CLA

Do you know the entities providing resources for California attorneys and their clients? Attorneys are often unaware of the purpose of some of these entities and the many free resources they offer attorneys and our fellow Californians. Our over 20 years of experience serving as staff, consultants, board members, and volunteers for these organizations has given us a comprehensive understanding of what’s available to you and some resources and services you may not have heard of previously. We hope this short guide will help you access resources for your practice and your network.   Read more

I started hiking in earnest in May 2020, two months after the world, or at least the San Francisco area, came to an abrupt halt due to COVID-19. At that time, hiking was one of the few pandemic-friendly social activities besides sitting in a friend’s backyard six feet away from each other. As some may recall, in May 2020, San Francisco’s mandate extended to outdoor activities. We complied, somewhat begrudgingly, during our hike from Ocean Beach, at the end of Sloat Boulevard, to Mount Davidson, shrouded in fog, of course, and back, via a pitstop at El Toreador, on West Portal, for a steaming hot burrito on a characteristically cold San Francisco night.  Read more

On November 23, 2023, the State Bar of California approved guidelines for generative AI use developed by the State Bar’s Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct. The “Practical Guidance for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law” (“Guidance”) is based on lawyers’ current professional responsibility obligations, including as set forth in the California Rules of Professional Conduct and State Bar Act (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 6000-6043). The Guidance addresses issues arising from the use of generative AI and products in which generative AI is a part. These products range from those freely available to custom-built proprietary applications. The manner in which a lawyer’s professional obligations will apply to the use of generative AI depends on many factors, including the type of product being used, the client, matter, practice area and firm size.  Read more

California Lawyers Association’s Environmental, Social and Governance Interest Group released two new episodes of our ESG-in-Law video series. The episodes featured discussions with Professor Ramona Lampley and Christina Tusan covering litigation risks involving environmental and human rights issues.  Read more

Twelve years after our first high school law academies started, the California Lawyers Foundation (CLF) has offered us a new home and breathed new life into our commitment and passion for our students.  Read more

View the PDF version. January 16, 2024 The Honorable Anthony J. Portantino Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee 1021 O Street, Suite 7630Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: SB 662 (Rubio), as amended April 27, 2023 - Support Dear Senator Portantino: The California Lawyers Association (CLA) strongly supports SB 662. SB 662 addresses a growing crisis in our court system caused by the critical shortage of court reporters, depriving many litigants of a verbatim record of court proceedings. The California Supreme Court has recognized… Read more

California Lawyers Association’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee hopes that everyone has a wonderful start to 2024 and is looking forward to making progress on a number of ESG initiatives.  Read more

It is the middle of December 2023 as I write this. California Lawyers Association and its nonprofit arm, the California Lawyers Foundation (CLF), are well into celebrating the holiday season. A season of giving time, talents, and resources to those less fortunate. However, it is always the holiday season for the CLF as its mission and duty of service consistently call for its benefactors, board, volunteers, and staff to serve its three tenets of civic engagement, access to justice, and improving the legal profession and community for fairness and equal opportunity. At CLF, we celebrate service and begin 2024 with the same call: give back.  Read more

Economic sanctions, especially those related to Russia and Iran, routinely make news headlines. However, the underlying legal changes that occur can significantly impact the operations of organizations engaging in cross-border commerce, risking exposure to relevant legal repercussions. It is therefore imperative for the legal counsel of organizations facing such sanctions risks to appreciate the legal landscape of U.S. economic sanctions, which is constantly changing based on U.S. foreign policy and national security interests, to ensure compliance with applicable legal authorities. This primer on U.S. sanctions is intended as a preview to the January 11 U.S. Economic Sanctions 101 Webinar: a comprehensive introduction for practicing attorneys on U.S. economic sanctions laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”).  Read more

January is a time for new beginnings. On behalf of the California Lawyers Association Board of Representatives, we are thrilled to welcome our new CEO, Chris Nguyen. Upon notice of the position’s vacancy, the Board quickly created an executive search committee comprised of leaders from CLA and California Lawyers Foundation, with CLA President Betty J. Williams at the helm. The executive search committee underwent numerous cycles of review and interviews before making its determination. We are particularly looking forward to Chris’s collaborative leadership, operational acumen, and creative revenue strategies.  Read more