CLA eNews

The scope of state and county emergency orders for addressing COVID-19 are beginning to change with a gradual, and welcome, reopening of businesses. And under the steady and impressive leadership of our Chief Justice and the Judicial Council, the courts have continued to function and now are beginning the process of reopening fully for business. Read more

The death of George Floyd and others shows us how far removed we still are from justice for all in the 21st century. It is critical to safeguarding the rule of law, preventing discrimination, and ensuring fairness in the administration of justice, that all are treated with full respect and with full protection of our constitutional rights. Read more

In addition to being the C.E.O. and Executive Director of CLA I am also an attorney. The death of George Floyd has affected me and turned my attention to the meaningful policy interventions that lawyers can champion to help reduce the likelihood that others suffer the same fate. But this month’s piece is less about those policy interventions than it is the personal cry of a mother, a wife and a sister to Black men. Read more

ABC10 News interviewed C.E.O. Ona Alston Dosunmu for its May 28 report on the gradual reopening of courts in the Sacramento area. Read more

As of May, law firms have begun to gradually reopen offices across the state that were closed during shelter-in-place orders. If your law firm is ready to take that step, the California Lawyers Association wants to make sure you have the information you need to keep you, your employees and your clients safe. Read more

In July of 2018, after receiving a report on the legal market landscape, the Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California convened a task force to review issues of access to legal services through innovation (ATILS). After more than a year of study, consultation, public input and debate, the ATILS Task Force presented its Final Report and Recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Read more

If you’re wondering how to develop a sense of inner strength and calm, even as stress threatens to send you spinning, look no further than the example set by Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine. Read more

The first months of 2020 have been “interesting times” fraught with danger and fear, but also creativity and innovation. In the age of social distancing and shelter in place, it has not been possible to continue to insist on in-person depositions, or even in-person hearings. Read more

As we begin our third month of sheltering in place, many of us at CLA have begun thinking about what the mid-term future may hold. When California reopens what will it mean for our bar association and what will the new normal look like? It seems unlikely that we will be permitted to gather in groups of more than a few dozen. Even if we’re allowed to do so, will people want to? What will post-pandemic bar associations look like? What will the post-pandemic CLA look like? No one knows for sure, but here are some thoughts based on lessons learned from our experience producing content about COVID-19. Read more

As the California Lawyers Association, the legal community, and the public continue to work together in facing resolutely COVID-19, we cannot forget the importance of the rule of law to our society. That makes this year’s Law Day on May 1st all that much more important. Read more