Letter from the Chair of the New Lawyer Division

By Mellania E. Safarian
Clark Hill PLC

Hello New Lawyer Division:I want to begin by thanking everyone for their support thus far. We are halfway through the year and the New Lawyer Division (“NLD”) has already accomplished so much. From monthly meet-ups to quarterly CLE’s, the NLD has shown that New Lawyers are a fundamental part of the San Diego legal community and a force to be reckoned with. None of this success would be possible without your continued support and for that we are incredibly grateful. As we move into the second half of the year, I want to share three of the most important tips and strategies for success as a new lawyer that I’ve learned in my role as Chair of the NLD.

Legal Ethics for New Attorneys

Stranger Things: Will California Legalize Nonlawyer Ownership of Law Firms?

By David C. Carr
Law Office of David C. Carr

On July 11, 2019, the State Bar Board of Trustees voted to put out for public comment the recommendations of the Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS). ATILS was formed in July 2018 following the Board’s consideration of a report from Prof. William Henderson of the University of Indiana Maurer School of Law.

Tips from the Bench

Q & A with Judge Kenneth J. Medel

By Mellania E. Safarian
Clark Hill PLC

Since 2010, Judge Medel has been a San Diego Superior Court judge. He presides over Department 66 and handles civil cases. It was an honor to sit down with Judge Medel for our “Tips from the Bench” series.

How Can Lawyers Improve the Immigration System?

By Kimberly Keen
University of San Diego School of Law

As a law student, I am constantly informing people I meet of my plans after I graduate. I respond that I will pursue immigration law, to which I receive some variation on the otherwise emotive response consisting of surprise, excitement, and relief that they are not involved in the field themselves. This response is understandable, as we are bombarded every day with tweets and sound-bytes from Democrats and Republicans about how to handle illegal and legal immigrants alike. No matter where you stand on the issue, the news updates generally do not quell our anxiety on the subject.

What it Means to Me

By Jason S. Sheinberg
SDCBA Lawyer Referral and Information Service Chair

Did you know that Last year, over 30,000 San Diegans found an attorney using the SDCBA’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS)? Or are you like me, and perhaps didn’t know much about LRIS until a colleague told you? Starting here and now, San Diego’s best kept secret is a secret no longer. For over 65 years, the Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) has been providing attorneys with quality client referrals. It is the mission of the service to render a public service by making referrals to qualified, insured and experienced attorneys and to provide information about the availability of legal services in the community. So, not only are we able to provide quality legal representation to the community at large, but we can also further our own careers as attorneys by contributing to the growth and success of this extremely vital program. I for one cannot tell you how much LRIS has meant to me and my career.

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.