About CLA

CLA Committees

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Interested in the Section Executive Committee? Learn more about the appointment process.

Below is a description of the various CLA-wide committees.

	Committee	Description
1.	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.
2.	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.
3.	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.
4.	Awards	The Awards Committee reviews nominations submitted for CLA’s Annual Awards celebrations.
5.	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.
6.	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.
7.	Diversity Outreach Advisory Committee	The purpose of the Diversity Advisory Committee will be to review and create opportunities for CLA members to volunteer or advance inclusion, equity and diversity projects and other priorities identified by the Association or the California Lawyers Foundation.
8.	Diversity, Equity & Inclusion	The purpose of this committee will be to continue to develop internal policies, to advise, support and assist Sections, committees and other parts of the organization in their diversity efforts.
9.	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.
10.	Governance	The governance committee makes recommendations to the Board of Representatives about governance issues facing CLA as such issues arise.
11.	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.
12.	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.
13.	Member Engagement	This committee will be a sounding board to offer suggestions to improve service to and communications with CLA’s members.
14.	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.
15.	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.
16.	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.