Join us for the 2025 Harmon G. Scoville Award Reception honoring Edward A. Schlatter
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
This prestigious award, which was established in 1990 in honor of then-retiring Appellate Court Presiding Justice Harmon G. Scoville, annually recognizes a member of the Orange County legal community whose career exemplifies the highest standards of the legal profession and who has contributed to the OCBA and championed our constitutional system of justice.
Click here to register online
OCBA 2026 Judges' Night & Annual Meeting
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026
Irvine Marriott, Irvine
The Orange County Bar Association is proud to announce the 2026 Judges' Night and Annual Meeting featuring the installation of Shirin Forootan, Esq. as 2026 OCBA President, as well as the installation of the OCBA Officers and Directors and the OCBA Charitable Fund Directors. A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Franklin G. West Award, the highest honor bestowed by the OCBA. Register online today.
Featured Seminar
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Click here to register online.
OCBA News
OCBA 2026 Section Leadership Election - Vote Online!
Online elections OPENED on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 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 voting closes on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Click here to vote.
Online elections OPEN on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 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 voting closes on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. Click here to vote.
View the full nomination and election schedule online at ocbar.org/elections.
OCBA 2026 Membership
Renew your OCBA Membership for 2026 and stay connected to the Orange County Legal Community. Continue to enjoy the benefits of member pricing on CLE programs, events and access to valuable attorney resources. Make yourself visible to the Bar with advertising discounts in Orange County Lawyer magazine. Membership is based on the calendar year, so renew early to avoid any interruption in benefits. Renew Today!
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
NOVEMBER 17, 2025
OCBA Mommy Esquire Monthly Meeting
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
OCBA Harmon G. Scoville Award Reception
OCBA Members 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.
*POSTPONED TO A FUTURE DATE*
NOVEMBER 20, 2025
OCBA Seminar: Bringing Collaborative Justice to Family and Civil Courts
DECEMBER 2, 2025
OCBA Ethics Update 2025
DECEMBER 9, 2025
OCBA Mommy Esquire Committee Holiday Luncheon
JANUARY 29, 2025
OCBA Mommy Esquire Committee Dinner and a Show
SAVE THE DATE
Volunteer Opportunities
Holiday Card Collection for Service Members
Drop-Off Deadline: Thursday, November 20, 2025
The OCBA is partnering with the Veterans Legal Institute and Klinedinst Attorneys to help spread cheer and gratitude to military service members who are deployed and will be separated from their loved ones this holiday season. We need your help to collect 1,000 holiday cards to be delivered to "Thank a Service Member" on December 1st
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.
UC Irvine Law - Call for Moot Court Judges 2025-2026
The 2025–2026 Moot Court Competition is set to challenge 63 student advocates with a thought-provoking constitutional issue in the fictional case Whitaker v. Lancaster City Bureau of Police, examining whether the continued retention of personal property remains reasonable under the Fourth Amendment once an investigation has closed without charges filed. The competition will run from January through April 2026, featuring both virtual and in-person rounds at UCI Law, with complimentary meals and parking provided for in-person sessions. Legal professionals are invited to serve on the judicial panel—volunteering for one or multiple rounds—to help mentor the next generation of advocates. Judges will receive detailed bench memoranda to prepare for engaging and meaningful oral arguments. To participate, complete the brief availability form linked in the Judge Sign-Up Form.
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.
DECEMBER 4, 2025
OCBA Trivia Night
Presented by the OCBA Masters Division and Young Lawyers Division
SAVE THE DATE
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.
DECEMBER 4, 2025
OCBA Trivia Night
Presented by the OCBA Masters Division and Young Lawyers Division
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
Update Your Mailing Address
During this time, if you wish to re-route your print subscription to another address, you can update your OCBA member profile online.
Interested in advertising?
The OCBA has three main avenues of advertising to OCBA members and the greater legal community. DIGITAL ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES are available year round. For more information, visit the OCBA Advertising webpage or contact oclawyer@ocbar.org.
Affiliate Bars
From the Courts & State Bar
For more information, please visit the Courts and State
Bar websites.
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Everyone is familiar, in principle, with the prohibition on lawyers acting as advocates in proceedings in which the lawyer is a necessary witness. While the issue doesn’t arise often, application of the rule can implicate high stake. 
