Ethics for New Lawyers: Who is my client? The Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority Under RPC 1.2
By Deborah A. Wolfe
Oddly enough, many lawyers forget this very important point somewhere along the way of working on a matter and it can get them into a lot of hot water. It is so important to the practice of law that it is the second of the Rules of Professional Conduct [1](“RPC”) and it requires the practitioner to define the scope of a lawyer’s representation and the allocation of an attorney’s authority to act on behalf of a client. Read More
Networking in San Diego: Tips for New and Aspiring Lawyers
By Catharine McGlynn Wilshire Law Firm, PLC
In the first few years of practicing law, it is easy to focus solely on the hard skills associated with this profession. For most new lawyers, it is essential to focus on developing strong research and writing skills that will serve as a foundation from which to grow. The first few years are an endurance race—for each new task, a new lawyer must spend time learning the facts of the case, the law, the procedure, or the firm’s methods. Only then, can the new lawyer move on to actually completing the task. The learning often takes just as much time as the doing. Of course, you cannot bill the client for the hours you spend learning, so the days stretch well into the evenings. With schedules dictated by looming deadlines, it is often difficult to imagine voluntarily adding any more work to your plate. Many young lawyers are so focused on building the hard skills that they lose out on incorporating soft skills into their legal foundation. Soft skills are not the focus of law school or the bar exam, so they may not get the attention they deserve, but those who devote time and energy to developing those skills early have an advantage. Whether it is client management, communication, teamwork, or networking, soft skills make you a better lawyer. At work, many of these soft skills are reserved for the supervising attorneys, but networking is beneficial and accessible to all attorneys. Read More
By Lin Nguyen California Western School of Law Class of ‘25
Gomez Trial Attorneys recently hosted an inspiring event, the Shades of Success Summit, at their office on 755 Front St. This unique event was created in collaboration with various aspiring networks and diversity bars of San Diego County. It provided a platform for renowned local attorneys to share their experiences and inspire future law students, current law students, and new attorneys in training.Read More
By Lillian Glenister, Esq. Judicial Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Hello! My name is Lillian (Lilly) Glenister and I am currently the Co-Editor in Chief of the New Lawyer Division’s (“NLD”) monthly newsletter, For the Record. I want to thank each of our readers for their continued support, as well as our NLD and San Diego County Bar Association members who have contributed amazing content this year. Read More
Ethics for New Lawyers: The Appearance of Impropriety
By David C. Carr
Recent events have inspired discussion about the concept of the “appearance of impropriety” by both legal ethics lawyers and in the mainstream media. Those events include the motion to disqualify Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, whose hearing was broadcast live to the nation, and recent news stories concerning the controversial flags flown at the homes of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Read More
Empowering the Innocent: The Third Mission of The Innocence Center
By Claudia Salinas The Innocence Center Staff Attorney and NLD Vice Chair
The Innocence Center (“TIC”) stands as a beacon of hope and justice, tirelessly working to free innocent individuals from the confines of wrongful imprisonment. This independent non-profit law firm employs cutting-edge technology and innovative strategies, including the use of Artificial Intelligence and automation, to identify and pursue cases of wrongful conviction. Beyond its critical role in freeing the innocent and educating the public about the causes of wrongful convictions, TIC is profoundly committed to supporting their clients as they navigate the daunting process of reentry into society.Read More
Ethics for New Lawyers: Ethics and the Potential New Client: Recent Developments in Protecting Your Firm from Disqualification
By Charles V. Berwanger Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
The purpose of this article is to highlight Rule of Professional Conduct 1.18 and its provisions regarding a lawyer’s communications with a prospective client, the risks and consequences of disclosing confidential information with resultant disqualification of an attorney, and the means available to prevent the disqualification of that attorney’s firm if the would-be client does not retain the lawyer or law firm.Read More
Hello all and hope your May 2024 has started strong. My name is Matthew Spolsky, and I am the Social Chair of NLD. Earlier this month it was Well-Being Week in Law, I hope you were all able to get out of the office in some meaningful way to de-stress. If not, now’s the time to get some nice spring weather before the heat comes! Read More
From the Tortured Solo Department: Tips for Success in Your Law Practice
By James D. Crosby
For most of my 40 years as a lawyer, I have worked in solo or small firm settings. I have run my own civil litigation and trial practice with various configurations of staff, contract attorneys, and associate attorneys. Today, my busy trial practice consists of me, an associate attorney, and a paralegal/office manager. And I love it. Read More
