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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a more prominent tool used in the practice of law. While this emerging technology has promising uses, it is important to ensure that all attorneys proceed with caution when implementing AI as it poses some concerns for ethical practice. The current state of AI is not yet at the point where it can be relied on to produce ethical content. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind the standards to which all legal professionals are held and to take extra care to ensure all work produced using AI meets the requirements of professionalism. Read more

Most law firms don’t resist change because they are stubborn. Instead, they struggle with change because lawyers value independence and autonomy. If you are a managing partner of midsized firm or a solo practitioner who has grown into a small firm, you may be trying to grow your firm in very practical ways. Take for example, implementing new technology. You may be:  Rolling out an electronic practice-management system to replace email threads and personal task lists Asking lawyers to use the firm’s document-management system instead of saving files locally Investing in AI-assisted research or drafting tools to improve speed and consistency Standardizing time entry policies, billing narratives, or processes to intake new matters so the firm has useful data Read more

The Los Angeles Incubator Consortium (LAIC) supports newly licensed and early-career lawyers in building sustainable, community-focused law practices throughout Southern California. The program is grounded in the belief that strong legal careers and access to justice go hand in hand. Read more

We are so happy to bring you our next issue of The Advisor which we aim to bring to you monthly, along with our colleagues at the New Lawyers and Law Practice Management Sections. Read more

In today’s legal environment—particularly in family law and other high-conflict practice areas—attorneys face increasingly difficult interactions with opposing counsel, self-represented litigants, and individuals experiencing high emotional volatility. What is often overlooked is that legal secretaries, paralegals, and office staff are usually the first point of contact in these exchanges. Their ability to remain composed, professional, and ethically grounded is essential to the success and safety of the law office. Read more

The use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) systems by lawyers, both in firms and within in-house legal teams, has significantly increased in the last few years. More frequently, AI technology is leveraged by lawyers to assist with a wide range of tasks, including legal research, litigation support, predictive analysis, contract drafting, legal document review, due diligence, and client correspondence management. Read more

DEPENDENCY (current through 9/21/2024)By:  John NiemanThe precise holdings in a given case are bolded. Auther’s note is italicized. In re Kenneth D. In re Kenneth D.8/19/24, C S276649https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S276649.PDF This is the first of 2 long-awaited CA Supreme Court decisions that resolve issues related to the adjudication of cases involving the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). This case answers the question of the propriety of using post judgment evidence vis Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §909 to decide the merits of… Read more

FAMILY LAW (Through 9/22/2024)By:  Andrew Botros, CFLS, CALSThe precise holdings in a given case are bolded. Auther’s note is italicized. Cardona v. Soto Cardona v. Soto9/17/2024 CA 1/1: A167089 – P.J. Humeshttps://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A167089.PDF In this case, the Court of Appeal reversed a DVRO issued against Father in favor of Mother, which also protected the parties’ 12-year-old daughter. The DVRO arose from an incident where Father, allegedly intoxicated, physically assaulted his current wife in the presence of his daughter. When the daughter… Read more

DEPENDENCY (current through 8/18/2024)By:  John NiemanThe precise holdings in a given case are bolded. Auther’s note is italicized. In re A.P., et al In re A.P., et al7/26/24, CA 2/1 B327857https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B327857.PDF Mother appeals denial of her request for a restraining order (RO) against the father. At the time of the trial court’s decision, father had recently committed multiple acts of domestic violence against the mother. The trial court denied issuing an RO because the parents no longer lived together. In… Read more

FAMILY LAW (Through 8/20/2024)By:  Andrew Botros, CFLS, CALSThe precise holdings in a given case are bolded. Auther’s note is italicized. Bijan Boutiques, LLC v. Rosamari Isong Bijan Boutiques, LLC v. Rosamari Isong8/13/2024 CA 4/3: G063288 – P.J. Goethalshttps://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/G063288.PDF In this appeal, Bijan Boutiques, LLC (“Bijan”) challenges the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Rosamari Isong, as part of Bijan’s effort to enforce a judgment against Isong’s former husband, Richard Milam Akubiro. Bijan sought to void the property… Read more