SanDiegoBlawg

Tagged: #fortherecord

For the Record

Pending Generative AI Legislation — Proposed Amendment to the State Bar Act and Code of Civil Procedure section 128.7

By Ed McIntyre, Esq.

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. Read More

For the Record

SDCBA NLD’s February 2026 For The Record: Message from the Vice Chair

By Robert
Shawhan, Esq.

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. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Message from the NLD Chair — January 2026

Message from the NLD Chair — January 2026

Lillian Glenister, Esq.
Sheppard Mullin

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. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Radical Love in the Practice of Law: Dr. King’s Enduring Challenge to Modern Advocates

André Ríos Bollinger, Esq.
President
Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association

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. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

NLD Farewell

NLD Farewell

By Claudia Salinas
The Innocence Center

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. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Professionalism and Civility in Depositions

Professionalism and Civility in Depositions

By Caitlin Jones
Shareholder, Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin

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.  Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Finding Your Side Hustle as a Lawyer: From Newsletters to Tutoring and Freelancing

Finding Your Side Hustle as a Lawyer: From Newsletters to Tutoring and Freelancing

By Ryan Stygar
Centurion Trial Attorneys 

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. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

AI in the Courtroom: “A Cautious and Reasonable Approach”

AI in the Courtroom: “A Cautious and Reasonable Approach”

By Arianna Lara Bonilla
California Western School of Law

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? Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Legal Life: Gold Robes and Marble Turtles

Legal Life: Gold Robes and Marble Turtles

By Stephanie S. Germani, Esq.
Germani Law

New attorneys, here’s something no one tells you in law school: Judges are just people. Sure, lately it feels like they’re the last line keeping the legal dam from bursting, especially when judges stand up to government overreach and insist on playing by the rules. But your job is not to worship or to fear the robe. It’s to pay attention to the process and the small, human details everyone else misses.​​ Read More