Message from the Continuing Legal Education Chair

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Message from the Continuing Legal Education Chair

Hello all:

I am honored to serve on the New Lawyer Division’s Executive Committee where I help organize continuing legal education presentations for new lawyers in the San Diego area. I graduated from California Western School of Law in 2018, and I am an associate at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP. I am in my fourth year of practice.

The NLD is an important resource for lawyers in their first several years of practice. The NLD provides a variety of activities and resources for its members throughout the year. Join us as we volunteer, earn CLE credits, and publish our monthly newsletter. As the Continuing Legal Education Chair, my role is to help new lawyers navigate through the skills and expertise that are not taught through legal research, but instead through expertise from judges and highly experienced practitioners.

Earlier this month, we were honored to be joined by Hon. Linda Lopez, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, for our Court Practice Series: Federal Courtroom Tips. As detailed in our latest NLD Event Recap by Matt Spolsky, Judge Lopez discussed how we can be effective litigators in federal practice in a manner that is efficient, collegial, high integrity, and productive. Significant time can be saved and effective advocacy can be accomplished by complying with local rules, viewing your case objectively, and conducting effective in person or telephonic/zoom communications with opposing counsel. We discussed a variety of topics, including effective complaint drafting, successful motion drafting, productive meeting and conferring, utilizing settlement conferences effectively, the purpose of oral arguments, and recommendations for judicial clerkships. Judge Lopez strongly values mentorship for new lawyers and welcomes their contributions to her courtroom.

It was so great seeing many of you at the SDCBA Summer Social last week, and we are excited to announce more upcoming events!

  • Meet, Greet, and Repeat Networking Mixer – August 10 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.: Mix and mingle with members of the Business & Corporate Law, Privacy & Cybersecurity, and Intellectual Property Law sections at Karl Strauss Brewing Co. in Sorrento Valley.
  • Food Bank Volunteer Day – August 13 from 8-11 a.m.: Sign up before August 6 to volunteer alongside NLD and ADR section members at the San Diego Food Bank Join
  • NLD Mentor-Mentee Mixer – September 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sign up today to participate as a mentee (0-6 years in practice) or mentor (7+ years) on September 8 at the SDCBA Conference Center. Please sign up as soon as possible so we can account for the numbers of mentees and mentors. All are welcome for fun and networking!

This month’s For the Record features advice from retired judge Lorna Alksne in Tips from the Bench, and an NLD Member Spotlight on deputy public defender Tyler Barclay. You can also learn about the latest U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting arbitrability of employment claims in an article by Thomas Livingston.  

The Executive Committee is always available as a resource for NLD members, so please reach out if you have any questions, suggestions, or just to meet. For the Record publishes monthly; contact editor Sara Gold if you’d like to write an article for a future publication.

Best,

Heather Daiza
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP