New Lawyers
The CLA New Lawyers Section Amicus Newsletter – February 2026
Chair’s Note
Chair’s Note
There’s a seat at the CLA table with your name on it!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I jumped into this role with the New Lawyers Section. But my experience with NLS and CLA so far has been one of the highlights of 2025 and far from anything I could have expected. And there’s much more to look forward to with the new year! There’s no better time to plug into a community that supports, challenges, and inspires you.
The California Lawyers Association and our New Lawyers Section offers involvement at every level, and the beauty is that you can choose what fits your bandwidth and interests right now. CLA is fully volunteer-led. And a huge part of NLS’ mission is to make sure that there is a seat at every table in CLA for diverse voices and perspectives, including those of new lawyers.
Our Chair, Jessi Fierro, wrote a great article with easy, medium, and high involvement opportunities to get involved in building our statewide legal community at CLA. For those who are interested in joining our group of amazing executive committee members, applications close on March 1. But more importantly, if you have any interest and even a tiny amount of time to get involved – reach out and let’s talk about what makes sense for you and aligns with your values and goals! The best way to reach me is by email at NewLawyers@calawyers.org.
CLA – and our legal profession as a whole – is at its best when we show up, in whatever way we can. Your involvement now helps build the future of our profession. I’m grateful for the energy and creativity you bring, and I look forward to seeing the many ways we can make your mark in the year ahead!
Daniel Cheung
Chair, New Lawyers Section
California Lawyers Association
Legal Tidbit
What New Solo & Small Firm Attorneys Need to Know
NLS is partnering with the Solo Small Firm section to highlight issues facing new lawyers in their monthly newsletter, The Advisor. See the latest article by NLS Vice Chair Tammie Ton here!
Seeking California Young Lawyer Delegates to the ABA
Upcoming meetings and events include the Midyear ABA Meeting Feb. 6-8 in San Antonio, Spring Conference Apr. 22-25 in San Diego, and other open leadership opportunities!
On February 7, the American Bar Association (ABA) will convene for its Midyear meeting in San Antonio, Texas where the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Assembly will vote on issues of importance to the bars across the country and in service to the public. The CLA New Lawyers Section is still accepting applications for Young Lawyer Delegates from all interested lawyers practicing law for 10 years or less or under 36 years of age. This is an excellent opportunity to kickstart your involvement with the ABA, meet fellow young Lawyers across the country, and make an impact in the legal community nationwide. If you are interested in serving the bar and the public by representing California at the YLD Assembly, please contact SoCal Representative Maxx Sharp at maxx@sharplawapc.com or NorCal Representative Justina Yassa at jyassa@fisherphillips.com. If you are not able to attend Midyear in person, you can still get certified as a State Delegate to the YLD so you can participate in upcoming events. The YLD will be coming to San Diego, California from April 22-25 for its Spring Conference. Join the ABA today and reach out to your local YLD Rep to take advantage of the incredible opportunities to get involved with the ABA YLD and make an impact this 2026!
ExCom Spotlight
Daniel Soto
Current Legal (or other) Practice: Tax Controversy Attorney
Current Location & Hometown: Senior Associate Attorney with Taylor Nelson Amitrano LLP in Irvine, California (Orange County)
Favorite Local Hangout: Classic Q in Newport Beach
Role(s) with NLS and CLA: Secretary for New Lawyers Section
Other CLA Section(s) and Committees: CLA Taxation Section member
Favorite Thing About NLS: Meeting other new lawyers from different practices and different parts of the stateFun Fact About Me: I took the bar exam (first online bar exam) and was married (at the Honda Center ticket booth in Anaheim) in the same week, both during Covid in October 2020
Upcoming Events
February 5-6, L&E Employment Law New Practitioners Conference (virtual)
The aim of this Conference is to support the continuous growth of new lawyers and those new to employment law. We also want to provide a solid foundation to our fellow attorneys and HR professionals, for which labor and employment law is not their primary field, and who need to understand these areas. This conference is designed as a comprehensive toolkit to meet these needs. Learn more and register today.
February 19-20, Privacy Law Summit (In-Person in LA)
Be sure to stop by and say hello to our Privacy Law Liaison, Chiara Wirz, who will be speaking on a panel about AI Governance!
Free Webinar: What’s New? Monthly NLS Chair’s Webinar with Jill Manning, VP of CLA (2/25)
March 19-21, Annual Public Law Conference (In-Person in SD)
NLS will be co-sponsoring a mixer for new lawyers, and be sure to stop by and meet our Public Law Liaison, Kathryn Romo, who will be moderating a panel at the conference!
Past Events
CLA Panel on the State of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
On December 23, the Racial Justice Committee of CLA convened a panel to discuss the state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. NLS’ representative to the RJC and President of the Wiley Manuel Bar Association, Jeresia Ewell, and NLS Chair, Daniel Cheung, joined a panel of experts to discuss this critical and timely topic. We were thrilled to be part of this engaging conversation!
Joint Mixer with the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association
On January 10, NLS had a wonderful time mixing and mingling with members of the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association at Boba Fresh in Clovis. We were excited to have Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee member, Geoffrey Sims, stop by as well. And a special thank you to FCYLA President Danielle Cristanti for helping us to coordinate this event. We appreciate the chance to connect with our regional young lawyer association partners!
Webinar on the Future California Bar Exam with Representatives from the State Bar of California
On January 14, NLS was delighted to host a webinar on proposed changes to future CA Bar Exam, considerations for exam administration, and how input, particularly from new lawyers, can shape the future exam. We were honored to be joined by Donna S. Hershkowitz, Chief of Admissions for the State Bar, and Ashley Silva-Guzman, Vice Chair and young lawyer representative to the Committee of Bar Examiners, with CLA’s President, Terrance Evans providing introductory remarks.
Joint Meeting of NLS Executive Committee and CLA Board of Representatives
On January 24, the NLS Executive Committee, in addition to holding its regular meeting, had an opportunity to join a meeting of the CLA Board of Representatives, which oversees the direction and governance of our statewide association. Our EXCOM introduced ourselves and discussed ways to continue to create and advance opportunities for new lawyers in every facet of what CLA does. Our Board of Representatives walks the walk in advocating and creating space for new lawyers!
What’s New? With the New Lawyers Section, Chris Nguyen, and Julia Byrd
On January 28, we were thrilled to welcome the amazing CEO and CMEO of the California Lawyers Association to share a little more about CLA and what we have in store in the new year. We are so grateful to Chris and Julia for all they do for our legal community and for joining us on the webinar! As always, we are always so happy to see you, our members, at these monthly meetings as well!
Joint Mixer with the Monterey County Bar & Monterey College of Law
On January 30, NLS had a wonderful time networking with new lawyers with the Monterey County Bar Association and the Monterey College of Law. Loved being at Tarpy’s Roadhouse in beautiful Monterey! Special thanks to Isaac Adams from MCL and Laura Elkington from MCBA for helping us organize. Always grateful for the chance to connect with our regional young lawyer association and law school partners!