1 Hour MCLE

Stephen Lerner was appointed by Governor Brown as Assistant Commissioner for Legal Affairs (Chief Counsel) on November 2, 2015.  In this position, he serves as the principal legal advisor to the department, Commissioner, and executive team and oversees the department’s legal program.  Prior to his appointment, he served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Natural Resources Law Section of the California Attorney General’s Office from 2011 through 2015 where he advised the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Air Resources Board, State Water Resources Control Board, and Board of Forestry and represented them in civil litigation.  Between 1995 and 2011, Steve was a civil litigator in private practice representing individuals and businesses (including several large homebuilders/developers) with business, real estate and environmental law disputes.  Between 1988 and 1991, Steve served as an Assistant to the Mayor of the City of San Diego and was responsible for advising her on matters relating to the environment, parks, water quality/sewage treatment, recycling, and airport relocation.

Steve obtained his juris doctorate degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1994 and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, San Diego in 1988.

In his free time,  Steve enjoys traveling, running, photography, reading, and, most importantly, spending time with his wife and two children, ages 12 and 9.  Steve also has been an active member of the board of directors for the Society for the Blind since 2003 and served as the board’s president for five years between 2004 and 2008.