CLA has partnered with Verifyle so that members can subscribe to the premium version of Verifyle for just $14.50 per month. All you have to do to access the discount is apply the code "GOLDFORCLA" at checkout.

For years, legal ethics reformers have tried to soften zealous advocacy, pushing civility, professionalism, and "reasonable" representation. They failed. And they should fail. Because when the system crushes people, lawyers are the last line of defense. In this frank discussion, Stuart Teicher, Esq., the CLE Performer, talks about the history of the concept of zealous advocacy, explains the rules that form the boundary of proper lawyer behavior, and dismantles the myth that diluting aggressive representation is progress.

At this program, Justice Charles Smiley, Past Presiding Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court, who was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve on the California Court of Appeal, First District, will discuss his in depth research over the past 30 years regarding the rich, triumphant, and sometimes heartbreaking history of Black lawyers, Black judges, and Black Bar Associations in California and the United States. This is one very educational Black History Month Program that you do not want to miss. The Honorable Judge Linda H. Colfax, will give opening remarks. Terrance J. Evans, Chair of the California Lawyers Association, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the CLA Racial Justice Committee, Director of Region IX of the National Bar Association, and a Partner at Duane Morris LLP will have the honor of introducing Judge Smiley.

Attorney and Director of Education and Attorney Development at Smokeball

The Grow Your Leadership Book Club welcomes all CLA members and leaders to start the year strong with one (or both) of Simon Sinek's Books.

Balancing zealous advocacy with professional civility is an essential skill for today's attorneys - and who better to teach it than someone from the Garden State? Professional legal educator Stuart Teicher, Esq. (known as The CLE Performer) draws on his Jersey roots to show how direct, no-nonsense communication can actually strengthen your advocacy without crossing ethical lines. You'll learn why being straightforward doesn't mean being rude, and how authentic, strategic communication drives better results for clients while keeping you out of disciplinary trouble.