Notes from the New Generation
Dear Counsel, Shortly after I was sworn in as an attorney, there was an interaction I will never forget. I was on a phone call with one of our co-counsel, someone I’ve worked with...
Tagged: #newattorneys
Practicing in the Prison Unit: An Introduction to “Prison Crimes” for New Lawyers
A transfer from the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office to the Public Defender’s Office can bring an unexpected assignment: the prison unit. Imperial County houses two maximum security state prisons, Centinela State Prison and...
Notes From The New Generation
Dear Counsel, Somewhere along the way, you may have been taught that to be an effective attorney for your clients, you need to put on a tough front. You’re taught to be the aggressive,...
Ethics: Identifying Conflicts Of Interest
Every new attorney-client engagement must begin with a conflict check. In this process, the law firm endeavors to discover whether it has ever represented any of the parties involved in the matter prior to...
Bridging The Gap: A New SDCBA Section Connects Lawyers Who Want Guidance With Lawyers Ready To Give It
Around a conference table at the SDCBA Bar Center, lawyers with decades of experience gathered to discuss a pressing question of how do we build better mentorship in the profession? The conversation was led...
Message from Member-at-Large, Community Service Chair
Many of you might remember Bradwell v. Illinois, 83 U.S. 130 (1872), from your law school days. The Supreme Court held that the Privileges and Immunities Clause did not guarantee a right to practice one’s...
Pending Generative AI Legislation — Proposed Amendment to the State Bar Act and Code of Civil Procedure section 128.7
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...
SDCBA NLD’s February 2026 For The Record: Message from the Vice Chair
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...
From Refugee to Advocate: A First-Generation Lawyer’s Journey to the Law
When I think about how I became a lawyer, I don’t picture a classroom or a courtroom. I picture a small suitcase and my family leaving everything behind. I was a little girl in...
New Attorney Spotlight: Stella Gerson Champions Inclusion in Law
New Attorney Spotlight: Stella Gerson Champions Inclusion in Law When the tools of your profession suddenly change, how do you adapt? For Stella Gerson, staff attorney at the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program and vice...