Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediating against public entities: A bird in the hand
By Rhonda Mallory
Mediating claims against public entities involves complex and often time-consuming procedures, but with patience and preparati...
Technology
Is brainless use of AI turning attorneys' brains to mush?
By Anita Taff-Rice
An MIT study shows that reliance on AI alone reduces cognitive function, but AI plus brainpower yields superior results
Technology
The AI thirst trap: scrutiny builds around water-hungry data centers
By Lori Anne Dolqueist
AI promises to revolutionize water management -- but the data centers powering it may drain the very resources it aims to cons...
Technology, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
AI misuse and the 'snitch rule' in legal ethics
By Merri A. Baldwin
Attorneys increasingly use AI tools in their practice, but misuse of AI -- such as submitting fabricated case citations -- can...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The hidden power of mediating early
By Michael A. Jacobs
Mediation timing is about more than readiness -- it's a strategic balance of opportunity and risk that today's practitioners m...
State Bar & Bar Associations
John Eastman, the president and the State Bar: A modern Icarus?
By Antonio R. Sarabia II
Unpacking the State Bar Court of California's Review Department's recent recommendation that John Eastman, a constitutional la...
Torts/Personal Injury, Remedies, Insurance
Uninsured drivers beware, the law isn't on your side
By Reza Torkzadeh, Allen P. Wilkinson
California raised its minimum auto insurance limits in January 2025 for the first time in over 50 years, with another increa...
The Supreme Court's ruling in Trump v. CASA not only strips federal courts of the vital power to issue nationwide inj...
Tax, Litigation & Arbitration
Can plaintiffs avoid IRS Forms 1099 on legal settlements?
By Robert W. Wood
A single IRS Form 1099 can trigger a mess for plaintiffs--especially when the form is misapplied or duplicative--making it cri...
Family, Business Law
Business valuations and forensic accounting steady the path in divorce
By Thomas Pastore
In California divorces, where the goal is clear asset division, a credible business valuation backed by forensic accounting --...
Labor/Employment
California's tough exemption tests go beyond job titles
By Clifton W. Albright, Clifton W. Albright Jr.
Misclassifying California employees as exempt can trigger steep penalties and litigation, making it essential for employers to...
Family
When parents clash over intellectual disability care in custody cases
By Scott J. Nord, Hannah Robinson
When one parent suspects developmental delays and the other refuses evaluation, California courts must decide -- overreaction ...
U.S. Supreme Court, Technology, Constitutional Law
From porn to parental controls, age checks appear here to stay
By Nina D. Boyajian
Supreme Court's blessing of Texas Age Verification Law bodes well for California's Digital Age Assurance Act.
Litigation & Arbitration, Government
Without litigation funding justice falters
By Reza Torkzadeh
The Senate Parliamentarian's removal of the litigation finance tax provision from the "One Big Beautiful Bill" may seem proced...
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
What you do after hours can cost you your license
By Shari L. Klevens, Alanna G. Clair
Attorneys' ethical obligations extend beyond the courtroom -- their private conduct can lead to professional consequences, inc...
Labor/Employment
How politics are quietly rewriting your employee handbook
By Karen J. Sloat
California employers are scrambling to balance state requirements with new federal directives that impact everything from im...
State Bar & Bar Associations, Ethics/Professional Responsibility
A bridge to resolve attorney-client issues before they become discipline complaints
By Enrique Zuniga
The State Bar of California's new Attorney-Client Bridge Program offers a practical, preventive alternative to formal complain...
Technology, Evidence
When murder victims testify through AI, California law is ready
By James Mixon
A family's AI-generated courtroom statement honoring a murder victim challenges our discomfort with technology -- but fits squ...
Technology, Intellectual Property
AI can learn, but not loot: Pirated data off-limits for LLM training
By Meaghan H. Kent, Marcella Ballard
Court holds that Anthropic's training of AI using legally obtained books is fair use, but storage of pirated books is not.
Guide to Legal Writing, Appellate Practice
Better briefs, better advocacy
By Melissa Shalit
Practical, behind-the-scenes strategies for writing clear, credible, and persuasive appellate briefs that resonate with judges...
Intellectual Property
AI wins in court as book training deemed fair use
By Edward D. Lanquist, Dominic Rota
In a matter of days, two federal courts allowed the use of copyrighted books to train generative AI -- offering different anal...
Military Law
Psychedelic therapy moving from fringe to frontline for veterans
By Eileen C. Moore
Amid growing evidence and vocal support from veterans, bipartisan lawmakers are pushing to advance research and access to psyc...
Torts/Personal Injury, Government
Is that homeless encampment a dangerous condition?
By Michael E. Rubinstein
An unpublished appeals court ruling in a machete attack case clarifies the steep hurdles plaintiffs face when suing public ent...
Civil Procedure, Business Law
Texas stakes its claim as new home for business courts
By Paul A. Reynolds
With companies increasingly eyeing Nevada and Texas over Delaware, Texas's new Business Court offers a timely, if still untest...
Torts/Personal Injury, Labor/Employment, Civil Rights
How ignoring harassment allegations cost the LAPD $4M
By Ryan H. Wessels
A recent California appellate court decision underscores that employers must take prompt, meaningful action in response to har...
Technology, Law Practice
AI in law: Optional tool or professional necessity?
By Benjamin Softness
AI excels at document review, summarization, and pattern recognition in legal work, but successful implementation requires und...
Family, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mediation of family care disputes requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach
By Cynthia Ludvigsen
Disputes over conservatorships and elder care are rarely as straightforward as they first appear, requiring careful considerat...
Technology, Evidence
AI on the stand: Do we still need the expert witness?
By Laura Lin
A new rule would let courts consider AI expert analysis without a human witness -- but in doing so, leaves the jury without an...
Environmental & Energy
California cannot sacrifice public safety in pursuit of renewable energy
By Knut S. Johnson
California's push for renewable energy is vital, but without strict oversight and meaningful safety standards for massive batt...
Intellectual Property
Dupe culture on trial: Lululemon, Costco, and the future of trademark law
By Pejman Javaheri
In an era where TikTok hauls and hashtag trends blur the line between homage and infringement, Lululemon's lawsuit against Cos...
