By Charles Berwanger
The purpose of this article is to provide a skeletal outline of the State Bar’s disciplinary process and recommendations for dealing with it.
By Taneashia Morrell
As my tenure as Chair of SDCBA’s DEI Division comes to an end, I want to take a moment to reflect on my journey over the past twelve months and to express my gratitude for the trust and support that has been extended to me throughout this time.
By: Anne M. Rudolph
Because the compliance group that reports in 2025 is the first to have to meet the new civility requirement for MCLE, it seems that civility in the legal profession has become a hot topic. But, the new MCLE requirement is just one aspect of the current focus on addressing and overcoming incivility.
By Katie Parker
Imagine the scenario – you’ve met with a potential client, and he has a promising personal injury case. You’re excited to take it on. You’ve just started building your PI practice, and this case looks like a great next step for you. But, your initial conversations have raised a few concerns. In particular, you fear you may have some “client control” issues, and you worry he may present difficulties when it comes to agreeing to a reasonable settlement proposal. As you spoke with him, you sensed more than a bit of stubbornness, and he seemed to have strong opinions about the law and the value of his case.
By Koryn Sheppard
Election cycles, particularly in high-stakes political climates like the current one, can be exhilarating, exhausting — or both. The flood of political news, opinions, debates, and advertisements can overwhelm and even dismay. At its core, an election is a contest of values, ideas, opinions, and visions for the future. When it comes to presidential elections, many people feel a personal stake in the outcome. Emotional highs and lows can lead to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Some may even feel real fear. This fear is not unjustified, as polarizing political extremism has led to acts of terror, violence, and civil unrest. Additionally, the psychological impact can be equally severe. Many people, especially those in marginalized groups, feel an increasing sense of vulnerability during election cycles as the worry about hate crimes and discrimination adds a deeper layer of anxiety to an already tense period. Many people feel angry. This anger is not unjustified. Political discussion can easily turn heated, even between close friends and beloved relatives. It is easy, tempting, and even reflexively vindicating to resort to ad hominem attacks when you believe the other side is racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, etc.
By Stacy Plotkin-Wolff
You are sitting at your desk, organizing the many tasks for the three trials scheduled next month, your family obligations, and your volunteer work. You wonder how you will get it all done when you receive an email inviting you to be an attorney scorer at the mock trial competition finals. Shortly after, your supervisor enters your office and wants you to take on two more high-profile cases. What do you do? You are ambitious, have a strong work ethic, and hate saying no. You want to take on those new opportunities, but can you handle all of them without violating your ethical duties?
By Alison Schlick
The San Diego County Bar Association’s Animal Law Section and Environmental Law/Land Use Section teamed up with I Love a Clean San Diego to clean De Anza Cove in Mission Bay Park from the “trash fence” to the water, finding and disposing of more than 64 pounds of trash including recycling which was recycled.
By Deborah Wolfe
This relatively new Rule has generated much controversy and colloquy since it was approved by the California Supreme Court, effective August 1, 2023. It [CB1] unquestionably was instituted in the wake of former member of the bar Thomas Girardi’s theft of his clients’ money and the lack of oversight or reporting of the theft by Girardi’s associates in his law practice.
By Mitchell L. Lathrop
Sometimes the relationship between client and counsel becomes so difficult and fraught with misunderstandings that counsel wants to depart from the situation. Sometimes also, the departure may not be as easy as counsel hoped. For example, Rule 1.2 of the Rules of Professional Conduct requires that “subject to rule 1.2.1, a lawyer shall abide by a client’s decisions concerning the objectives of representation and, as required by rule 1.4, shall reasonably consult with the client as to the means by which they are to be pursued.” At the same time, counsel cannot assist in or advise the violation of a law[1] and must use reasonable diligence in representing the client.[2] So what happens when the attorney-client relationship has deteriorated to the point where the lawyer feels he or she must get out?
By Jen Sterling
As the oftentimes lone vegan in the office, I’ve had many coworkers tell me they’re interested in incorporating more plant-based eating into their lives, but that it’s just too hard and too confusing — they don’t know where to start. Countless times, I’ve heard the “but where will I get my protein?” concern. With this brief overview, I hope to not only provide a simple template for incorporating this nutrient-dense way of eating into your busy life, but also offer inspiration from my own journey.
