Ask the Mentor

Scripts You Need for Those Difficult Conversations  Read More

Legal Life: How to Replace a Lawyer in Ten Easy Emails

Legal Life: The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of the Everyday Attorney” is your monthly invitation to laugh, commiserate, and connect with the real stories behind life in the law.  Read More

Tips from the Bench: Judge Michael D. Washington Discusses the Importance of Mentorship

In a recent conversation between San Diego County Superior Court Judge Michael D. Washington and his longtime mentee, Derek Dente, the two reflected on the transformative power of mentorship and how these relationships shape legal careers and personal growth. Their discussion, candid and filled with practical advice, offers unique insight into what it truly means to walk alongside someone on their professional journey. What follows are highlights from their exchange, capturing Judge Washington’s heartfelt philosophy on what real mentorship looks like and why it matters in and beyond the courtroom. Read More

Betting On Freedom: Poker Tournament Backs Wrongful Conviction Advocacy

October 2 is Wrongful Conviction Day, a global effort to recognize the reality and enduring impact of innocent people serving time for crimes they did not commit. The Innocence Center, a national nonprofit dedicated to criminal justice reform, marks the occasion with events that build awareness, raise funds, and support exonerees as they rebuild their lives. Read More

Ask the Mentor

Should I use ListServ?

Dear Mentor: 

I’ve been looking at the bar association’s ListServ and wondering if I should post on it. What are the pros and cons? Read More

Tips from the Bar: Attorney Lorena Tejeda 

As a teenager, Lorena Tejeda’s after-school job at a criminal defense firm began with a simple task: mailing letters to incarcerated clients, aka “jail mail.” For many, it would have been just another student job. For Tejeda, it sparked a calling that would later define her career. Read More

Legal Life: Networking —The Necessary Evil We All Love to Hate

Legal Life: The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of the Everyday Attorney” is your monthly invitation to laugh, commiserate, and connect with the real stories behind life in the law. 

Walking into a networking event always feels like the first day of kindergarten. Instead of “Who’s your favorite Power Ranger?” it’s “What area of law do you practice?” You don’t know anyone, and even if you arrived with a friend, they’re liable to bail or disappear halfway through, leaving you stranded among strangers. If you’re lucky, you’ll latch onto someone for support; if you’re less lucky, someone will latch onto you. One attorney confided that she hates it when law students glom on like lovesick puppies. The truth is, nobody wants to go it alone at one of these things. Read More

Message from the Board

Dear New Lawyer Division Members,

It is hard to believe October is almost here, one of my favorite months of the year. Between pumpkin-flavored everything and the importance of Wrongful Conviction Day, there is much to look forward to. Read More

Legal Ethics: Maintaining Your Files

As California attorneys, young and old, we have administrative obligations that I would say have increased in number and specificity at a rapid rate in recent years. It is crucial to learn and comply with all of these requirements so you don’t risk losing your license over recordkeeping violations. The requirements include: Read More

Legal Life: From Federal Fumbles to Local Letdowns: The Trouble with Trust

You know what gets me thinking? Credibility. Not just the kind that government lawyers are hemorrhaging nationally (have you read The New York Times lately?), but also the everyday, garden-variety trust in the trenches of our local bar. Read More