No Matter Your Legal Niche, We Have You Covered

By President Jeremy M. Evans and 
Chair of the Board of Representatives Ryan M.F. Baron

One amazing thing about having a law degree is the variety of careers we can pursue. We are not limited to practicing litigation, or even working at a law firm. We can choose to work in almost any sector of society, including courts, academia, nonprofits, and global corporations. 

At the California Lawyers Association, we recognize and embrace this career diversity. That is why, as a member-driven, mission-focused organization dedicated to the professional advancement of attorneys practicing in the state of California, CLA is creating programs across this broad spectrum. We want to engage with members working in every corner of the legal profession and bring these groups together to learn from each other. 

One great example is our California Lawyers Foundation Signature Speaker Series, which features leaders of the profession sharing their journeys in the law. This series also serves as a fundraiser for the California Lawyers Foundation, CLA’s charitable arm and partner. Donations go toward developing and supporting projects that advance our mission of promoting excellence, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law. 

At our most recent event on March 3, we explored academia as a legal career with two law school deans: Kevin R. Johnson of UC Davis School of Law and Sean M. Scott of California Western School of Law. Flash back to last March, when we provided a window into what it is like to be a lawyer in the front office of professional sports. Our panel consisted of five outstanding women running the legal departments for three baseball teams, one football team and NASCAR racing. 

Another example is the fantastic practice-specific content that our Sections produce. Section publications and continuing legal education programs represent the bread and butter of what CLA offers its members. 

We are also ramping up content that will appeal to a wider audience and be available to all members, regardless of whether you are a member of a Section. 

We feature the best of the published content in CLA’s digital publication Legal Perspectives. Webinars open to all CLA members cover topics that are not practice specific but are top of mind for many of us, such as help building a law practice or strategies for coping with the often-overlooked mental aspects of practicing law. Upcoming examples include:

• March 29: Webinar: Unmasking Imposter Syndrome in the Legal Profession
• April 5: Webinar: Psychology of Getting it Done

Sponsored by the Law Practice Management and Technology Section, these programs are now available to all members under the new membership structure for 2022. 

Also available to all members is content created by the Solo and Small Firm Section. A recent State Bar of California survey found that about one in three attorneys in California works as either a solo practitioner or in a small firm, so we hope this content will be helpful to many of you.

Finally, we invite you to share your knowledge and expertise with other members. We are accepting education program proposals and ideas for the 2022 CLA Solo and Small Firm Summit. The deadline for submissions is March 18 and the virtual event will be held June 16-17. We hope to see you there if not sooner!