Letter from the Chair of the Forum

By Mellania E. Safarian
Clark Hill PLC

Hello New Lawyers:
Thank you to everyone who attended our March meet-up at Searsucker in Del Mar. It was an absolutely amazing event and we were so excited to meet everyone who came. We hope you will continue to join us at future events. Our meet-up in May will be a hike at the Torrey Pines Hiking Trails on Thursday, May 16th at 5:30 p.m. and is co-hosted by the SDCBA’s Wellness Interest Group. Please feel free to invite your friends, family, significant others, co-workers, and bring your fur-babies. The event is free and open to all. Hope to see you there!

Legal Ethics for New Attorneys

Kissing Clients

Jennifer K. Gilman
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

It occurs to me – not for the first time – that it’s difficult to turn off the part of my brain that is well-versed in the California Rules of Professional Conduct and attorney ethics in general.  So, even when I’m out for a night on the town with friends and they are gossiping away about scandalous office liaisons, I’m thinking of legal ethics.

Special Feature on Taxation

Adjust Your Tax Withholding to Avoid Penalties

Katie Lepore
Miller, Monson, Peshel, Polacek & Hoshaw

Now that April 15 has passed, it is time to focus on the next tax year.  Tax laws changed significantly for 2018, and many of the deductions taxpayers were used to claiming on their 2017 income tax returns were not available in 2018.

The Home Office Deduction: Changes Based on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Julie T. Houth
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

Some taxpayers who have historically claimed the home office deduction might not be able to claim it based on the new tax laws in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). This article is intended to provide guidance to taxpayers, including solo practitioners, who are interested in claiming the home office deduction after the TCJA took effect.

Scene At

Have you been "Scene At" the latest events? Check out pics of recent happenings. If you have photos of SDCBA emerging attorney members at recent events, submit them to bar@sdcba.org.