LACBA welcomes its newest affiliate, the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance . APAWLA joins six other groups that became LACBA affiliate associations in 2023.
Partnering with other legal groups allows LACBA to better serve its members, the legal profession, and our communities!
The Attorney-Client Mediation and Arbitration Services has a new website, designed to make it easier to access information regarding mandatory fee arbitration and other ACMAS services.
Visit the new site lacba.org/acmas.
When a lawyer acting as an advocate for a client in a lawsuit is also a witness as to substantive issues involved in the litigation, the general rule is that the lawyer may act as both advocate and witness, if the lawyer obtains informed written consent from the client. But the court in its discretion may disqualify the advocate/lawyer despite such consent, in limited circumstances.
Eve Lopez, Juan A. Ramos, Esteban Rodriguez, and Vanessa Villagomez are members and staff being recognized during this year's Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15. Read their full bios and follow LACBA social media as we profile each 2023 honoree.
“I heard about this new site which I assumed -- I falsely assumed was like a super search engine called ChatGPT, and that’s what I used.” That’s what attorney Steven A. Schwartz said to United States District Judge P. Kevin Castel as he tried to avoid being sanctioned for having filed papers citing more than half-a-dozen cases that did not exist...
Diane Trunk has returned to LACBA to serve as the deputy executive director for the association's nonprofit, Counsel for Justice (CFJ). She recently served as the directing attorney of CFJ's Domestic Violence Project where she obtained new grants, expanded staff, created partnership with the California Judicial Council, and launched a new case management system.
LACBA releases its latest annual report, a look at the events, programs, and data from the July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023, bar year. The report includes updates from leadership, committees, sections, and Counsel for Justice, plus member data.
Two Los Angeles Lawyer articles have been selected to be included in the Thomson Reuters 2023 Intellectual Property Law Review as among the best intellectual property articles of the year: "IP Basics for Business Lawyers" by Jeffrey G. Sheldon (February 2022) and "Who Holds the Copyright of Output Generated by Artificial Intelligence" by Drew Wilson (May 2023). This is the second year in a row that the publication’s articles have been honored. (Image: © Drew Wilson 2023)
In recent legal pronouncements, an intriguing aspect of California jurisprudence has been highlighted – the absence of a clear definition of "the practice of law." While numerous definitions exist, it remains undefined by statute or rule in California, and no single overarching definition has emerged in court cases. This raises significant questions about access to justice, the unauthorized practice of law, and the preservation of the attorney-client privilege.
I am thrilled to step into the role as President of Counsel for Justice this year. It is an honor to serve in this role and work alongside our dedicated staff, team of volunteers, board of directors, and supporters to make a positive impact in our community.
