About CLA
CLA Committees
Thank you for your interest in joining a CLA Committee. We’re so excited to work with you. If you have any questions about our process, please contact Appointments@calawyers.org.
Your application is confidential. You will be notified of your committee appointment via email to your email address on the application. Terms for most committees commence at the beginning of the calendar year.
Instructions: Complete all required and applicable fields of this online form in one sitting. On the final page, you will have an opportunity to upload your resume or CV (of up to 5 pages) and up to three letters of recommendation (all of which are optional) — permitted file types include PDF, DOC, and DOCX. Your application will be submitted once you click “Done” on the final page. If you have any challenges utilizing this online form, please contact us at Appointments@calawyers.org.
The deadline for applying is October 31
Interested in the Section Executive Committee? Learn more about the appointment process.
Below is a description of the various CLA-wide committees.
| Committee | Description |
| Amicus Committee | The Amicus Committee reviews applications to file or participate in an amicus brief; provisionally approves or denies the application; if approved, works closely with the drafters to prepare the brief; provides a copy of the brief to the Board of Representatives together with a summary of the brief and a brief explanation of the determinations made by the Amicus Committee. |
| Appellate Practice Network | The Appellate Practice Network is a statewide network of appellate attorneys for the exchange of ideas and information and the building of community. This committee is open to any member of the California Lawyers Association at no cost. |
| Audit | Note: Per CLA’s bylaws, only open to Board Representatives. The Audit Committee of the Board hires CLA’s auditors, receives and reviews the annual financial audit and the form 990 and works with the CLA team as appropriate to improve internal controls and mitigate risk. |
| Awards | The Awards Committee reviews nominations submitted for CLA’s Annual Awards celebrations. |
| Budget & Finance | The Budget and Finance Committee works with the CFO and CLA staff to assist the Sections and the CLA in monitoring budgets and investments and developing annual budgets. The committee makes budget policy recommendations to the Board of Representatives. |
| Civic Engagement & Education | CLA’s Committee on Civic Engagement and Education will work to raise awareness about the importance of civic knowledge and participation. The Committee will connect lawyers and other legal professionals to various volunteer opportunities that promote civics education including programs that highlight the legal profession and the role of the courts. In addition, the Committee will assist in convening stakeholders to address policy considerations to advance civic education goals. |
| Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach Committee (DIOr) | The mission of the Diversity Inclusion and Outreach (DIOr) Committee is to promote and support the California Lawyers Association’s (CLA) deep commitment to diversifying the legal profession and bench to mirror the unique and broad diversity in our state and make sure that access can be achieved by all. The Committee provides policy recommendations and develops and conducts outreach initiatives to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the legal profession, including its membership, leadership, education, and programming. |
| Ethics Committee | The Ethics Committee will provide feedback and comment on proposed opinions, rules and legislation impacting attorney ethics and professionalism; write advisory opinions on ethical issues where guidance is needed; develop educational content on ethics issues impacting the entire profession; act as a resource to Sections who provide practice area-specific ethics content; and work closely with both internal and external ethics groups, including COPRAC and county bar associations. |
| Governance | The governance committee makes recommendations to the Board of Representatives about governance issues facing CLA as such issues arise. |
| Governmental Affairs | The Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) advises the Board of Representatives on legislative issues and other governmental affairs matters; considers requests for CLA to take positions on or propose legislation; and resolves disputes, if any arise, between CLA’s Director of Governmental Affairs and a CLA Section or between Sections over whether a Section may take a requested position on legislation. |
| Health and Wellness | The purpose of this Committee is to develop programming and develop or procure resources to promote attorney health and well-being, to reduce stigma associated with seeking help and related issues, to share best practices and to liaise with other organizations committed to the well-being of law students, lawyers, judges and other legal professionals. |
| Member Engagement | This committee will be a sounding board to offer suggestions to improve service to and communications with CLA’s members. Subcommittees: Cannabis Practitioners Group (CPG) The Cannabis Practitioners Group (CPG) of the California Lawyers Association is a CLA-wide group of voluntary attorneys who currently – or would like to – practice law in service of the cannabis industry and movement in California. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) The committee’s mission is to be a reliable platform for California legal practitioners seeking legal education and resources regarding the dynamic area of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. |
| Policies | Note: Per CLA’s bylaws, only open to Board Representatives. CLA’s Policies Board Committee considers and approves policies subject to oversight by the Board of Representatives as requested by members of the Board of Representatives. |
| Programs | This Committee will help with content and speakers for the Annual Meeting (AM), the Solo & Small Firm Summit (SSFS), and other CLA-wide educational programs, such as webinars or summits. This committee will suggest keynote speakers and, in the event that more program suggestions are received for an event than slots are available, help select panels that are timely and likely to attract more participants and otherwise focus on the content and substance of CLA-wide educational offerings and flagship events. |
| Website and Technology | The purpose of the Website and Technology Committee is to serve as an advisory and strategic voice for the whole organization and leverage member-leader perspectives and experience with high-level, transformative thinking and a no constraints mindset. |