CLA eNews

Regardless of your religious affiliation or beliefs, this time of year is often a time of celebration, family togetherness … and the exchange of gifts. However, for those of us who are members of the California State Bar, the receipt of gifts can be problematic if the gift-giver is a client. Yes, there’s a rule on that! Read more

Martin J. Jenkins was confirmed last month to the California Supreme Court, making him the first openly gay justice on the court and only the third African American man to serve on the state’s highest court. Read more

On the heels of last month’s consequential election for federal, state and local governments, we think it’s important to recognize the contributions of all of the people working behind the scenes. Just as clerks and bailiffs help enable fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law in our courtrooms, so too do the efforts of election workers ensure that our balloting process remains free and fair where every legal vote is counted. In that way, too, the voice of the people is heard on issues important to fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law that are the cornerstone of our republic and of our association. Read more

Could there be a worse year than 2020 to graduate from law school? The COVID-19 pandemic meant that the graduating class of 2020 couldn’t have a traditional graduation. Most jurisdictions didn’t have a July bar exam. In California, the earliest opportunity to sit for the exam was in October and, as was the case with other jurisdictions, there was a period of uncertainty about whether the exam would be online or in person. Taking the bar exam is stressful under the best circumstances. Read more

Along with turkey and football, this time of year at the California Lawyers Association tends to bring renewed focus on membership recruiting. While many members may not spend a lot of time thinking about membership outside of renewal season, our professional membership and marketing team wake up every day thinking about how we can create more value for our members and what we can do to grow membership. And they have some pretty sophisticated marketing and social media tools at their disposal. Read more

With pro bono work an integral part of the legal community, last month's national recognition week was a way to not only spotlight opportunities but celebrate the widespread benefits for both clients and attorneys. Read more

Recent demographic data shows that the California legal profession has made significant progress since 2006 in adding more women and people of color to the bench and bar. However, more advancement is needed to reflect the state’s diversity, the data shows. Read more

I receive emails, phone calls and text messages regularly from lawyers who are struggling with fear and anxiety and feel that they are on the edge of becoming dysfunctional as a result of these issues. It is time to talk about this condition in a practical way so that anyone who is having symptoms of paralyzing fear and anxiety can begin to work on getting better. Read more

Our country has been focused for many weeks now on the very important presidential election coming up tomorrow. If early voting numbers are any indication, we could be looking at a record turnout. This is great news for our representative democracy, also known as our republic. Read more

It is not uncommon for lawyers to seek to limit the scope of a representation for a variety of reasons. These might include a lack of knowledge or experience in a practice area, the need for particular expertise, or the lawyer’s or client’s limited resources. California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2, Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority, went into effect on November 1, 2018. Read more