Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the June edition of For the Record. This month is filled with opportunities to reflect, celebrate, and connect as a community. My name is Catharine “Kate” McGlynn, and I am in my fourth year of practice. I have been involved with the New Lawyer Division since 2021 and this is my second year serving on the NLD Executive Committee as well as my second year serving as a Legal Education Co-Chair.
The San Diego County Bar Association has honored Mark Simpliciano of Garcia Hong Law APC with the 2025 Service by a New Lawyer Award, recognizing his outstanding commitment to service, mentorship, and community engagement within his first seven years of practice. Simpliciano’s journey is a testament to the power of representation, resilience, and giving back — values that have shaped both his life and legal career.
In 2018, the California Supreme Court approved Rule 4.4 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct providing:
Have you ever tried to navigate the websites of California’s superior courts? It’s like stepping into a funhouse where every turn leads to a different layout, and you’re left wondering if you accidentally entered a parallel universe. One court might let you download case files for free, while another—looking at you, Orange County—charges exorbitant fees per page! I mean, who decided that getting access to public records should feel like trying to buy concert tickets?
Didn’t pass the February 2025 California Bar Examination? Welcome to the club.
On May 5, the San Diego County Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Division hosted its latest Exchange on Equity Roundtable: Anti-Racist Book Club, drawing members from across the legal community for an evening of candid conversation, shared learning, and literary inspiration. Held virtually, the event invited participants to recommend and discuss books, films, and television that have shaped their understanding of racism, justice, and the ongoing struggle for equity.
Hello friends,
As I write my first “Message from the Board” as co-editor-in-chief of For The Record, I’m reflecting on the power of journalism and the importance of making your voice heard. My own journey began in my bedroom with a dot-matrix printer, churning out “The Alternative” when my high school newspaper wouldn’t publish stories that mattered to students. That early experience taught me that when something is important, you sometimes have to create your own platform to share it. That lesson — that words can spark change — has stayed with me, guiding my path from my bedroom newsroom, to editing a newspaper with a 50,000 daily circulation, to opening my own law office where I try to balance the rights of landlords and tenants.
“What can you do for the community?”
As the Co-Chair for NLD’s Community Outreach events, I would like to invite you to participate in the 41st Annual Children’s Book Party, taking place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, between 7:00 a.m.and 10:30 a.m., at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. This impactful event, led by Roosevelt Brown, has promoted literacy and community engagement for over four decades. Mr. Brown was recently honored with a medal of recognition for his lifelong dedication to this cause.
Welcome to “Legal Life: The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of the Everyday Attorney,” a new monthly “For The Record” column. This collaborative effort brings together the voices of our New Lawyer Division members to share the real, unfiltered experiences of life in the legal profession.