CLA

“Do the Right Thing,” a Spike Lee movie released over 30 years ago, was deemed controversial because it depicts racial and social disparities in the United States. The film illustrated what can happen when those in power do not adequately address these disparities: it can lead to acts of extreme violence by those who feel powerless.  Read more

Intellectual property lawyers, mark your calendars for the 47th Annual IP Institute in San Diego from November 2-4, 2023.  Read more

In 1969, the Legislature enacted California’s Housing Element Law. Since then, local governments (cities and counties) must periodically adopt a housing element, which is a plan to accommodate their fair share of the “regional housing need” in their community. In a two-step process, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) establishes the amount of housing at varying affordability levels for each locality. First, HCD establishes an amount needed for each region in the state. Second, the regional councils of governments apply a methodology to allocate the regional housing need to local governments. Read more

What a journey it has been! Over 100,000 miles traveled since the start of my California Lawyers Association Presidency in September 2021. It was a dream turned into reality. Dreams are but realities yet to happen, if only we just believe. What started with a swearing-in ceremony with the Chief Justice of California on our screens ended soon after at a Gala in tuxes and dresses. Something impossible but for Providence, time, hard work, and wonderful people.  Read more

The Labor and Employment Law Section is now a Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Provider and offers affiliate membership to HR professionals. Read more

California declared Labor Day, the first Monday in September, a legally recognized holiday in 1892. Two years later, in 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday as well. The origins of the holiday stem from parades to celebrate trade and labor unions and to honor their contributions, which strengthen the communities where they worked. Labor Day also helped activists gain recognition for the mistreatment of workers, leading to the impactful legislation California has approved in recent years.  Read more

Client trust accounting is a balancing act. To keep from stumbling over, you have to keep the ledgers up to date, checked and balanced. Read more

An attorney I met recently lamented that he spends most of his workdays reacting to emails. He starts each day with a long to-do list and feels lucky to finish one or two things under the incessant email barrage. I can relate. Those of us who are on email listservs have no doubt received an email flurry sparked by an interesting (or not so interesting) question or important (or not so important) piece of news and have seen the frantic emails from attorneys begging to be removed from the listserv and pleading with others to not "Reply All."  Read more

Please join us for an in-depth discussion with two pioneers in the legal profession who have navigated disability and achieved greatness. The Honorable Judge Andi Mudryk of the Sacramento County Superior Court, who is the first openly transgender person in California history to be appointed by a governor to serve on the bench, has battled brittle bone disease to achieve a successful career as a lawyer and a judge. Judge Mudryk, who has spent decades fighting for fair treatment for the disabled, will share her story with us. Judge Mudryk will be joined by Thomas M. Berliner, a Partner at Duane Morris LLP, and one of the highest profile water rights lawyers in the United States. Mr. Berliner has overcome paralysis following an accident to co-found the San Francisco office of Duane Morris LLP and receive national recognition for his legal prowess. Introductory remarks will be made by Honorable Judge Suzanne R. Bolanos, who Chairs the SF Superior Court Elimination of Bias Committee. Judge Bolanos will be joined by Terrance J. Evans, a Partner at Duane Morris LLP, who serves on the San Francisco Superior Court Elimination of Bias Committee and is Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the CLA Racial Justice Committee, Vice Chair Elect of the CLA Board, and Director of Region IX of the National Bar Association. Mr. Evans will moderate the discussion. Read more

Lawyers have been passing down bad writing habits from generation to generation. In this program, the “CLE Performer” Stuart Teicher, Esq. teaches a new, more concise way of persuasive legal writing —  a paradigm he calls the “Surgical Strike.”  Stuart explains how lawyers can make their writings clear, concise, and direct by using Plain English. Read more