Strategic Plan

01. Elevate the Brand

Leverage the history, experience and expertise of CLA Sections to establish a strong recognition of the CLA brand, by being the leading voice and convener for the legal profession in California.

02. Long-Term Financial Stability

Establish long-term financial sustainability by increasing non-dues revenues, retaining members in partnership with CLA Sections and achieving a high-net promoter score.

03. Grow CLA Membership

Grow CLA Membership year over year, in partnership with CLA Sections, and increase engagement amongst members.

04. Exceptional Member Experiences

Deliver exceptional member experiences that enhance professional capabilities.

05. Champion DEI

Champion diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the California legal community through training, advocacy, affinity bar partnerships and education to positively impact the future of the profession.

06. Strengthen & Unify the CLA

Strengthen and unify the CLA Community to create a culture of collaboration and partnership, while respecting the unique strengths and supporting the work of our CLA Sections and other components.

01. Elevate the Brand

Increase:

• brand awareness by 10% year-over-year among potential members.
• brand equity (trust) by 10% year-over-year among existing members.
• direct traffic of visits to CLA website by X% year-over-year.
• overall (indirect/direct) traffic of visits to CLA website by X% year-over-year.
• social media followship by X% year-over-year CLA-wide and section by section.
• social media engagements by X% year-over-year CLA-wide and section by section.
• branded search volume (Google)

02. Long-Term Financial Stability

Increase:

• total non-dues revenue (NDR) by 50% or more annually by 2027.
• education, training and events revenue to 25% or more annually by 2027.
• membership dues revenue generated by unique paid members by 5% net of attrition.
• maintain paid unique member retention (RR) at or above 92% year-over-year.

03. Grow CLA Membership

Increase:

• dues paying member count by 13% year over year (factors in 8% attrition in Strategic Pillar #2.3 and Strategic Pillar #4.4 equating to a 5% net increase year-over-year.
• engagement within CLA New Lawyers by 10% year-over-year.
• number of law students who become CLA members by X% year-over-year.

Establish a Baseline to Measure:

• engagement from early career lawyers.
• satisfaction of early career lawyers via survey of CLA New Lawyer members (within first eight years of legal practice – Single Foundation Goal).

Achieve:

• a level score of 85 satisfaction score of CLA New Lawyers.

04. Exceptional Member Experiences

Achieve:

• overall member satisfaction score of 85.
• 85% or higher MCLE participant satisfaction ratings of at least an average score of three on all annual programming.
• and maintain member retention rate (RR) of current unique paid members at or above 92% (mirrors Strategic Pillar #2.3).

Increase:

• net promoter score (NPS) by XXX year-over-year.
• satisfaction of early career lawyers via survey of CLA New Lawyer members (within first eight years of legal practice – Single Foundation Goal).

05. Champion DEI

Conduct:

• annual assessments of member demographics to understand growing trends of association and diversity building opportunities to increase membership and enhance membership experience for all.
• an annual audit and review of CLA Policies and bylaws to eliminate inadvertent barriers to inclusion and enhanced diversity.

Improve:

• member diversity to mirror or exceed current State Bar of California benchmarks identified in the Annual State Bar Diversity Report Card.

Ensure:

• 95% of CLA members express a sense of belonging and inclusion in the associations and Sections.

Establish:

• endowment of $5 million within five years to support CLF diversity pathways, access to justice, and civics education programming to amplify CLA’s mission.
• at least two formal partnership agreements with California-based affinity bar associations to help advance issues promoted and supported by affinity bar members.

Provide:

• host, sponsor, or co-sponsor quarterly educational content/workshops/forums to advance support for DEI and racial equity issues in the legal profession and society in general.

06. Stregnthen & Unify the CLA

Collaborate:

• with Sections and committees on at least four projects year-over-year and achieve participant satisfaction at or above 85% established through brief survey after each event.

Ensure:

• CLA Sections and other component members report high satisfaction with CLA-wide value and Section experience.