to his pro bono work, Evans has also helped raise more than $650,000 for affinity and regional bar associations, which assist underprivileged and underrepresented law school students by providing scholarships and grants.

As CLA’s 2024-2025 Chair, Evans believes CLA is vital, both in terms of what attorneys can contribute as members and what knowledge they gain.

“It’s an opportunity to have your voice heard, to get your perspective out there,” he says. “You also develop valuable leadership skills. You find common ground to do good with other great leaders. You build your brand, but you also build CLA’s brand.”

Evans cites many examples of the important role CLA plays in helping members to expand their circles geographically, programmatically, and through affinity groups. He recognizes the benefit of belonging to a statewide organization as a unique opportunity to connect with “so many people,” as he puts it.

“I would have selected myself out if I hadn’t applied to CLA,” he admits. “I really like connecting with so many great people. It’s also good for building a professional network.”

When asked what drives him in his career and volunteer work, he is quick to say that he likes to be around people who are smarter than himself. He believes it is essential to help people find talent and to grow in the legal profession. He is grateful to CLA for supporting him in the development of the organization’s Racial Justice Committee, which has put on more than 200 programs since its inception.

“I like learning. There are so many voices that people need to hear from,” says Evans candidly.

His goals as CLA Chair are to help the 18 Sections grow in membership, as well as to expand their programs. He wants each Section to look for ways to distinguish itself, but also to connect within the association to develop a wide range of ideas, perspectives, and geography.

Evans is humble about his list of accolades. He was honored by the Los Angeles Times in 2022, 2023, and 2024 as being one of the foremost leaders on diversity and equity in California. Also in 2023 and 2024, Evans received the National Bar Association’s Regional Director of the Year award for advancing DEI around the US and the world. More recently, he received the 2024 Cunningham Award from the California Association of Black Lawyers for his efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and civil rights for everyone.

Outside of the courtroom, Evans enjoys time with his family and friends. He likes cooking and building things, though he says his latest project to construct a storage shed is taking more time than he originally thought. He operates in what he calls “different worlds,” identifying them as: legal, family, and fitness.

“I’m happy to move in and out of different worlds,” he shares.  “I also have lots of useless knowledge,” he says and laughs, confessing that he watches YouTube videos on everything from astrophysics to philosophy. He also views a lot of British murder mystery programming.

“The biggest influences on my life have been certain family members and seeing lawyers on TV. From Perry Mason to Johnny Cochran, I watched them and thought, ‘Maybe I want to do that.’”

Evans has given upwards of 60 presentations this year to a variety of legal professionals, businesses, and people in industry on DEI topics saying that people want to understand more about the law and how they can develop programs that help recruit, retain, and promote diverse talent.

He is looking forward to his ongoing work with CLA but also reflects on the need to have balance.

“I’ve lost a lot of friends in their forties, many of them lawyers. It puts things into perspective,” he says and pauses. “Maybe selfcare will be another thing that I try to promote.”

Looking to 2025, Evans is eager to help CLA expand its presence throughout California. He wants to make certain he is accessible to members and is always seeking new opportunities. He welcomes members to contact him and wants to encourage the same connections which have helped him thrive.