The New Annual Meeting: Building the Future for Our Volunteer Leaders

February 2024

By Tara R. Burd 
Chair, CLA Board of Representatives

During the last weekend in January, the California Lawyers Association’s Board of Representatives completed its long-range planning meeting. The Board started with a recap of the organization since its inception in 2018 as a reminder of all of the excellent progress that has been made since we separated from the State Bar as a result of the mandate in SB 36. From siloed sections, we have built a robust and unified organization. Then, with an eye toward building the future, we took a hard look at how we want to be defined and who we serve. The Board was unanimous in its re-commitment to serve California lawyers through top-quality speakers, cutting-edge issues, timely updates, and proactive advocacy.

To further these efforts, the Annual Meeting will look a bit different this year. The focus this year will be on our volunteer leadership through an opportunity for increased collaboration. CLA’s committees and sections will each have a chance to exchange best practices and ideas with each other and with the judges in attendance for the California Judges Association’s annual meeting, which will be held concurrently. This will afford us all the opportunity to envision and plan for better in-person programming in 2025.

Just as important as our planning and goal setting: all the fun that we have together! A fundraising social event, dragons, drums, and more! Plus, for the first time ever, CLA has socks! And they were on full display as the Board had a night of bonding and bowling at Punchbowl Social in Sacramento. Whether a strike, spare, or in the gutter, the Board encouraged and cheered one another on.

Join in the fun by applying for a leadership position at CLA. Or, if you’re interested in helping to plan CLA-wide programming, including the Annual Meeting, email us at info@CALawyers.org.