Member Spotlight

New Lawyers Section Chair Daniel Cheung learned how to argue his case at an early age, according to his parents.

“My mom tells me that when I was in the 4th grade, we were having a fight, as kids do, and I objected to her, which is so embarrassing,” he said with a laugh. “But I think I always just gravitated toward law and government, and that’s what I ended up pursuing in grad school.”

Daniel, who is the proud son of Korean immigrants, grew up watching his parents navigate the legal system and government as small business owners. Those early experiences sparked a lasting interest in law and public service. After graduating from law school and earning a master’s degree in public administration, Cheung built a career in public law and now serves as deputy county counsel for San Luis Obispo County.

New Lawyers Section Chair Daniel Cheung learned how to argue his case at an early age, according to his parents.

“My mom tells me that when I was in the 4th grade, we were having a fight, as kids do, and I objected to her, which is so embarrassing,” he said with a laugh. “But I think I always just gravitated toward law and government, and that’s what I ended up pursuing in grad school.”

Daniel, who is the proud son of Korean immigrants, grew up watching his parents navigate the legal system and government as small business owners. Those early experiences sparked a lasting interest in law and public service. After graduating from law school and earning a master’s degree in public administration, Cheung built a career in public law and now serves as deputy county counsel for San Luis Obispo County.

His path to leadership within CLA began when he moved to California after starting his legal career in Utah. Newly sworn into a second bar, Cheung was looking for ways to connect, both professionally and within the broader legal community. With few local connections, he turned to CLA to meet other attorneys across the state and better understand the California legal landscape. The statewide nature of the association, combined with opportunities for remote engagement, made CLA an ideal fit.

“CLA is the rare association where there’s a home for you no matter what you practice, where you practice, or how your career changes,” he said. “There really isn’t another space where government, private sector, and public agency lawyers all come together like this.”

It wasn’t long before he joined the New Lawyers Section Executive Committee, and in 2025, Daniel stepped in as the NLS Chair.

Since beginning his term, Daniel has been struck by the passion and dedication he sees across CLA. He points to the many volunteers and leaders who are deeply committed to advancing justice and supporting their peers and is inspired by the diversity of new lawyers in California, not just in background, but in career paths, practice areas, and professional goals.

“There isn’t one single way a legal career has to look,” he noted, emphasizing that many lawyers move between practice areas and settings over time.

Looking ahead, Daniel and the New Lawyer Section have ambitious plans for the year. A key goal is helping new lawyers connect early and often, whether through CLA, local bar associations, or affinity bars. NLS is launching webinar programming focused on early-career skills, including how to prepare for first mediations and how to succeed in a variety of practice settings. A new “Meet the Sections” series will also introduce new lawyers to CLA’s 18 sections, highlighting the breadth of opportunities available within the association.

NLS is also partnering with the California Lawyers Foundation and the Civic Engagement and Outreach Committee on in-person Law Day programming on May 1. Outreach at high schools across the state will focus on practical legal topics such as signing a first lease, understanding contracts, and registering to vote, helping students transition into adulthood with greater confidence.

For new lawyers considering getting involved, Cheung’s message is simple: start. Involvement can always scale up or down, but taking the first step is key. Through the New Lawyer Section, he hopes every new lawyer can find what he did: a professional home, a supportive community, and a reminder that a sustainable legal career is built together.