Reflections on My CLA Journey 

August 2024

By Tara Burd

It is hard to believe that my term as Chair of the Board of Representatives of California Lawyers Association is coming to an end.  This has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my professional career. 

When I first joined CLA, I did so at the encouragement of Real Property Law Section (RPLS) volunteer, Gary Laturno. We met when he mediated one of my cases, and then he attended an event I helped host for the Irish American Bar Association of San Diego. At the time, I was a solo attorney in my fifth year of practice.  Gary said that if I volunteered to help him with his monthly MCLE programs and considered hosting a networking event for the RPLS, that maybe I would be accepted to the Executive Committee.  The real selling point was that the RPLS would pay for my flight and hotel room throughout the state for the MCLE programs and meetings.  

That year, in 2016, I hosted my first real property networking event at the Loma Club in San Diego, which brought together attorneys, lenders, brokers, agents, appraisers, and other real property professionals for a night of networking and fun. While the COVID-19 pandemic derailed our continuity, the event returned on demand of its past attendees and we are currently planning our seventh (almost annual) real property networking event at the Loma Club. This year we will co-sponsor with VAREP (Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals) and hope to be supported by the San Diego County Bar Association’s Real Property Law Section as well.  So many of the attendees are now business and referral partners with other attendees, which is part of the joy and reward of the event.

Eventually, my service to CLA became about far more than hosting fun activities and being reimbursed for my in-state escapes.  The dedication of its long-time leaders was inspiring, and I recognized all the intangible value that CLA offers to its members and leaders as well: the opportunity to have a voice with the legislature, the relationship with the judiciary, and the influence with the State Bar of California.  Every day I see social media posts and hear comments from people giving lip service to the changes they want to see in the world – most, taking no actionable steps towards their desired end.  I saw that I could actually do something as a CLA leader. Whether it was contributing to a public statement on behalf of our 40,000+ members, producing education on hot topics, or supporting a young lawyer in the way others supported me.

This year was the culmination of the last eight years of personal and professional growth as a CLA volunteer leader.  During my term, we had a complete reorganization and change in leadership.  New CEO, Chris Nguyen, heard the requests of the CLA volunteer leaders and increased the staffing and resources where necessary to improve the services to our Sections. With change comes growing pains, which we have tended, repaired, and as a result, we are stronger.   

As I previously reported, we held a long-range planning meeting in January and have already begun implementing improved processes and procedures throughout the organization.  Our primary objective was to focus our resources directly on serving our membership, and we are furthering that goal by inviting all CLA volunteer leaders to participate in training and future planning at this year’s Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference.  We will discuss and identify concrete goals and plans for more targeted in-person CLA-wide events, better cross-Section and cross-community networking, additional resources for new attorneys, and increased non-dues revenue generation so that we have the means to support our members.  I know that together we can build a strong and successful future for CLA.

I am thankful to this year’s Board of Representatives for all your professionalism and support, to the Real Property Law Section for your trust and encouragement, to Chris Nguyen and the CLA for their patience and dedication, and to so many more who supported me personally and professionally.  I look forward to a great Annual Meeting and whatever challenges and adventures come next.