California Lawyers Association

The California Lawyers Association (CLA) is a statewide, voluntary bar association for California legal professionals, headquartered in Sacramento.

California Lawyers Association
California Lawyers Association
FormationJanuary 1, 2018 (2018-01-01)
Interim Executive Director/CEO
Sheila Johnston
President
Betty Williams
Board Chair
Tara Burd
Websitewww.calawyers.org

CLA was established in 2018, as result of Senate Bill 36.,[1] which separated the voluntary educational, associational and advocacy activities for lawyers in the state of California from the regulation of the legal profession, resulting in the formation of CLA as an independent nonprofit organization. (Licensure, regulation and protection of the public remained housed with the State Bar of California.)

Leadership and governance

CLA leadership consists of a president, a chair, and an 18-member board of representatives, each with a one-year term.[2] In 2018, CLA named Ona Alston Dosunmu, formerly of the Brookings Institution, CLA's first executive director. She was eventually named chief executive officer.[3] Dosunmu left CLA to become President and CEO of the National Association of College and University Attorneys in August 2021.[4] In December 2021, CLA named Oyango A. Snell CEO and executive director. Snell had previously served as in-house counsel for the Western States Petroleum Association.[5] On September 28, 2023, the association announced Snell's departure and the appointment of Sheila Johnston as Interim Executive Director and CEO.[6]

Membership

CLA is one of the largest voluntary bar associations in the United States.[7]

Sections and committees

As of 2022, CLA has 18 sections that act as voluntary groups of attorneys and affiliates who share an area of interest.[8] CLA committees include Access to Justice, Civics Engagement & Education, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Diversity Outreach Committee, Ethics, Governmental Affairs, Health and Wellness, and Racial Justice.

Advocacy and initiatives

CLA has three initiatives called Access to Justice; Civics Engagement and Outreach; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Access to Justice includes supporting legislation to increase Civil Gideon funding[9] and other legal services to low-income Californians; Civics Engagement and Outreach prioritizes civic awareness, such as the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion focuses on several goals, including encouraging young people from under-represented backgrounds to pursue careers in the law and supporting law students and recent law school graduates in succeeding in their chosen profession. Other advocacy positions have included remote work and court depositions amid the COVD-19 pandemic,[10] racial justice issues after the murder of George Floyd,[11] and the California Consumer Privacy Act.[12]

Bar relations

CLA hosts the annual California Bar Leadership Conference, an annual meeting that trains and connects bar leaders from across the state.[13] In 2019, the American Bar Association transferred to CLA five of the State Bar of California's 11 seats in the ABA House of Delegates.[14]

References
  1. "Bill Text - SB-36 Attorneys: State Bar: Sections of the State Bar". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  2. "California Lawyers Association Bylaws – California Lawyers Association". Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  3. Goldman, Ed (February 18, 2019). "Ed Goldman: Creating her own organizational culture at new California lawyers group". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/onaalstondosunmu/>
  5. "California Lawyers Association Names Oyango A. Snell as Its New CEO and Executive Director – California Lawyers Association". 6 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  6. https://calawyers.org/california-lawyers-association/announces-departure-of-oyango-a-snell-esq-and-appoints-sheila-johnston-to-serve-as-interim-executive-director/
  7. Journal, A. B. A. "California Split: 1 year after nation's largest bar became 2 entities, observers see positive change". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  8. "Our Sections – California Lawyers Association". Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  9. "Access to Justice: Is Civil Gideon A Piece of the Puzzle?". www.americanbar.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  10. "Letter to California State Legislature Regarding Remote Civil Proceedings – California Lawyers Association". 29 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  11. "Statement On The Unlawful Killing Of George Floyd – California Lawyers Association". June 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  12. "Advocacy – California Lawyers Association". Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  13. "Bar Relations – California Lawyers Association". Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  14. "CLA News – California Lawyers Association". Retrieved 2021-04-16.
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