The Advisor

The State Bar of California today submitted to the Legislative Analyst’s Office and legislative leaders a report proposing new discipline case processing standards. The report, required by Senate Bill 211 (last year’s fee bill) proposes shorter timelines than current averages, while differentiating timelines by case complexity and types of cases, prioritizing those that pose a greater risk to the public.   Read more

First, I invite you to join me and author an article for the Solo Advisor. All lawyers who are members of the CLA receive our content. I want all lawyers to share their life experiences as a lawyer in the Solo Advisor. Read more

At its September meeting, the State Bar of California Board of Trustees approved rules for implementing the Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) designed to strengthen proactive oversight and regulation of client trust accounts. Read more

The State Bar of California today informed the California Supreme Court that it is changing its interpretation of a statute to allow for greater transparency with respect to closed disciplinary complaints. Pursuant to this revised interpretation, the State Bar of California further informed the Court that it intends to disclose statutorily authorized information about closed complaints against disbarred attorney Thomas Girardi.   Read more

Hello and welcome to the Solo and Small Firm Section. This is my inaugural column as the incoming Chair for our section. Read more

It’s a common settlement term. Defendant will pay an agreed sum under an installment plan on specified dates. If defendant defaults, a larger sum is due as a stipulated judgment, to incentivize the payments. Read more

This month marks the end of my tenure as Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section. It has been my honor and privilege to serve in this role the last year. Read more

Does Civil Code section 1717 permit fee awards based on interim resolutions of contract claims, such as through an order granting summary adjudication? The answer is no, according to Chen v. Valstock Ventures, LLC (July 29, 2022, A161885) Cal.App.5th [2022 WL 3009418].) Read more

Summer is rapidly coming to an end. For some reason, 2022 seems to be moving at a faster pace than I had anticipated. Perhaps this is because we are back in the swing of ‘normal’ activities after two years of limited networking, dining, and traveling. I hope you have all had the ability to take some down time this summer before the hectic end of year rush starts in a few short weeks. Read more

Mediation settlement agreements are versatile, ranging from one-page term sheets to long-form agreements. But could a shorthand “chart” prepared during the mediation qualify as an admissible settlement agreement? Read more