2026 OCBA Secretary Nominees: Josh Ji and Casey R. Johnson
The OCBA Nominating Committee has announced the slate of candidates for the upcoming election. Terms will begin Jan. 1, 2026. All officer terms are for one year, and Board member terms are for three years. The candidates for the 2026 office of OCBA Secretary are Josh Ji (Latham & Watkins LLP) and Casey R. Johnson (Aitken Aitken Cohn LLP), shown here.
Click here to view the full slate of candidates.
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025
Newport Beach Country Club, Newport Beach
We’re a little over two weeks away from this year’s OCBACF Annual Benefit. Don’t miss out! Register online today. Unable to attend, but still want to support? Click the link for available sponsorships or consider donating an auction item, contact the OCBA Events Department at events@ocbar.org.
The Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund recently announced this year's honorees: Justice William W. Bedsworth (Ret.) as Individual Honoree, FBFK Law as Law Firm Honoree, and Public Law Center as Community Partner Honoree. The honorees will be recognized during the annual benefit.
Featured Seminar
Presented by the OCBA Education Committee
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Click here to register online.
OCBA News
Call for Nominations: 2025 Harmon G. Scoville Award
Deadline: 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 5, 2025
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2025 Harmon G. Scoville
Award. This prestigious award was established in 1990, in honor of the retiring
Appellate Court Presiding Justice Harmon G. Scoville. The nominee must be a member
of the Orange County legal community whose career exemplifies the highest standards
of the legal profession and who has significantly contributed to the Orange County
Bar Association and championed our constitutional system of justice. For more
information and instructions on how to apply, please download the nomination form.
Enter the Legal Humor Column Contest: The OCBA is Looking to Feature a Legal Humor Column in an Upcoming Issue
Deadline: Friday, August 22, 2025
ENTRY RULES::
- Contestants must be 18 years or older and reside in the United States. Longstanding OC Lawyer humor columnists may not apply. Contestants do not need to be licensed attorneys.
- An individual contestant may submit up to three original entries.
- Submissions should be emailed to gialisa@gmail.com, cc: epalacios@ocbar.org, by August 22, 2025, as a Word document or Google document with the subject “LEGAL HUMOR COLUMN”.
- Each submission must be between 900 and 1800 words and must be an unpublished, original work by the author.
- Submitting an entry warrants that it is an original work, not written by AI, and indicates that you agree with the terms in the writer’s contract. Anonymous submissions will not be considered, but pen names will be considered.
Two winners will be selected: (1) The best submission from an Affiliate Bar member, and (2) the best at-large legal humor column.
PRIZE:
The winning two entries will be published in an upcoming issue of the award-winning Orange County Lawyer Magazine. After publication, you will receive a complimentary high-resolution PDF of your published article (a $150 value) for you to circulate as desired.
View the full contest details here.
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
JULY 28, 2025
OCBA Seminar: OCBAR Insights: Navigating Your Way Through Your HOA
JULY 29, 2025
Justice Kathleen E. O'Leary's Retirement Reception
JULY 30, 2025
OCBA Litigation Training Series: Deposition Workshop
For all Wednesday Sessions: Registration begins at 5:00 PM | Program starts at 5:30 PM
For all Saturday Sessions: Registration Begins at 9:00 AM | Session starts at 9:30 AM
JULY 31, 2025
OCBA and FLOC Seminar: Navigating Immigation Issues in Business Operations
AUGUST 12, 2025
OCBA Mommy Esquire Monthly Meeting
AUGUST 14, 2025
OCBA Charitable Fund Annual Benefit
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
OCBA Bar Waiters Reception
SAVE THE DATE
Volunteer Opportunities
Project Youth OC: Project SELF Internship Program
June 10 - August 1, 2025
This year, Project Youth OC proudly celebrates 30 years of Project Self, a program that has changed the lives of more than 1,600 students since its inception in 1995. Over the past three decades, Project SELF has provided high school students from underserved communities with paid internships at law firms and law-related businesses throughout Orange County.
Click here for more information.
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.
The OCBA Lawyer Referral & Information Service is NOW accepting 2025 LRIS New Member Applications.
Join for only $225 to receive referrals now through 2025! Discounted for OCBA Members only.
Click here to join or email lris@ocbar.org for more information.
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.
AUGUST 29, 2025
OCBA Young Lawyers Division: Summer Mixer & Watch Party
SEPTEMBER 20, 2025
OCBA Young Lawyers Division Hike
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
OCBA YLD Angels Game Night 2025
Join your fellow OCBA Young Lawyers Division members for an Angels Game Night as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim take on the Houston Astros
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.
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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[P.Y.T.] In the context of attorney time management, think Prioritize Your Time. Let’s review the Thriller track list for some inspiration for daily workflow habits you might implement to improve your productivity. 
