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OCBA Announces 2026 Election Results
The OCBA's annual Board of Directors Election closed at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025. In accordance with the OCBA bylaws, 2025 President-Elect Shirin Forootan (Forootan Law) will succeed to the Presidency in 2026. The rest of the 2026 Executive Committee will be comprised of President-Elect Eric V. Traut (Traut Injury Law), Treasurer Sharon Oh-Kubisch (Kahana & Feld LLP), newly-elected Secretary Casey R. Johnson (Aitken Aitken Cohn LLP), and Immediate Past President Mei Tsang (Umberg Zipser LLP). Elected to the Board of Directors for three-year terms beginning January 2026 are Caroline R. Djang (Buchalter, A Professional Corporation), Alexander C. Payne (Minyard Morris LLP), Jennifer L. Waier (U.S. Attorney's Office), and Brooke A. Weitzman (Elder Law & Disability Rights Center). Read the official news story.
Featured Seminar
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Click here to register online.
OCBA News
Application Deadline: Monday, November 3, 2025
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Franklin G. West Award. The highest honor bestowed by the OCBA, this annual recognition, which was established in memory of Judge Franklin G. West, is considered the OCBA's lifetime achievement award. Judge West epitomized the best of the legal profession, both as an attorney and a judge. The Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding attorney or judge whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law, will be presented at the 2026 OCBA Judges' Night & Annual Meeting taking place on January 22 at the Irvine Marriott. Click here to download the nomination form.
OCBA 2026 Section Leadership Election - Accepting Online Nominations!
Online nominations OPENED on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 for the Alternative Dispute Resolution, Appellate Law, Business & Corporate Law, Corporate Counsel, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, International Law, Tax Law, and Workers’ Compensation sections. Please note nominations will close on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. Visit ocbar.org/nominations.
Online nominations WILL OPEN on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 for the Banking & Lending, Commercial Law & Bankruptcy, Elder Law & Special Needs, Immigration Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Law, Labor & Employment Law, Real Estate Law, Tort & Trial, and Trusts & Estates sections. Please note nominations will close on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Visit ocbar.org/nominations.
View the full nomination and election schedule online at ocbar.org/elections.
Worthy Mentions
Have Good News of Your Own to Share? Contact OCBA Communications
Manager Erick Palacios at epalacios@ocbar.org
to acknowledge your achievement through the OCBA.
Events
OCTOBER 6, 2025
OCBA Elder Law & Special Needs Section Seminar: Preventing Your Practice From Managing You
OCTOBER 14, 2025
OCBA Mommy Esquire Monthly Meeting
OCTOBER 18, 2025
OCBA Solo Practitioner/Small Firm Section Hike
OCTOBER 21, 2025
OCBA Trusts & Estates Annual Seminar and Social
OCTOBER 25, 2025
OCBA Community Fair & Volunteer Appreciation Celebration
OCTOBER 30, 2025
OCBA Seminar: How to Preserve Your Victory or Reverse Your Defeat
NOVEMBER 3, 2025
OCBA and LACBA Virtual Networking Mixer
NOVEMBER 6, 2025
U.S. Supreme Court Review and Preview & The David G. Sills Award for Appellate Excellence Presentation to Justice Raymond J. Ikola (Ret.)
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
OCBA Harmon G. Scoville Award Reception
OCBA Member are invited to a reception in honor of this year's Harmon G. Scoville Award recipient Edward A. Schlatter. Click here to read the official press release.
SAVE THE DATE
Volunteer Opportunities
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen
Presented by the OCBA Community Outreach Committee and Young Lawyers Division
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, a nonprofit hunger relief program, needs volunteers to prepare and serve meals to those in need and assist with clean-up afterwards. Please join the OCBA in its efforts to make a difference by feeding the disadvantaged in Orange County.
Click here for more information.
Attorney Volunteers Needed to Score CRF-OC’s High School Mock Trial Program
MCLE Credit Available
CRF-OC’s 45th Annual High School Mock Trial Competition requires approximately 100 attorney volunteers to score each of the first four preliminary rounds of Mock Trial on November 6, 13, 18 and 20, 2025. Volunteer check-in opens at 4:45 pm and closes at 5:15 pm. Trials will end before 8:00 pm. A virtual orientation for attorney volunteers will take place Tuesday, October 21st at noon. It will be recorded for your convenience if you cannot attend the training. CRF-OC provides all the necessary materials; outside research is not required. Register here
See flyer for more details.
We are also looking for attorney volunteers to coach mock trial teams for Portola High School (Irvine), La Quinta High School (Westminster) and John F. Kennedy High School (La Palma), and El Modena High School (Orange). If you are interested in coaching, please complete the Mock Trial Coaching Interest form or contact CRF-OC’s Program Director, Marcy Garrett, at mgarrett@crfoc.org. Please consider sharing your time, knowledge, and expertise with these very dedicated high school students. The competition begins November 6, 2025.
Orange County District Attorney’s Office - Trial Attorney Partnership (TAP)
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office established the Trial Attorney Partnership (TAP) program to offer a select group of private attorneys the opportunity to gain invaluable courtroom experience. Through TAP, participants handle contested evidentiary hearings, litigate motions, and conduct jury trials. View the informational brochure or flyer detailing the program and featuring testimonials from former participants. Attorneys considering the program will be provided with comprehensive training, valuable courtroom experience, and the opportunity to earn significant MCLE credits—all at no cost. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the OCDA at TAP-Program@ocdapa.org.
Level Up For Justice
Family Law Pro Bono Opportunities with the Public Law Center are ongoing and available. Level 1 pro bono help includes a free consultation and advice. Level 2 pro bono help includes a free consultation, document preparation, and advice. Level 3 pro bono help includes a free consultation, document preparation, advice, plus representation. Contact Angela Mestre (Pro Bono Coordinator, Public Law Center) via email at amestre@publiclawcenter.org for more information.
Orange County Superior Court - Ambassador Recruitment Program
The Orange County Superior Court serves 3.2 million residents in the third most populated county in the State of California. As the 6th largest court in the nation, the Orange County Superior Court hosts hundreds of visitors every year. The ambassador program is designed to help these visitors gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the work of the Court, its history, and the art, and architecture of the building. All applicants are required to submit a completed online application, have the proper attachments, and answer the supplemental questionnaire. Interested in applying? Email CommunityEngagement@occourts.org.
Veterans Legal Institute Family Law Clinic - Remote Volunteer Opportunity
If you're a family law attorney, you can advise a veteran on his or her case from the comfort of your own home. VLI seeks volunteers to the monthly Family Law Clinic on the last Friday of the month from 1 PM - 4 PM. Clients receive a free consultation from a family law attorney on his or her Southern California family law case. For more information, please contact Katie Binkley at kbinkley@vetslegal.com.
Veterans Legal Institute General Legal Clinic - Remote Volunteer Opportunity
Looking for an easy way to volunteer from the comfort of your own home? VLI seeks attorney volunteers each third Tuesday of the month to conduct 20 minute phone interviews with veterans around Southern California. For more information, please contact Katie Binkley at kbinkley@vetslegal.com.
CLA SoCal: Remote Pro Bono Opportunity: Unlawful
Detainer Answer Clinic
Assist low-income tenants facing eviction during the pandemic by helping
to prepare answers to Unlawful Detainer complaints in this remote clinic that
takes place every Tuesday, shifts at 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Volunteers and clients “meet” via a conference call, and housing staff attorneys
are available to provide real-time assistance in a video conference room for
the duration of the clinic. Watch the.45-minute prerecorded training video here. To sign up, please
email Monica Mar, Associate Director of Pro Bono at mmar@clsocal.org.
CLA SoCal: Remote Pro Bono Opportunity: Eviction
Defense: Trial Co-Counsel
CLA SoCal is seeking attorneys with jury trial experience to co-counsel eviction
cases with CLA SoCal staff attorneys. Volunteers will work with CLA SoCal staff
to prepare the case for jury trial, conduct discovery, participate in settlement
discussions, and represent clients at trial, all with the support of a housing
staff attorney. To sign up, please email Monica Mar, Associate Director of Pro Bono at mmar@clsocal.org.
Join an
OCBA Committee – Your involvement is an integral component
of the OCBA’s service to its members, the community, and the judiciary.
OCBA
HELP-Line – Join the Hotline of Experienced
Legal Professionals to provide brief consultations
in your area of practice to inquiring OCBA Attorney Members.
MAKE AN INFORMED REFERRAL WHEN A CLIENT’S LEGAL NEEDS FALL OUTSIDE
YOUR AREA OF PRACTICE
Refer with confidence to the OCBA’s Lawyer Referral & Information Service
(LRIS). An experienced non-profit community service providing quality legal
referrals for over 50 years. LRIS representatives screen each call and properly
refer callers to an attorney for legal needs or to a local organization for non-legal
assistance. LRIS attorneys have experience in 35 areas of law and provide
a free brief consultation with each client to discuss their legal needs and fees.
OCBA Lawyer Referral & Information Service provides referrals online at
www.lrisoc.org
or by phone at: (877) 257-4762 or (949) 440-6747.
Click here and join now to receive referrals through
2025.
Young Lawyers Division
Learn more about the OCBA Young Lawyers Division or join today! Visit the OCBA calendar to find great
opportunities to connect with fellow YLD members.
OCTOBER 27, 2025
OCBA YLD Roundtable Luncheon with Lennis N. Collins
Masters Division
The OCBA Masters Division is open to practitioners with 25 years or
more in the practice of law. Learn more about the OCBA Masters Division or join today and discover unique networking opportunities.
SAVE THE DATE
Law School Corner
OCBA Law Student Members:
Launching a successful legal career starts here! Click here to learn more about your membership benefits.
Law students are invited to participate in one of the 26 OCBA Specialty Sections which focus on professional growth and are a great resource to explore various areas of law. Attend your first section meeting for free, contact membership@ocbar.org to sign up.
Orange County Lawyer Magazine
- COVER STORY A Fair to Remember
by Mei Tsang, Eric Sather, and Heidi M. Plummer
- From Courtroom to Corporate: Transitioning From Litigation to In-House Counsel
by Nadia D. Vazirian
- Profit, Precision, and Flexibility: How Freelance Attorneys Strengthen Law Firms at Every Stage
by Laurie G. Rowen and Erin F. Giglia
- The Double-Edged Code: Navigating the Power and Peril of AI in Legal Practice
by Alison S. Gokal
- To Arbitrate or Not to Arbitrate: That Is the Question
by Michael G. Balmages
- Exiting From Your Legal Practice
by Stacy Ison
- View from the Bench: Inside Orange County’s Largest Mass Murder
by the Honorable Thomas M. Goethals (Ret.)
- Ethically Speaking Ethically Speaking: ABA Formal Opinion 516 Provides Clarity Regarding Permissive Withdrawal From Attorney-Client Relationship Under the Model Rules
by Cathy Tran Moses
Affiliate Bars
From the Courts & State Bar
For more information, please visit the Courts and State
Bar websites.
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