Letter from the Chair of the Forum

Jason Evans
Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP

Dear Colleagues,

It was a great turnout and a great time at Basic for the Forum’s first mixer of the year on March 31. Then again, if you don’t have a nice time with pizza and beer – check your pulse.

Legal Ethics for Emerging Attorneys

Attorney Beware: Conflicts of Interest May Still Be Costly Despite the Limited Review of Arbitration Awards

Andrew Servais
Wingert, Grebing, Brubaker & Juskie, LLP

Fee disputes between attorneys and clients are frequently arbitrated rather than litigated in court. Many disputes are submitted to the San Diego Bar Association’s Fee Dispute Arbitration Program, where any award is non-binding unless the parties agree otherwise. (Bus. & Prof. Code § 6204.)

Tips from the Pros

The Best Piece of Advice I Ever Got

Lizzette Herrera Castellanos
University of San Diego School of Law

I often tell students and alumni that they should not make major career decisions without consulting previous supervisors, professors, and attorneys they admire. When asked about the best piece of advice that they ever received, here is what some San Diego attorneys told me.

Inter Alia

San Diego Federal Court for Beginners: Top 5 Mistakes Attorneys Make When Attempting to File a Motion to Compel

Meghan Dohoney
Inter Alia Lawyers

While working as a judicial law clerk for three years in federal court in San Diego, part of my job was to prepare draft rulings on motions and to give out motion hearing dates. 

Features

Improving Your Contract Drafting Skills

William Marshall
UBM Law Group, LLP

Contract drafting and review are central activities of a transactional attorney. However, rarely if ever does an attorney draft from scratch or have license to make unlimited changes during a review.

In Case You Missed It: Stress Reduction Techniques

Building and maintaining a law practice can be stressful, especially for lawyers who are just starting out. On April 20, the SDCBA hosted a program to provide attorneys with tips to help manage and reduce stress. Here are a few takeaways, in case you missed it.

Scene At

Have you been "Scene At" the latest events? Check out pics of recent happenings.

If you see this seal next to an event posted on the SDCBA website, social media or other SDCBA publications, that means the event has been "CIEL Certified." The SDCBA's Council on Integrating Emerging Lawyers identifies these programs as being especially beneficial to newer attorneys and their growing practices. Don't miss the next CIEL Certified CLE taking place April 23: "Fundamentals of Family Law: Practical Tips for Practicing in San Diego."  See details here.