Within and outside our academic walls, it is essential that educators and administrators (1) create a culture of academic health, equity, and equality that empowers all students, especially those populations who have historically been marginalized and oppressed; and (2) uproot the manifestations of racism that are visible and invisible in our academic institutions.
By David C. Carr
As flowers follow spring rain, scandal involving government regulation (or a lack of regulation) inevitably creates more regulation. So it is with the State Bar of California as we enter the third year of Girardi-gate.
Over the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has taken center stage in the development of creative works. Creators can now enter prompts into AI platforms like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Stability Diffusion to generate works. As AI becomes more and more integrated in our daily lives, creators must consider the legal implications of their use of these platforms.
Jake Zindulka is the immediate past chair of the NLD. He has called San Diego home since 2015 and does not see himself returning to the Northeast. Jake is a great example of what one can accomplish if they take the initial step into the unknown of a new adventure.
Happy April NLD Members,
As the New Lawyer Division’s Community Outreach Co-Chair, I could not be any more excited to be writing this month’s message from the board during April which is celebrated all over the world as Global Volunteer Month. As lawyers we are dedicated to serving our clients and to advancing the interests of our community. This April, the New Lawyer Division (NLD) would like to celebrate the power of each of our NLD members and our San Diego public service organizations who continue to tackle society’s greatest challenges to build stronger communities through acts of pro-bono service and volunteerism.
By Irean Z. Swan
The idea of zealous advocacy is not a foreign concept to an attorney. In fact, the preamble to the Model Rules provides that “[a]s advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client’s position under the rules of the adversary system.” But when does zealous advocacy exceed the bounds of the law and cross the line into actionable conduct such as extortion? The Second District Court of Appeal recently examined this question again in the case of Geragos v. Abelyan (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 1005.
By Mallory H. Chase
Currently out for public comment are two alternative versions of a proposed new California Rule of Professional Conduct, rule 8.3, which would address a lawyer’s duty to report the misconduct of another lawyer to the State Bar. As it stands, California is the last hold-out United States jurisdiction without an adopted rule on the topic.
