Litigation Section

Lawyers trade on brainpower for a living. The brain is a beautiful and only partially-understood organ; far more complex than most man-made machines. Machines, when they are free of defects and are properly serviced and maintained, are reliable in their efficiency and execution. The human brain is not. Each action or decision is comprised of conscious and unconscious processes that affect outcomes, and these processes are influenced by numerous factors. The purpose of this session is to introduce you to critical thought processes that affect key decisions in legal decision-making and equip you with the tools needed to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. Read more

Lawyers trade on brainpower for a living. The brain is a beautiful and only partially-understood organ; far more complex than most man-made machines. Machines, when they are free of defects and are properly serviced and maintained, are reliable in their efficiency and execution. The human brain is not. Read more

This presentation will discuss the dozen most common mistakes trial lawyers make that can hurt their chances on appeal, and how to avoid them. Read more

A monthly publication of the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association. Read more

Download a PDF version of this comment letter. TO: Judicial Council of CaliforniaAppellate Advisory Committeeinvitations@jud.ca.gov FROM: Committee on Appellate Courts, Litigation Section DATE: February 11, 2020 RE: Invitations to Comment on Proposed Rules W20-01 and W20-02 The Committee on Appellate Courts of the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association submits the following responses to the proposed rule changes. The invitations to comment contain requests for feedback on specific questions, and the Committee has addressed these specific points only to… Read more

Come learn about the important changes to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct which have greatly expanded the obligations of attorneys to maintain advanced fees in trust and to account, report and pay out entrusted funds to third parties (not solely their clients). This program will cover the only carve out for the requirement for depositing advanced fees into a trust account for flat fees, and explain the difference between an hourly, flat fee or true retainer agreement. Read more

An appellate justice shares his insights on the unique role of appellate advocates. The discussion will include practical tips on appellate techniques and how to work with the trial court record, which shapes appeals. Read more

Create more credible-looking briefs with insights and editing checklists from the California Reporter of Decisions and a senior appellate court attorney. Read more

When the result of a bench trial goes up on appeal, the factor most influential on the result is the statement of decision. A statement of decision can also have other important ramifications for the effect of a court decision on future proceedings between the parties, regardless of whether an appeal occurs. Read more

The co-panelists will provide an overview of significant developments in California legal ethics during 2019. Read more