Though new California employment laws normally become effective on the first of the year, the California legislature occasionally passes important laws mid-year. Such is the case of the California Workplace Violence Prevention Plan requirements and related training. These laws went…
Anatomy of A Trial
Summer may have reached its end, but we’ve got something hot for you in October. The Paralegal Section is holding an all-day conference – Anatomy of a Trial – on October 18th at BASF’s new headquarters. We have a full…
Using AI In Legal Work: COPRAC’s Tips On Confidentiality And Competence
As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
Ethical Duties in Handling Appeals: 2024 Edition
In pursuing an appeal on behalf of a client, a California lawyer must meet the requirements of the California Rules of Professional Conduct (“CRPC”) and the State Bar Act. The following summarizes some of those requirements and recent developments. Fundamentally,…
Using AI In Legal Work: COPRAC’s Tips On Confidentiality And Competence
As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
How to Ethically Prepare a Witness
I offer this short primer on the ethics of preparing a witness as a teaser trailer to this year’s annual Legal Ethics Lessons Learned from Fictional Attorneys CLE, to be presented by the Ethics Committee of The Bar Association of…
Procedural and Substantive Guidance for Litigation of Sexual Harassment Claims
Sexual harassment continues to be an issue of significant concern in the workplace. While California law prohibits harassment and requires training to prevent it, those of us who practice in this area know that harassment, unfortunately, continues to occur. If…
Does Using a Social Media Ad Campaign to Market Legal Services Violate Ethics Rules?
Several social media sites, such as Meta and Twitter, have built-in ad managers that allow attorneys to pay to advertise their legal services using the social media platform. However, attorneys should proceed cautiously. Before using one of these social…
California State Paid Sick Time Rules to Change for 2024
It is that time of the year again, when the California legislature and governor come together to sign new laws into effect for the coming calendar year. Employment laws are always a focal point of the ever-changing legal landscape. This…
We Need to Talk About Your Special Interrogatories
This month, I’ve seen three sets of poorly written special interrogatories from different attorneys. These are not inexperienced, first year attorneys, but seasoned family law attorneys with an average of 15 years of experience. I get it, it’s easy to…
Lawyers – You Can’t Discriminate
The California Rules of Professional Conduct (“CRPC”) included a new rule in 2018 that prohibits attorneys from participating in discrimination, harassment and retaliation in representing a client. It also prohibits discrimination in the law firm’s operations. Specifically, CRPC 8.4.1 provides:…
Considerations When Growing Your Solo or Small Law Firm
Solo and small law firms are subject to the same employment laws as any other type of employer. Consequently, when you grow your firm by adding attorneys and staff you need to pay attention to several considerations. First, will this…