The Advisor

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 California Lawyers Association Law Practice Management and Technology Section will offer its third CLE bundle, the LPMT Practice Focus Bundle, during the January 1 through February 28, 2026. This bundle is designed to provide practical, practice focused education while giving attorneys an opportunity to complete required MCLE credits well in advance of the 2026 reporting deadline.  Read more

2026 NEW LAWS AND REGULATIONS By Cynthia Elkins Governor Newsom has signed several bills which amend, add, modify, or revise the laws impacting the workplace. Below is a summary of some of the more significant pieces of legislation that have been signed into law. Unless noted otherwise, the new legislation became effective January 1, 2026. WORKPLACE “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS ACT” NOTICE The “Workplace Know Your Rights Act” requires California employers to provide written notice to each employee advising them of… Read more

As 2026 begins, California attorneys—especially newer lawyers—should be aware of several developments shaping daily practice.  Read more

By Joshua Bonnici Let’s be honest: most attorneys didn’t go to law school because they dreamed of running a business. We went for justice, advocacy, prestige—or because someone told us we argued well and we believed them. Yet here we are: running law firms, juggling clients, balancing calendars, and occasionally remembering to eat lunch. And that is precisely why goal planning isn’t just helpful for small-firm lawyers - it's essential. Without clear goals, running a law practice can feel like… Read more

We are getting very close to the Annual California Lawyers Association meeting. This year, like last year, it will take place in San Diego on September 21 through September 23. Read more