CLA eNews

As we approach the year-end giving season, now is the time to make your pledge to a cause that is near and dear to all of us. Pledge to the mission of the California Lawyers Foundation (CLF). Pledge to one of our three tenets. Read more

In our professional lives, December marks not only the end of the year but also a time for reflection on the goals we set for the year. Missed or achieved, we consider how we gave back to our communities and to our profession. For some, volunteer service is a significant part of goal setting and a measuring stick used to determine whether we have contributed to improvements in some aspects of the legal profession, such as the public’s access to justice or diversity and inclusion in the profession. Read more

The State Bar of California seeks nominations for an attorney vacancy on the Judicial Council of California’s Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC). This committee plays a pivotal role in advancing the administration of justice through technology, fostering cooperative endeavors to resolve technological challenges, and promoting projects that apply technology to the work of the courts.  Read more

California Lawyers Association’s Sections were hard at work in 2023 pursuing their legislative proposals, with four bills being enacted. The changes made by these bills, effective on January 1, 2024, are discussed below.  Read more

The end of the year is an excellent time for reflection and identifying areas for growth for the new year. Instead of listing the same annual resolutions that are often redundant from past years, why not try something different?   Read more

November 2023 By Mary AkensChair of the Environmental Law Section of California Lawyers Association On October 19, over 800 registrants including lawyers and future lawyers joined together for the SOLD-OUT 32nd Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®. The conference brought together lawyers, law students, professors, consultants, engineers, and their families for three days of continuing legal education and fun.  Thursday afternoon, the Executive Committee held its annual meeting prior to the Opening Night Reception.   Opening Night Reception The Thursday evening… Read more

As lawyers, many of us routinely navigate disputes between parties. To do this, we have to know our client’s position, certainly, but often it is equally as important to understand the vantage point of our opponent. Read more

California Lawyers Association’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Interest Group released two new episodes of our ESG-in-Law video series. The episodes featured discussions with Kabir Duggal and Howard Fischer.  Read more

The California Supreme Court recently ordered the approval of new Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3 (Reporting Professional Misconduct), sometimes referred to (perhaps derogatorily) as the “snitch rule,” which went into effect on August 1, 2023. In addition, the California Legislature recently passed, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law, state Senate Bill No. 40 (the annual State Bar licensing fee bill), which (among other things) added new Section 6090.8 to the California Business and Professions Code, effective January 1, 2024. Read more

California Lawyers Association hosted 90 fifth-grade students and their teachers from Harborside Elementary School at a Civic Education Luncheon during CLA’s Annual Meeting in San Diego on September 22, 2023. The students were joined by over 40 judges and attorneys, who generously volunteered their time to engage with them in a fun and interactive civics program called “No Animals Allowed.” Read more