CLA eNews

In the latest discussion from ESG-in-Law series produced by CLA’s ESG Committee, Patrick Miller speaks with June Hu about her role coordinating Sullivan and Cromwell’s diverse and growing ESG practice, the need for collaboration across silos of traditional legal expertise, the role for early-career attorneys in this space, and the SEC’s recently published climate disclosure rules, as well as a discussion of legal challenges being brought against the same.  Read more

California lawyers generally are familiar with the conflict of interest rules and the sometimes harsh consequences of those rules.  Those consequences can include disqualification of a lawyer or an entire law firm.  They also can include a sometimes insurmountable hurdle to a lawyer moving to a new law firm.  But those rules, and those consequences, are not limited to lawyers in private practice on their own or at a law firm.  They apply equally to lawyers working as in-house counsel for a company.   Read more

Please mark your calendars for Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach, California, for the California Lawyers Foundation (“CLF”) Fairways to Justice Classic 2025 benefitting the CLF and its California Legal Pathways Collaborative (“CLPC”)!  The tournament will bring together students, practitioners, judges, and sponsors to help build a bright future for the next generation of attorneys.  The proceeds will benefit CLF and will provide mentorship opportunities for students.   Read more

We are all familiar with quips such as, “Most people don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan,” and “Bodies in motion stay in motion; bodies at rest, stay at rest.” Notions that those who have written plans, a strong worth ethic, and a positive attitude, will more readily achieve their goals, is also nothing new. Read more

As we become a more multilingual and multicultural society, more lawyers are likely to serve clients who do not speak the same language as the lawyer. This barrier to communication leads to several issues that lawyers will have to address to effectively and ethically serve their clients. The primary areas which this barrier impacts are competence (rule 1.1)[1] and communication (rule 1.4). Among other rules affected are confidentiality (rule 1.6) and responsibilities regarding nonlawyer assistants. [2] Read more

The California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC) is the pathway initiative for the California Lawyers Foundation.  Joining CLF in in 2023 at the CLA’s Annual Meeting, CLPC originally started at the State Bar of California in 2011 with the creation of six high school law academies.  In a partnership with the California Department of Education, we now have 21 active high school law academies across California with a vision of diversifying the legal profession.  All our law academies are in public schools and built under the Education Code 54690-97 creating California Partnership Academies.   Read more

In the newly created position of Chief Member Experience officer for CLA, I’m honored to be part of an accomplished team of dedicated CLA staff, and I’m committed to applying my efforts and talents, alongside our great team, to enhance the overall experiences of our members across all sections.   Read more

It is hard to believe that my term as Chair of the Board of Representatives of California Lawyers Association is coming to an end.  This has been one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences of my professional career.  Read more

Quality leadership comes in all shapes and sizes based not only on the leader but also on the team being led and the mission of the group. It is relatively easy and stress-free to motivate and collaborate with a small group that has a shared vision. Add in 50,000 lawyers and you can expect every type of challenge and reward to surface! Read more

July 2024 By Jerrilyn T. MalanaVice President, California Lawyers Foundation  CALIFORNIA LAWYERS FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO CONTINUE ITS SUPPORT OF THE JUDICIAL BRANCH’S POWER OF DEMOCRACY CIVIC LEARNING INITIATIVE  The California Lawyers Foundation (CLF) is proud to support programs that focus on civic education and engagement, including the California judicial branch’s Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative.    To ensure our democracy remains vibrant and strong, it is of utmost importance that the next generation be civically engaged. All students need… Read more