Embarking on a Legal Voyage in a New City: Insights for Law Students and New Lawyers
By Cassandra S. Koenig, Esq. Aloha Divorce
As a solo practitioner specializing in family law at Aloha Divorce in California, my journey into the legal profession began with a leap of faith—moving to San Diego, California, from Buffalo, New York. Through this experience, I’ve gleaned invaluable personal and professional insights. Here are some key pieces of advice for law students and new lawyers.Read More
By Shubhra Sharma Associate Attorney at Global Legal Law Firm
Greetings NLD Members!
I hope this message finds you well as we dive into the lively month of April. As we embark on another exciting chapter with the San Diego County Bar Association’s New Lawyer Division (NLD), I am delighted to share with you a preview of upcoming events and a glimpse into the spirit driving our division forward. Read More
By Lin Nguyen California Western School of Law Class of ’25
Before becoming the formidable plaintiff’s attorney and law firm partner that she is today, Jenn French began her career as a claims examiner at Mercury Insurance. There, Jenn resolved high-value injury cases and frequently interacted with attorneys. It was during this time that she heard parties complaining about the shortcomings in their legal representation and thought, “I could do better than that.” A pivotal moment came when an in-house counsel attorney at Mercury Insurance recognized Jenn’s potential and encouraged her to consider law school. Read More
Judge Roger Benitez presides over Department 5A of United States Southern District Court in San Diego. Judge Benitez gives back to the San Diego legal community through his service on the board of directors for Thomas Jefferson School of Law. In addition to this, he was a member of De Anza Rescue Unit, an organization devoted to searching for and rescuing people lost or missing. He was also a member of the El Centro Planning Commission and was active in youth soccer and swimming organizations. He also served for nine years on the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosures, and now serves on the Judicial Panel for Multi District Litigation. Judge Benitez serves the San Diego community in more ways than one. Read More
Ethics for New Lawyers: Changes to California’s Civil Discovery Rules Have Ethical Implications
By Eric Deitz
Since the California Supreme Court approved comprehensive revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct in 2018, the duty of competence has been preeminent among the obligations imposed. Subdivision (b) of Rule 1.1 includes a two-part definition of competence: “For purposes of this rule, “competence” in any legal service shall mean to apply the (i) learning and skill, and (ii) mental, emotional, and physical ability reasonably necessary for the performance of such service.” Read More
Gaia T. Linehan, Esq., is a civil litigation attorney at the San Diego office of Freeman Mathis & Gary. LLP. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, employment law, and tort matters. She has handled many aspects of civil litigation from pre-litigation alternative dispute resolution through trial. Read More
“There’s no right way to do the wrong thing.” Cynthia L. Stratton, managing partner of civil litigation and employment law firm Stratton & Green, ALC and SDCBA board member, was raised with this adage. But there are myriad ways to do the right thing. Stratton does the right thing by focusing on relationships and community.Read More
Message from Legal Education Co-Chair: Catharine McGlynn
By Catherine McGlynn Wilshire Law Firm, PLC
Happy National Women’s Month!
My name is Catharine “Kate” McGlynn, and I am in my third year of practice. I have been involved with the New Lawyer Division since 2021 and this is my first year serving on the NLD Executive Committee. I am the 2024 Legal Education Co-Chair, so I am tasked with bringing you all some top-notch CLE events. Read More
The Importance of Client Communications – Tips for Young Attorneys
By Michael L. Crowley Crowley Law Group
Inadequate client communication is typically one of the top complaints to the State Bar every year. This is unfortunate because keeping clients informed of developments in the representation is one aspect of the practice of law we can actually control. Read More
A Possible Solution for Music Artists to Better Leverage Their Bargaining Power
By Jasmine K. Bond Thomas Jefferson School of Law Class of ’24
A copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects an original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium.1 Musical compositions and sound recordings are examples of the works protected under this area of law. An owner of a copyright has exclusive rights including,(1) to reproduce the copyrighted work; (2) to prepare derivative works; (3) to distribute copies or phonorecords to the public; (4) to perform the copyrighted work publicly; (5) to display works publicly, and (6) in cases of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.2 Music artists striving for fame can go independent, while some opt to contract with record labels to target a vaster audience. While there is much more control an artist may possess with their creativity and exploitation of their music going independent, the ample resources and deeper financial pockets of record labels are very alluring. But deeper financial pockets of record labels mean record labels having stronger bargaining power than the music artist, and unconscionability within the contract may occur, leaving the artist disadvantaged. Read More
