President’s Message for the New Year. @LACBAJustice News247

January 1, 2025

Dear LACBA Members and Friends,

As we bid farewell to 2024, I want to thank you for your support of LACBA and take a moment to reflect on the year that passed and the one ahead. I find myself more contemplative than usual because this new year marks the midway point in my tenure as LACBA’s President.

Reflecting on the past six months, I can say without hesitation that my favorite part has been having a front row seat at various LACBA events and meeting many of you in person or virtually. Before assuming my current position, I did not fully appreciate the number and range of events that take place at LACBA on any given day. It is simply mind boggling. LACBA has 30 sections and nearly 15 committees and they are all busy. In every corner of this great organization, there are volunteers doing something they care about. These activities are as diverse and varied as LACBA’s membership. By virtue of its size and reach, LACBA also provides numerous opportunities for cross-pollination or joint programming, not only among its sections and committees but between LACBA and its 27 affiliate bar associations. Through my quarterly meetings, I have been able to put faces and names to the many individuals who have leadership roles in sections and committees and hear first-hand about their plans, goals and challenges.

These LACBA events have made me appreciate the power of volunteerism. Despite the significant work performed by LACBA staff, none of these events would be possible without the tireless efforts of an army of attorney volunteers. These volunteers give generously of their time, skills and resources to plan and run programs that are at the heart of LACBA’s mission.

Indeed, this volunteer culture is key to our way of life. There has been much talk in the past few years about democracy—how fragile it is and what we need to do to nurture and sustain it. This talk has focused largely on the three branches of government and access to free and fair elections. Little has been said, however, about other necessary pieces of a well-functioning democratic society. The number and diversity of civic organizations—which include professional organizations such as LACBA—are key indicia of a healthy and thriving democratic society. These organizations, often sustained by the work of volunteers, provide a place for civic engagement, education, discourse, and advocacy. By joining and volunteering at LACBA, you are not only helping advance and support the legal profession but are playing a part in sustaining our democracy.

There is a lot of exciting, thought provoking and innovative programming at LACBA. I urge you to check out the weekly LACBA newsletter that is emailed to members every Monday and the calendar of events on LACBA’s website for more information. While I cannot summarize all the worthwhile programming here, I would like to highlight the following three upcoming events:

New Admittee Reception at the LACBA office in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. This is a special event for all 2024 new admittees to the bar to introduce them to LACBA sections and committees. These admittees are the future of the legal profession and future leaders of LACBA.
Diversity and Inclusion Conference at Loyola Law School on Friday, April 25, 2025. A full day conference held every two years to explore ways to make the legal profession more inclusive and diverse.
LACBA Installation and Awards Dinner at the Bonaventure Hotel, on Friday, June 20, 2025.

My presidency also has given me a platform to write about some issues I care about. Please check out my President’s Page in Los Angeles Lawyer magazine:

LACBA’s relationship with its 27 affiliate bar organizations.
Work of LACBA Counsel for Justice’s domestic violence clinic in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
The dire need for paid legal counsel to represent indigent parties on appeal in criminal/dependency and delinquency cases through the five appellate projects.
The New Admittee Reception, which I cover in the upcoming January issue.

At its core, LACBA is an inclusive and diverse community of individuals who are committed to the growth and success of lawyers, promoting equal access to justice, and advocating for policies that protect the communities we serve. We are bound together by this common purpose and in our commitment to collaboration and camaraderie to find solutions to the many challenges facing our profession. To achieve these goals, LACBA partners with the courts wherever possible.

There is a place for everyone at LACBA. Whatever your professional focus or practice area, I am confident that you will find a home in one or more of LACBA’s sections and committees.

There is much work to be done. Join us. Get involved. Take on a leadership role.

I wish you and yours the best in the coming new year. Hope to see you at a LACBA event in 2025.

Warm regards,