CLA

Sponsoring a law student to attend the 2023 CLA Annual Meeting conference was an enlightening and rewarding experience. It allowed me to support the education and professional development of a future legal professional and shed light on the significance of law school outreach programs and the broader community of organizations engaged in similar activities.  Read more

Please fill out this form to offer a comment at the upcoming CLA Board of Representatives meeting. Read more

The Criminal Law Section of California Lawyers Association (CLA) is proud to present the Annual Trial Skills Update Seminar in Oakland on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Read more

View the PDF version. October 25, 2023 Board of TrusteesThe State Bar of California180 Howard StreetSan Francisco, CA 94105 Re:      Proposal for a Portfolio Bar Examination Dear Trustees of the State Bar of California: California Lawyers Association (CLA) submits these comments in response to the recommendation to adopt a Portfolio Bar Examination (PBE) as an alternative pathway to licensure to practice law in California. 1. Background  CLA has evaluated several different proposals from the State Bar to adopt an alternative… Read more

Jazz and The Blues are about a lot of things, including struggle, culture, bias, inclusion, change, and resilience. Each of those concepts are critical to understanding and combatting bias in the practice of law.  Join the CLE Performer, Stuart Teicher, Esq., as he connects the world of jazz and the blues to diversity and inclusion in the legal world. Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (October 20, 2023): The Intellectual Property Section of California Lawyers Association (CLA) is hosting its 47th Annual IP Institute event in San Diego on November 2-4, 2023. The event is one of the nation’s premiere IP conferences, offering access to top industry leaders and sessions. The event is attended by members of both large and small leading California IP law firms, various in-house legal counsels, members of the judiciary, and academic professionals practicing in the areas of patents, trademarks,… Read more

Pro Bono clients are like any other clients in many ways. However, some Pro Bono clients present ethical issues for attorneys that often differ from those presented by fee-paying or contingent fee clients. Lawyers sometimes face difficult questions about defining who the client is, communication with clients, clients with diminished capacity, conflicts with fee-paying clients, and many others. Representation of nonprofit organizations also can present difficult ethical issues not faced with most for-profit organizations. Read more

The final quarter of 2023 is here! 2023 may have seemed like a blur. The holidays are fast approaching. Stressed? Right now is the time to stop and take a deep breath and evaluate how you can be in control of ending 2023 and getting yourself ready for a successful 2024. Join Katy Goshtasbi, securities lawyer, transition coach, consultant, speaker and well-being advocate in this interactive and impactful workshop. Read more

The Environmental Law Section of California Lawyers Association (CLA) is hosting its 32nd Annual Environmental Law Conference in Yosemite National Park on October 19-21, 2023. The conference is the largest and most prestigious gathering of leaders who are passionate about the environment, energy, land use and natural resources law.  Read more

The Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) of the Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association filed an amicus curiae brief in the Supreme Court of the United States in William K. Harrington, United States Trustee, Region 2, v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al., a case arising out of the bankruptcy of Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, in which Purdue Pharma and related entities filed for bankruptcy. Read more