Year: 2018

Categories : Law Practice ManagementTags :

“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” (aka Why Finding a Hobby is Good For Your Health)

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By Jeffrey Chinn

At Comic Con 2018, I sat through a panel titled “Judges on the Law of the Last Jedi and Solo” including with Judge John B. Owens of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman, and (San Diego’s own) Magistrate Judge Mitch Dembin. Each showed pictures of their chambers with displays of Star Wars-related memorabilia.1 It was refreshing for each judge to show their fandom of Star Wars. I thought that this makes sense as every lawyer needs some activity to take their mind off of the everyday briefs, motions, research, etc. Read More

Categories : Legal EthicsTags :

Excessive Deposition Delays Without Sufficient Justification Leads to Terminating Sanctions

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By Carole J. Buckner

Creed-21 v. City of Wildomar, 2017 WL 5484032,provides salient reminders regarding complying with local rules, scheduling depositions and most importantly, complying with court orders to avoid sanctions. The case also implicates the ethical duty of competence in managing one’s schedule, even when emergencies may arise. Read More

Categories : Law Practice Management WisdomTags :

Following Up on Your First Year

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By Marti Worms

Now that Fall has arrived, many of you who graduated from law school last year are approaching one-year of practice or maybe more, depending on whether you had a post-bar position lined up after graduation. This milestone provides an often-neglected opportunity for you, as a new lawyer, to perform some self-assessment and career planning that will help you continue to move forward in your career and prepare for your year-end review.  Whether you are a brand new attorney or a young lawyer with two or three years in practice, consider delving into the following four areas for a do-it-yourself career assessment. Read More

Categories : Current TopicsTags :

Going Green: The past, present and future of cannabis law in California

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By Michael Cindrich

The green rush is on in California. The State already holds the lion’s share of the $5.7 billion cannabis industry, and the market is primed for unprecedented growth with the recent legalization of recreational use for adults. Cannabis law has come a long way since California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis use over 20 years ago. However, there is still a long road ahead to create a fully operational and legitimate market. Read More

Categories : Legal EthicsTags :

Amendments to California Evidence Code Will Require Attorneys Ensure Their Clients Understand that What Happens in Mediation, Stays in Mediation

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By Andrew Servais

An amendment to the California Evidence Code on mediation confidentiality will require attorneys representing clients in connection with mediation to provide written disclosures to their clients about mediation confidentiality beginning January 1, 2019. Read More

Categories : WisdomTags :

Client Management in Disclosure Schedules

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By Aaron Sokoloff 

The preparation of disclosure schedules is typically one of the most time-intensive aspects of a financing or M&A transaction. In larger firms, this process is often in the hands of a junior associate, since the junior associate is usually the closest to the diligence materials that are the source of much of the information in the schedules. However, this practice gives the misleading impression that disclosure schedules are a straightforward exercise. In fact, the preparation of disclosure schedules often involves some tricky client management issues that can challenge even senior lawyers. Read More