California Young Lawyers Board Offers Updated Publication and Addresses Issues Facing Newer Practitioners
by Dottie Noble

CYLA has recently updated its publication, Opening a Law Office. The publication will be offered by CEB and will be available soon through the California State Bar office or online at http://www.calbar.org/2ent/3cyla/cyopnlaw.htm. In addition to updating Opening a Law Office, the California Young Lawyers Board of Directors is gearing up to address issues facing newer practitioners. These issues include the unbundling of legal services, the statewide dissemination of project and MCLE information among county Barristers Clubs, and involvement in public service.

Any person who is a member in good standing of the State Bar of California is a member in good standing of the California Young Lawyers Association until December 31 of the year in which the member reaches the age of 36 years or until the member enters his or her sixth year of practice in California, whichever is later.

CYLA is governed by a 17 member Board of Directors, which is one of the governing bodies of the State Bar of California. Maralee MacDonald is the board member who represents State Bar District Two, which includes Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, Tuolumne, and Yolo Counties. CYLA also has a representative who sits on the Board of Governors for the California State Bar.

A committee of the California State Bar recently submitted a Report on Discreet Task Representation, also known as unbundling of legal services. This report discusses issues surrounding the unbundling of legal services. "Unbundling can significantly impact newer practitioners," says MacDonald, "especially those in sole practice or smaller offices." For example, unbundling encompasses "ghost writing" pleadings for filing, or limited court appearances. The Board is currently considering the report, available at www.calsb.org and possibly presenting MCLE training with respect to unbundling services. MacDonald welcomes comments on the report or the potential MCLE topic from CYLA members.

The Board is also in the process of re-vamping the CYLA website. The Board envisions a website that will serve as a clearinghouse of practical information for county Barristers clubs, from successful nuts-and-bolts MCLE programs to pro bono projects. Any Barristers club that wishes to have a link on the CYLA website should contact MacDonald.

Each year, CYLA gives the Jack Berman Individual Award for Achievement. The award honors attorneys who provide outstanding service to the profession and the public. The award is made during the State Bar Annual Meeting, which will be held in Monterey this October. Nomination forms for the Jack Berman Award for Individual Achievement may be obtained by calling Ms. MacDonald at (916) 321-4444 or contacting the website at www.boutindentino.com.