Dear Counsel,
February asks us to love. It’s all around us, almost obnoxiously. Roses everywhere, balloons filling up stores. It’s a great reminder for us to show love to those in our lives. But in this profession where we’re called to critique, advise, and protect, no one really harps on what’s also just as important: loving yourself.
This topic will not go away: misuse of generative AI producing hallucinated case citations and quotations. As of early February 2026, there have been more than 600 judicial decisions across the United States in which judges have criticized, sanctioned—including some hefty monetary sanctions—and in some instances, referred lawyers to relevant disciplinary authority. California has contributed more than its fair share to that total.
Hello SDCBA New Lawyer Division,
I know many of you – but for those I have not yet met – my name is Robert Shawhan, and I am the new Vice Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association New Lawyer Division. I am excited to serve another year on the Board and look forward to supporting you through programming, networking opportunities, and other resources that help foster a tighter-knit legal community. Last year, I was proud to help organize many of our events, including the Gulls Hockey Game Watch, the Summer Soiree, the Beach & Bonfire Networking Meetup, and the 4th Annual Naughty & Nice Sweater Holiday Party, where we collected blankets and clothing for people who are homeless through the local agency PATH.
When I think about how I became a lawyer, I don’t picture a classroom or a courtroom.
Greetings New Lawyer Division!
I’m Lilly Glenister, your 2026 Chair for the New Lawyer Division (“NLD”). Born and raised in San Diego, I graduated from San Diego State University and California Western School of Law—a true local girl! Now, I am an associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in its Business Trial Practice Group at the firm’s downtown San Diego office. This is my third year as an Executive Committee member of NLD and I am stoked to help my team bring you more events and CLE content this year. It can feel isolating being a new attorney, which is why we encourage you to reach out to us. Whether it is just attending our events throughout the year or getting involved with various volunteer opportunities, NLD is where you can start to build your community here in San Diego.
In the popular imagination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is often reduced to a handful of quotations, a single holiday, or a softened narrative of inevitable progress. But the King who wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and who stood at the Mason Temple in Memphis on April 3, 1968, the night before his assassination, was not offering comfort. He was issuing a demand. That demand was grounded in what might best be described as radical love, a disciplined, uncomfortable, and courageous commitment to human dignity that refuses neutrality in the face of injustice.
NLD,
As my term as Chair of the New Lawyer Division comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude and awe at what we accomplished together this year. Thank you for trusting me, for electing me, and for showing up with so much energy, creativity, and passion. You made this year unforgettable and reminded me again and again why this Division is so special.
This is the second of two articles addressing issues that arise in the context of depositions. This article focuses on the ethical, professional issues, and civility issues that arise during the deposition itself. The first, available here, focused on ethical issues arising in preparing a witness for deposition.
The legal profession is rapidly transforming. So, too, are the ways attorneys can earn supplemental income and expand their networks. If you’re a lawyer who’s ever wondered whether it’s possible to build a flexible “side gig,” the answer is a resounding yes. My journey with Substack is just one example, and there are more avenues than ever to leverage your legal expertise beyond traditional practice.
Constant technological advancements have led to increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI). But what happens when AI becomes more prevalent in the legal profession? The fear of lawyers being replaced by AI is a recurring topic among attorneys, but is AI truly a threat to lawyers?