The SDCBA Bar Center is closed at this time. We are closely monitoring the situation to determine when we can reopen. Meanwhile, all in-person events and meetings during this time – both at the Bar Center and off-site – have either been re-scheduled as webinars or conference calls, postponed, or canceled. Please read our latest update about these changes here »
President's Message
Last call for self-nominations for the SDCBA Board of Directors election! The deadline is today at 5:00 p.m. to declare your intention to run for one of four At-Large seats or the vacancy for the North County Division. Click here to learn more.
In June, the SDCBA issued a statement condemning racism and violence against communities of color. In that statement, we said it is not enough to simply denounce racism, but that we must be anti-racist and that we would actively work toward solutions to effectuate positive change in our profession and the justice system. Toward that goal, we're hosting several events in the coming weeks to advance a dialogue within the legal community about race, diversity, and inclusion. We also are working to help identify opportunities for growth in the law, in our court system, on the business side of law, in learning how the media understands and covers these important issues, and in identifying leadership opportunities for our members—all toward creating more understanding and a more inclusive community.
On August 11 at 12:00 p.m., please join us along with dozens of cosponsor organizations as we welcome Michele Bratcher Goodwin, an award-winning author, advocate, professor, and social commentator, for a conversation about Race, Civil Liberties, and the Legal Profession. Professor Goodwin will discuss the history of law’s involvement in promoting and establishing racial discrimination, the law’s direct role in undermining progress toward racial equality and ending racial discrimination, and the law’s role in dismantling racism. The program will be introduced by SDCBA President-Elect Renée N.G. Stackhouse and Board Member Roxy Carter. To register for this event, which is free to SDCBA members and the legal community, click here.
Later that evening, August 11 at 5:30 p.m., please join our Intellectual Property Law Section for a roundtable about The Business of Law and Diversity: Diversifying Entrepreneurs in IP Law and Tech Transfer. The program will feature IP attorneys Dr. Kamilah Alexander, Wayne Brown, and Kristen Roberts, and will be moderated by attorneys and IP Executive Committee leaders Taneashia R. Morrell and Maresa Martin Talbert.
On the leadership front, mark your calendars for August 12 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The SDCBA is proud to invite our members to attend an Info Session to learn about how to get appointed to California State Boards and Commissions.This Zoom webinar will feature the Governor’s Secretary of Appointments Cathryn Rivera-Hernandez discussing how and why to seek appointments at the State level. To attend this special program, please RSVP to Zach.Bunshaft@gov.ca.gov by 8/10 and indicate that you heard about this opportunity from the SDCBA.
Finally, on August 19 at 5:30 p.m., please join us for a stellar panel discussion at our Annual Bench-Bar Media Event, Meeting This Moment: How the Bench, Bar, and Media are Addressing the Intersection of COVID-19 and the Social Justice Movement. This special program will feature stories from members of the local legal community and media, to be followed by a compelling dialogue moderated by Superior Court Judge Dwayne Moring, in conversation with Dana Littlefield, the Public Safety Editor of the Union-Tribune, Adam Racusin, an Investigative Reporter with 10News, District Attorney Summer Stephan, and Andrea St. Julian, President of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and Co-Chair of San Diegans for Justice. Click here to register for this free event.
As we announced last Friday, in light of the County’s July 29, 2020 Order of the Health Officer directing all non-essential businesses to close unless services can be provided without direct contact with the public, we have made the decision that our Bar Center will remain closed and our staff will continue to serve our membership remotely. While our physical space remains closed, our commitment to providing you with the very best in programming, resources, connection, and support continues.
Johanna Schiavoni
2020 SDCBA President
COVID-19 Updates
Updates from Courts Across California:To view updates from state and federal trial and appellate courts across the state,click here »
Legal Community Updates and Resources: For related news and helpful articles from the community at large, including a section on, "Reopening Your Business," click here »
A Look Ahead at the SDCBA
Subject to change based on health and safety considerations.
August 19: Annual Bench-Bar Media Event: Meeting This Moment — How the Bench, Bar, and Media are Addressing the Intersection of COVID-19 and the Social Justice Movement, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
September 23: Dialogue on Diversity, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
September 30: Annual Awards Ceremony & Celebration of Community Service, 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
Events This Week
CLE events are highlighted in red.
Tue, Aug
4
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
FREE Webinar
Tech Tuesday: Microsoft Word —
Essentials for Legal Professionals
Learn about some of Microsoft Word’s best features and functions that are sure to make you more efficient and certainly less frustrated! Topics will include touring the interface, learning tips and shortcuts, setting default font and line spacing, and setting other important options and defaults.
Tue, Aug
4
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
CLE Webinar
Resolving Conflict Among Business Owners: Understanding the Impact of COVID-19
Join finance, law, and family therapy expert Michel Zelnick as he discusses some of the principles and tools he has applied over almost two decades in systematically resolving internal conflict among business owners. He will also address how the pandemic has impacted his work.
Requires member login to www.sdcba.org to access discounts.
Next Week
Tue, Aug
11
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
FREE Webinar
Tech Tuesday: Microsoft Word —
Headers, Footers & Complex Page Numbering
The key to working successfully with headers, footers, and page numbers is to understand Sections and Sections Breaks. Attend this session to learn how to manage headers and footers from simple to complex, as well as page numbering and more.
Tue, Aug
11
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
FREE Webinar
Race, Civil Liberties, and the Legal Profession
Join Michele Goodwin, award-winning author, advocate, professor, and social commentator, as she discusses why recognizing that law is an accomplice and facilitator of racism is overdue and why law's role and responsibility in dismantling discrimination and racism are crucial in promoting the rule of law.
Tue, Aug
11
5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
FREE Webinar
Roundtable: The Business of Law and Diversity — Diversifying Entrepreneurs in IP Law and Tech Transfer
Join expert panelists as they dive into various reasons why diversity in IP and Tech is lacking, as well as provide evidence-backed suggestions for firms and companies in order to promote, attract, and maintain diversity in the workplace.
Wed, Aug
12
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
FREE Webinar / Wellness Series
Wellness Wednesday:
Mindful Meditation Series
Learn and practice a breath-based meditation technique with facilitator Amy Lepine, a practicing attorney and meditation enthusiast.
Wed, Aug
12
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
FREE Webinar
State Boards and Commissions with Appointment Secretary
Cathryn Rivera-Hernandez
This Zoom webinar will feature the Governor’s Secretary of Appointments Cathryn Rivera-Hernandez discussing how and why to seek appointments at the State level. To attend this special program, please RSVP to Zach.Bunshaft@gov.ca.gov by August 10 and indicate that you heard about this opportunity from the SDCBA.
Thu, Aug
13
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
FREE Signature Virtual Event
Breakouts with the Bench:
Family Law
Please join us for the Family Law edition of our virtual Breakouts with the Bench series, where you'll get to personally connect with Family Law Judicial Officers from across San Diego County. Following a brief welcome, you'll join a Zoom "breakout room" with fellow attorneys and one or more judicial officers for a smaller group discussion. Space is limited for this one-of-a-kind event, so register now to secure your spot!
Thu, Aug
13
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
FREE Webinar
New Lawyer Division Book Meetup: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Join Stephanie Atkinson, Member at Large for the New Lawyer Division, for a discussion on Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility, a book about the difficulty and discomfort of conversations about race in the United States.
Sponsored Content from a 2020 SDCBA Member Benefit Partner
Do You Trust Yourself with Trust Accounting?
By Jordan Turk
When you graduate from law school, your primary focus is usually on passing the bar and, if successful, practicing law. No one in law school tells you that, in addition to being an attorney, you will also need to be a salesman, a bill collector, and a de facto accountant. More »
Building Resilience in Isolation By Julie Lopez
With lawyers experiencing some of the highest incidences of burnout, mental health challenges, and suicides before the pandemic, how do we find resilience in this time of increased isolation? More »
Featured Articles and Videos
Helpful information from the SDCBA.
Recent Opinion Helps Define Written “Consent,” and Limits Admissibility of Oral Testimony, for Fee Sharing Agreements
By Leah S. Strickland
Many attorneys rely on referral fees for a significant portion of their revenue. Attorneys who seek to benefit from a referral arrangement are well advised to ensure that the requirements of Rule 1.5.1 are met. Read »
Using Client Intake to Build Client Satisfaction & Trust
By Tony Valenti
The intake process for your law practice serves as the critical point of entry for potential new clients. Watch Tony Valenti discuss a few easy steps you can take to maximize the efficiency of your intake system while building greater trust with your clients. Watch »
Leadership Opportunities
Nominations for the SDCBA Board of Directors are now open. Working on the Board is a terrific opportunity to lead and serve the community. This year, there will be four “At-Large” Board positions on the ballot and one regional position (North County Division). If you are interested in running for a 2021 Board of Directors seat, please click here. The deadline for self-nominations is TODAY, August 3, by 5 p.m.
Mark your calendars for August 12 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The SDCBA is proud to invite our members to attend an Info Session to learn about how to get appointed to California State Boards and Commissions.This Zoom webinar will feature the Governor’s Secretary of Appointments Cathryn Rivera-Hernandez discussing how and why to seek appointments at the State level. To attend this special program, please RSVP to Zach.Bunshaft@gov.ca.gov by August 10 and indicate that you heard about this opportunity from the SDCBA.
Legal Community Events
The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, in partnership with Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc., is proud to present its annual Neighborhood Law School! Attendants who complete five of the six seminars will receive a Certificate of Attendance. The topics are listed on the registration page, and include Consumer Protection Law, Legal Observer Training, Employment Law & Workers Compensation, Family Law, Know Your Rights, and Landlord/Tenant Law.
The 2020 ABA Annual Meeting will be held online from July 29 - August 4, and for the first time ever will be free for members. To register, visit ambar.org/annual so you can attend live and on-demand events around the theme of “Convening for Justice.”
Join the Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter for its free CLE event, Federal Jury Trials and Social Distancing on August 5 at 12:00 p.m. The webinar will demonstrate how the Southern District of California plans to conduct jury trials while observing social distancing, and will include a mock jury trial, which will include all trial phases from the time the jurors enter the federal courthouse through deliberation. Attendees can submit questions prior to or during the event. Register here »
National Conflict Resolution Center invites you tojoin them on August 20 at 7:00 p.m. for A Path Forward, a virtual event addressing today's most urgent issues. Speakers will include Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility, and Wesley Lowery, author of They Can't Kill Us All: The Story of the Struggle for Black Lives. This event also includes an opportunity to support NCRC's essential community work with a virtual raise-the-paddle. Attendance is free. Learn more here and register here »
Of Note
Our first MEMBO! was a hit with informative webinars, exciting entertainment, and virtual games. Thank you again to all of our Member Benefit Partners, expert panelists, entertainers, and of course, our members! Recordings are available hereso you can catch whatever you missed.
The California Law Revision Commission seeks comments on its tentative recommendation to the Regional Justice Facilities Act, which is available here. Submit comments to bgaal@clrc.ca.gov by September 1, 2020. See the full press release here »
President's Message
