Justice Day and multiple exciting events

So many ways to keep connected, active and keep learning

2023 April

A few weeks ago I was given a gift. I had the pleasure of coaching two teams, with my husband and law partner, in a Junior High Mock Trial Program. Thirty-four students in sixth through eighth grades worked on a criminal murder trial packet from September 2022 through March 2023. Their trial practice questions, evidence questions, and thirst for answers to everything related to criminal practice was awe-inspiring. At the end of four rounds of competition, the two teams placed 1st and 3rd. My hearing hasn’t completely returned to normal after hearing their screams when their team names were called. To witness their enthusiasm, to be in the presence of their excitement for the law gave me a newfound exhilaration for my own everyday practice. It’s not every day we see the law through the lens of a young student. The cherry on top was watching my own daughter portray the role of a grieving witness who lost her twin sibling in a senseless act of violence. Her emotion was palpable, her tears felt very real, and she’s only in sixth grade. I know that extra time is not available to us all, however, if you do have the time, I recommend volunteering for a local mock trial program. It may give you the added enthusiasm for the law you have been missing.

Somehow, in addition to my law practice and mock trial coaching, I also performed my duties as president of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. Quite a few changes are coming to OCTLA. One major change is that our annual golf tournament, that used to be held in October, is now being held on June 1, 2023 at the Oak Creek Golf Club. By moving our tournament to June, we are hoping to ease off the crowded fall and winter schedule we all endure.

Second, Consumer Attorneys of California is bringing Justice Day back on April 25, 2023. This is your opportunity to travel to Sacramento and speak with our legislators about important issues facing us on a daily basis. If you have never attended Justice Day, I highly encourage you to go this year. If you are a regular participant, I welcome you back! The last Justice Day was held back in 2019, and I know there are a lot of issues we want to discuss with our legislators, including remote hearings legislation, legislation holding our financial institutions accountable for assisting financial scams against the elderly, legislation protecting workers and consumers from delay tactics employed by corporations after a motion to compel arbitration is denied, and legislation that levels the playing field for expert testimony requiring both plaintiff and defense experts to testify to a reasonable degree of probability (responding to the recent decision of Kline v Zimmer, Inc.(2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 123). OCTLA will be hosting a mixer the night before, so be sure to fly up early on April 24th and join us for some drinks, food, and frivolity.

Third, OCTLA is co-hosting the Palm Springs Seminar with the Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire on May 5th and 6th. This seminar is a must-attend event held at the beautiful Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Rancho Mirage. What’s Rancho Mirage without golfing? So, come a day early and participate in the golf tournament on May 4th. Please check out the CAOC website for additional details on registration, education programs, and speaker information.

Finally, OCTLA is hosting an education webinar on Minor’s Compromises and Fee Structuring on April 27, 2023. Make sure you check out the OCTLA website at octla.org and our Facebook and Instagram pages for all of the up-to-date information on what’s happening at OCTLA.