CLA

If you’re still waiting/hoping/wishing for the old normals to come back, you’re not alone, and also, you're not on the right path. Read more

The US stock market had the best November since 1987. 2020 has kicked off the new decade with some of the most unpleasant surprises starting with a global pandemic, raging fires, devastating hurricanes, worldwide economic collapses, historic job losses, rising deaths from COVID-19, protests and violence in several US cities, a new Supreme Court member (the third appointed by President Trump), and now the added chaos from a contested election. Read more

How you interact in negotiations has a direct and immediate impact on your results. Yet we tend to engage and make these decisions off-the-cuff. Don’t. Instead, take advantage of the experts’ proven research so you will use the most effective strategies and get your best deals. Read more

Resilience is a critical resource for lawyers that has become even more important during the COVID pandemic. The field of positive psychology provides the foundation for many activities that can be incorporated into every-day life (even during quarantine) to foster well-being and bolster positive emotions to promote resilience and preserve mental health during this difficult time. Read more

The California Lawyers Association is awarding the prestigious Bernard E. Witkin Medal to outgoing Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin and bestowing other awards on others who represent the best of the legal profession. Read more

With all that has gone on in 2020, it is time that we take a fresh look at how we are feeling about the changes in our world and how we have responded to loss and uncertainty. All of us feel the stress and anxiety of loss, change and uncertainty and many of us need help to readjust, adapt or reset. The size and scope of what we are collectively feeling is big and it feels different than anything we have previously experienced. Read more

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