All issues are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format and interactive flipbook (Adobe Flash required) where noted.
MCLE articles published in Valley Lawyer can be used for MCLE credit for up to five years from the date of original publication.
MCLE: California’s Car Culture: Auto Liability and Driving Responsibly
Looking Forward, Not Back: New Leadership at the Los Angeles Superior Court
To Evict or Not to Evict: The Terms of the California Civil Code
Heating Up: California’s Healthcare M&A Market
Probate Volunteer Settlement Officer Program: Everything You Need to Know
Legal Research Databases: A Definitive Guide
Survivorship Rules: Simultaneous Death and their Unequal Application
Taking the Helm: A New Chief Justice at the California Supreme Court
Commercial Real Estate: Do COVID-19 Rent Rules Apply?
Benefit Trends for Law Firms for 2023
Archaic Rules for Modern Lawyers
Fun with Trademarks and Copyrights: Parody, Satire and Lampoon
How Do I Distribute:Let Me Count The Ways
Showdown Over the Pronoun
MCLE: Water Rights in the San Fernando Valley and Beyond
See You Later, Arbitrator! A Guideline to Vacating Arbitration
Dark Web Monitoring for Law Firms: Is It Worthwhile?
MCLE: Civility in Lawyers’ Writing
Most Fun Job in The Room: Meet SFVBA’s Judge of the Year, Hon. Martin R. Barash
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Musings on Real Property Law
MCLE: Administrative Hearsay Decoded
They’re Here!: New California Laws, Effective January 1
Why People Aren’t Hiring Lawyers Anymore: What You Can Do to Convince Them Otherwise
Common Benefits, Common Goals: The SFVBA’s Partner Organizations and Programs
MCLE: Ancient Legal Maxims: Still Alive and Still Useful
Jumping Frogs and ‘Highly Pleasing’ Cheese: More Arcane and Absurd Laws Still on the Books
Financial Scams: Avoiding ‘Too-Good-To-Be-True’
SLAPPed: SEC Filings – Protected or No
The Business of Law: Practical Marketing Tips for Law Firms
Dear Phil: What is Fair Compensation
MCLE: Real Estate Agreement: Fraud and Their Execution
The California Bar Exam: Under the Microscope
Motions for a New Trial: Avoiding the Traps
Work From Home: The Post-Pandemic Business Model
Book Review: What is Hidden Behind the Robe?
MCLE: Proposition 65: A Primer and An Alert
Positive Attraction: The Valley’s Own Law Magnet
Disaster Law: New Bills Put California in the Lead
Deal Memos: The Dos and Don’ts
Beer Names: A Fun and Whimsical (But Crowded) Landscape
MCLE: Silver Tongue: Financial Elder Abuse and Precious Metals
Legal Moms: Interviews with the Valley’s Busiest Female Professionals
ADR: Cutting the Cost of Priceless Peace
Sanctions Warranted?: Illegal Disclosures in Family Law Cases
Dedication Personified: The Professionals Behind the VCLF
Dear Phil: Choosing Among Equals
MCLE: Conflicting Trademarks: USPTO vs. The Court System of Analysis
Frivolous Lawsuits: Maybe…Maybe Not
The Bar is Back!: The 2022 Installation Celebration
Legal Wellness: Meditation for Stress Management and More
Trespass By Encroachment: Issues and Remedies
MCLE: Copyright Law: The View From 30,000 Feet
Ethics Rooted in the Past: Meet SFVBA’s Judge of the Year, Hon. Firdaus F. Dordi
Home Court Advantage: Getting the Desired Venue
When Opportunity Knocks: Maximizing Pre-Sale Value
A Legend of Help and Service: Remembering Al Ghirardelli
Licensed or No: Due Diligence on Contractors
MCLE: Insolvency: Best Practices and A Strategic Approach
Hard Work and Multitasking: An Interview with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Maureen A. Tighe
Social Media: Ways to Enhance Your Online Presence
Constructive Trust Claims: Are They Real in California?
2022 SFVBA Trustee Election Pamphlet
MCLE: Entertainment Guild & Union Agreements: Back to the Future
Judges Pro Tem: A Cornerstone of Volunteers
Estate Planning Marketing: Growing Your Practice
Premarital Agreements: Perils & Pitfalls
2022 SFVBA Judge’s Night Photo Gallery
MCLE: Data and Equity: Avoid an Endless “You-Loop”
Meet the New SFVBA President, Matthew A. Breddan
Preventing Catastrophe: The Value of Financial Education
Fitness Club Liability: Avoidable or No
War and Peace: Protecting Trademarks in Russia
Privacy Protection: The Rulemaking Process Begins
MCLE: Intellectual Property: The Critical Basics for Artists and Attorneys
Here They Come! New California Laws Effective January 1, 2023
Student Loans and Bankruptcy: Thoughts on Discharging Student Loans
Virtual Legal Practices: How to Build and Maintain One
Hanging a Shingle: Avoid Just Running the Clock
MCLE: The Changing Landscape of Bankruptcy: New California Exemptions
Ying and Yang: One Firm’s Climb to Success
California’s New Motor Vehicle Board: Representing Car Makers and Dealers
Freelance Law: The Pros, the Cons, and How to Get Started
Subtle Differences: Living Trusts v. Wills in California
Text Messaging for Lawyers: Building Stronger Client Relationships
MCLE: Contract Law: The Old, the New, and the Complicated
Different Paths, Same Destination: New Leadership at the Los Angeles Superior Court
Zero-Out: Finding Coverage for COVID-19-Related Business Losses
Ride On! Bicycle Safety and the Law
Correct Tech: Choosing the Right Technology for Your Firm
MCLE: Trademarks: The Dangers of Failing to Register
Bouncing Pickles and Annoying Lizards: Arcane and Absurd Laws Still On the Books
Business Liability and COVID-19
Home Sweet Home: New Prohibitions on Rental Restrictions
Case Law: New and Revised
MCLE: HIPAA: To Preserve and Protect
The Value of Experience: SFVBA Past Presidents Share Their Insights
California’s Critical Housing Shortage: The Housing Accountability Act
Protecting Your Most Valuable Asset
Working From Home? Protect Your Critical Data
MCLE: In With the New: California Homestead Exemptions
Growing a Small Law Firm: From Sprout to Finish
Superior Court Commissioners: What They Do
A Haven in a Storm: Combating Domestic Violence
MCLE: Discovery: A Much-Needed Streamlining
Valley Judges: A View From the Bench
Breaking Ground: The SFVBA’s Inaugural Mock Trial Competition
The Chain of Fools: The Admissibility Bar and Drug Evidence
Goodbye VPNs, Hello ZTNA
MCLE: COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplace: Mandate or Not
California Judicial Council: What It Is, How It Works
The “Fatty” Arbuckle Case: Hollywood’s First Celebrity Trial
UWLA Hosts Zoom Moot Court Competition
Flat Fees: Follow the Rules, No Problem
MCLE: International Contracts: The Global Impact of COVID-19
Meet the 2021 SFVBA Trustee Candidates
Copyright Infringement:Surviving a Motion to Dismiss
Buyin a Franchise: Dream v. Delusion
A Ripple in Time: Board the Cryptocurrency Train
MCLE: Driverless Vehicles: A Question of Liability
All in the Family: Following in the Footsteps
The Retirement Conundrum: Which Pathway to Follow
Hidden Inside the Couch: The Cash Hoard Defense
SFVBA 2021 Election Pamphlet
MCLE: Red Flags: Intakes and Interviews in Family Law
Into the Breach: The Valley Courts’ COVID-19 Advisory Committee
Cyber-Security: Guarding Your Business Pipeline
Building Rapport: ODR and Virtual Mediation
SB724: California’s Proposed New Conservatorship Bill
MCLE: Grand Slam: Hitting a Litigation Funding Home Run
Lights! Camera! Litigation! Actors as Real-Life Lawyers
Drones: Keep Watching the Skies!
Confusing Trademarks: The Next Course of Action
Pro Bono: Serving and Conecting
Dear Phil: Getting a Firm Back to Normal
MCLE: International Contracts: The Global Impact of COVID-19
Meet the 2021 SFVBA Trustee Candidates
Copyright Infringement: Surviving a Motion to Dismiss
Buying a Franchise: Dream v. Delusion
A Ripple in Time: Board the Cryptocurrency Train
MCLE: Civility in Lawyer’s Writing
Top of the Class: Attorney Christian Oronsaye
California Employment Law: An Overview
Binding Arbitration and Anti-Discrimination Laws: A Case Study
Defiled Nachos and Cold Lobster: Ordering Up a Civil Suit
MCLE: Inverse Condemnation and Private Utility Liability for Wildfires
California Employment Laws: What’s New for 2020
Attorney Referral Services: A Burning Issue
Overcoming Challenges: LACBA Looks to the Valley for Leadership
A Worthy Effort: SFVBA Inaugural Mock Trial Competition
MCLE: The Buck Stops Here: What You Owe Your Employees
Meet SFVBA’s Judge of the Year: Virginia Keeny
Preparing an Expert for Depositions
Retaining Top Performers
Book Review: Getting Life by Michael Morton
MCLE: Contract Terms: What They Area and How They Work
The Law School Experience, Part I: The Deans’ Perspective
A Look Back, A Look Forward
Promoting the Law Firm: What Works
Dear Phil: Securing a Loose Cannon
MCLE: Representing High-Profile Clients
The Law School Experience, Part II: The Student Perspective
Music Licensing: The Changing Landscape
The Foreign Agents Registration Act: The Law That Came In from the Cold
MCLE: ERISA: Remedies for Breaches of Fiduciary Trust
COVID-19: It’s Impact on Lawyers and the Practice of Law
Online Dispute Resolution: The Time is Now
High-Performance Leadership in Times of Crisis
Who Do You Trust With Your Pet Trust?
MCLE: Data Privacy Compliance: A Question of Security
Pandemics and the Courts: Understanding the Past, Considering the Future
Identity Theft: Maintaining Your Financial Individuality
White Collar Corner: When Government Corruption is Not Criminal
Section 31: Detailed and Confusing
MCLE: Preparing Evidence for Trial: A Forensic Accountant’s Family Law Perspective
Meet the 2020 SFVBA Board of Trustee Candidates
Hiring a New Lawyer: What to Look For
Divorcing a Narcissist: A Primer for Attorneys
New Rules for Los Angeles Landlords
MCLE: Mechanics of Financing Promissory Notes and Deeds of Trust
Coping, Adapting & Overcoming: Dealing with the Challenges of COVID-19
Twice the Victim: Read the Small Print
SFVBA Election Pamphlet
MCLE: Promisory Notes and Deeds of Trust, Part II
Legal Research in the Internet Age
Estate Planning for Individuals with Special Needs
Avoiding Compassion Fatigue
Institutional Trustees: Looking Over Their Shoulders
MCLE: Filing an Appeal: The Basics
First Out of the Gate: Meet SFVBA President David G. Jones
Mechanics of Financing Promissory Notes, Part III
Estate Planning for Individuals with Special Needs, Redux
Dear Phil: ‘Dealing With Rejection’
MCLE: Immigration Law, 2017-2020
The California Supreme Court: A Year in Review
Charitable Lead Trusts: A Year-End Estate and Income Tax Strategy
Silence is Golden: How Not to Talk Yourself Into an Indictment
MCLE: Social Media and Common Ethical Problems
From Small Things, Big Things Grow: One Law Firm’s Story
Blanket the Homeless: Making a Difference for 25 Years
Showdown Over the Pronoun
The Flexible Lawyer: Promoting Agility and Innovation
MCLE: Be Aware: New 2019 Laws on the Books
Los Angeles Superior Court’s New Double Team
Avoiding a Hack Attack: Cybersecurity for Attorneys
Get to Know the California Public Records Act
A New Beginning for the SFVBA
MCLE: For the Love of the Child: A Brief Overview of Probate Guardianship
A Local Success Story: SFVBA Judge of the Year David B. Gelfound
Google It! Not So Fast
Discovery: Start Early With a Plan
Lighter Moments in the Law
MCLE: Who’s Whose: DNA, Parenthood and Inheritance
The Building Blocks of an Upstanding Legal Practice: Advice for New Lawyers
Juvenile Diversion: A New Route to Reform and Redemption
Biblia Latina: Life Lessons from Latin Legalese
Dear Phil: No Compromise
MCLE: Crossing Borders: Contracts and the International Sale of Goods
We Can Work It Out: Mediation Center of Los Angeles
Uninsured Motorists: Preserving the Statute of Limitations
Judges’ Night Photo Gallery
MCLE: Trademarks: How to Protect Digital Products and Services
Lawyer Moms: Poise, Professionalism and Keeping It Real
Off the Rack: Apparel Industry Trends and the Law
Financial Planning: It’s Never Too Late
The Thrill of a Lifetime: Joining the United States Supreme Court Bar
MCLE: New Harassment Laws: Balancing Protecting Employees and Burdening Employers
It Really Is A Small World After All
Clandestine Forensic Accounting
Defending Yourself: When It’s Legal and When It isn’t
Candidate’s Forum: The L.A. City Council District 12 candidates Weigh In
MCLE: Insurance Coverage: The False Swearing Clause
Meet the 2019 SFVBA Trustee Candidates
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Colliding Apps: Analyzing Ride-Sharing and Scooter Share Services Injury Law
SFVBA Art Gallery
MCLE: How Do I Distribute: Let Me Count the Ways
Something for Everyone: Why and How the SFVBA Works
Courtroom Artists: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
SFVBA Election Pamphlet
MCLE: Securing Client-Friendly Reps in Mergers & Acquisitions
The Roots Go Deep: Meet Incoming SFVBA President Barry P. Goldberg
Buried By Your Broker?
Financial Planning: It’s Never Too Late
MCLE: Certificate of Independent Review: A Must-Have Protection
Building Bridges of Communication From Both Ends
Accidental Franchises: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt
Valley Law: A ‘Hazy Remembrance,’ Circa 1960s
Everybody’s an Expert: Practicing in the Age of Google Law
MCLE: Nursing Home/Assisted Living Arbitration Agreements: Legal Issues and Enforcement
Sharing and Learning: California Jurists Visit South Africa
The Nuts and Bolts of Ex Parte Relief
Patent Trolls: Supreme Court Rules on the Texas Fast Track
MCLE: Time to Reorganize: Changes in the Bankruptcy Code for Small Businesses
Steven M. Sepassi: One Man’s Journey to the Law
Attending to Medicare: What Clients Need to Know
When the Storm Strikes: Endure, Persevere and Hope
MCLE: Access in Cyberspace: Reconciling Disability Rights, Regulation and Web Accessibility
Diversity in the Legal Profession: A Pipeline to Equal Access and Inclusion
A Social Media Primer for Attorneys
Unconscionability in California: Contract Power Tools for the Powerless and Powerful
MCLE: Recovering Attorney’s Fees in Bankruptcy
SFVBA Judge of the Year Elizabeth Lippitt: Blazing a Legal Trail
Sexual Harassment and Confidentiality Agreements
Roundtable: Mentoring New Lawyers
Book Review: Legal Ethics and Social Media: A Practitioner’s Handbook
MCLE: Electronic Evidence and Social Media
Fastcase: A Cosmic Approach to Legal Research
Leadership Team Stems the Tide at the Van Nuys Courthouse
Product Liability Litigation Tests Jurors’ Perspectives
Uber Profits Lyft Employment Misclassification Issues
MCLE: The Evolution of California’s ‘Lemon Law’
Frivolous Lawsuits: Amusing and Abusing?
Workplace Investigations in the #MeToo Era
New California Labor and Employment Laws
MCLE: Unreconciled: Differing Tests of Mental Capacity for Wills and Trusts
Mandatory Fee Arbitration: Leveling the Playing Field
What is Plagiarism (and What Isn’t)
Bail Reform: Justice or a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card
JET: Learning More from the Experts in Less Time
Dear Phil: Choices, Choices…
MCLE: ERISA Litigation Demystified
The Way We Were: Experience Through Time and Trial
Freelancers and Independent Contractors: Not Without Protection
Valley Bar Mediation Center: Reviving a Worthy Program
MCLE: Effective Brief Writing
Meet the SFVBA Trustee Candidates
Growing a Small Law Firm
Martins Beach and the Future of Inverse Condemnation
Uber Profits Lyft Employment Misclassification Issues
MCLE: Gas Station Franchises: Federal and California State Regulations
Remarkable Tails: Bar Members & Their Pets
New EU Regulations Regarding Data Privacy
Art of the Bar: Winners of the Valley Lawyer Art Contest
INSERT: SFVBA Election Pamphlet
MCLE: Partnership Agreements: A Cautionary Tale
The Fork in the Road: Meet Incoming SFVBA President, Yi Sun Kim
The ‘ABC’ Test: Not as Easy as 1…2…3 for California Businesses
The Big Business of Small and Solo Law Firm Growth
MCLE: Critical Mass: Representing Disaster Victims
When Catastrophe Strikes: Are You Prepared?
Roundtable: Class Action Lawsuits
Ten Tips for a Hot Appellate Writ
Book Review: Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders
MCLE: Restraining Orders: The Basics
Voices of Experience: SFVBA Past Presidents
Elimination of Bias Against People with Disabilities
Please (Do Not) Send Money!
MCLE: Probate: the Fundamentals
A Cut Above: The Elite Study Group
Bringing Bullies to Court
Copyright Infringement: Surviving a Motion to Dismiss
MCLE: Immigration Law: Past, President & Future
New Leadership at the Los Angeles Superior Court
Post-Prop 64: Keeping Employees Off the Grass
The New Digital Divide: Cybersecurity in the Office
MCLE: Navigating Trademarks: A Primer
Employee Privacy in the Workplace
All by Myself: The Agony and Ecstasy of Solo Practice
Roundtable: Splitting the Bar
MCLE: The Evolution of the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004
A Truly Dynamic Duo: The SFVBA Honors Outstanding Jurists
Hands On, Hands Off: Driverless Car Liability
The Blueprint Guide to Becoming a Legal Blogger
MCLE: Gifts to Care Custodians and Certificate of Independent Review
The SFVBA Attorney Referral Service: All the Right Stuff
Attention Shoppers! Surveillance on Aisle 6!
Toxic Stress, Job Burnout and How to Fix It
MCLE: Entertainment Immigration Law
Law Day: Celebrating the Rule of Law
Jury Trials for Juveniles: Justice Affirmed or Justice denied
No More NAFTA? The Effect on International Dispute Resolution
MCLE: Contract Law: Centuries Old and Just as Complicated
Valley Bar Network: Filling the Gap Between Formal and Fun
Gender Identity, Disability and Discrimination in a Changing Workplace
Employment Claims: Compelling Non-Signatories to Arbitrate
MCLE: Transmutation by Deed: Issues and Impacts
Meet Your 2017 Trustee Candidates
Confusing Trademarks: The Next Course of Action
Evictions: Dwell, Well, Well
MCLE: Know How Title is Held: Probate, Medi-Cal Recovery, and Tax Implications
Expert Witnesses: How to Vet Them
Roundtable: The Current State of Legal Education
Art of the Bar: Winners of the SFVBA’s Annual Art Contest
SFVBA Election Pamphlet
MCLE: Developments in Bankruptcy Law
Paralegals: Behind the Scenes Support
The Virtual Paralegal
The Thorny Issue of Pre-Trial Bail
Acquiring a Business: The Legals Ins-and-Outs
Book Review: The Addicted Attorney
MCLE: Wage Theft in Licensed Residential Care Facilities
A Scary Lesson: ‘Terror’ in the Courtroom
A Conversation with New SFVBA President Alan Kassan
Counterpoint: Gender Identity, Disability and Discrimination in a Changing Workplace
MCLE: Social Media and Common Ethical Problems
Honoring Our Veterans
Let’s Settle This Mess: Prepping for Mediation
IRS Rules for Partnership Allocations
Dear Phil: Choosing the First Among Equals
MCLE: Avoiding Liabilities from Environmental Agency Investigations
A Law Firm That Does Well By Doing Good
Stress-Free Holidays: A Primer for Attorneys and Their Clients
Blowing the Whistle in California
MCLE: New Technology and the Ancient Tort of Trespass
Preparing for Your Greatest Trial: Surviving and Protecting Your Workplace When Disaster Hits
The Road to Success: Judge Huey Cotton Named SFVBA Judge of the Year
Book Review: Journalist, Lawyer and Judge: A Tale of a Legal Legend
MCLE: Watching DIRECTV: The Recent Case of DirecTV, Inc. v. Imburgia and It’s Impact on Arbitration
Breaking-Up Bad: Is Misconduct Relevant in Divorce?
Law and Marriage
Employers Labor Over New Laws in 2016
Book Review: A Justice’s View of Global Truths
MCLE: When Sparks Fly: The Trial Lawyer vs. The Appellate Lawyer
The Environmental Calamity: The Porter Ranch Gas Leak
In Vino Veritas: Larry Grassini Savors Success in the Courtroom and the Vineyard
‘Music Publisher Caught in Birthday Suit, Agrees to Settle’
Book Review: The Law of the Jungle
MCLE: Drones: Friend or Foe?
The Not So Friendly Skies: When Pilots Violate Regulations, the FAA Swoops In
Service Is More Than a Word: One Lawyer’s Inside View of the California Civil Air Patrol
Book Review: The Life and Death of the Legal Profession
MCLE: Nine Steps for Defending Your Client’s Miranda Rights
Scalia’s Lasting Legacy: Debating the Constitution
Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez !
The Kelly Rutherford Custody Case
MCLE: Get Online, Not in Line: Los Angeles Superior Court’s Technology Innovations
The Emerging Locality of International Law
The Bare Facts: Lawyers Defend Free Speech and the Valley’s Adult Film Industry
The Valley Community Legal Foundation’s First Ever Virtual Gala
Book Excerpt: The Trial of the Century
MCLE: Unlocking Secrets: Public Safety vs. Personal Privacy
Small Business Game Changer: Updated Federal White Collar Exemption Requirements
Meet Your 2016 Trustee Candidates
Book Review: A 25-Year Wait to Right a Wrong
MCLE: An Evolutionary Process: The Ins and Outs of Patent Law
Practice, Practice, Practice: A Unique Blend of Music and the Law
Art of the Bar: Winners of the Valley Lawyer Art Contest
SFVBA Trustee Election Pamphlet
MCLE: The Afterlife of Debt
Mandatory One-Day Jury Trials Are Here – Are Your Prepared?
Taking a Different Path: Meet the SFVBA’s New President, Kira Masteller
You Can’t Handle the Truth: When Lying Becomes Dangerous
Why Clients Stall…And What Estate Planning Attorneys Can Do About It
MCLE: The Benefits and Effects of a Receivership
The SFVBA’s President’s Circle: A Firm Foundation
How to Lead Your Clients to the Purchase of a Franchise
Duly Noted: California Vehicle Code 31
MCLE: The Somewhat Secret World of Pre-Election Litigation
Legal Governance: Four Valley Lawyer Legislators
Proposition 47 Updates
Reducing Court Congestion: New Rules in Civil Procedure
MCLE: The Old and the New: Practice Areas for New Lawyers
Taking a Dip in the Tip Pool
Giving Back: One Firm’s legacy of Serving the Community
Creativity Conflict: Differing Protection in the U.S. and Europe
Retirement Planning
MCLE: Take Two Aspirin and Call Your Employment Counsel in the Morning
LASC’s New Top Judges Discuss the Court’s Current State
Eye on the Court: Seven Noteworthy Pending California Supreme Court Cases
Executive Action on Immigration: An Overview
Practice Tips for New Lawyers
MCLE: Alice’s Wonderland? Software Patents after the Supreme Court’s Alice Inc. Decision
Hon. Harvey Silberman Named Judge of the Year
Keep Calm and Speak On
Metadata in Digital Photos: Should You Care?
Book Review: A Path Over Financial Fear
MCLE: To Return or Not to Return: Understanding the Hague Convention and International Child Abduction
Using the Economic Loss Rule to Your Client’s Benefit
Same Sex Marriage at the Supreme Court
SFVBA’s Partner Organizations: A Network of Benefits and Common Goals
Inactivity Physiology: Too Much Sitting Time?
New Laws for 2015
MCLE: Mindfulness in the Practice of Law: How to Reduce Stress and Thrive
Historian Barbara W. Tuchman on the ‘Art of Writing History’
SFVBA’s Silver Sponsors: Focus on City National Bank and Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP
Fastcase: Advanced Caselaw Search – Framing a Search
MCLE: Employer and Labor Contractor Liabilities: Advising Clients in the Wake of AB 1897
Developments in Digital Estate Planning
Galpin Motors’ Alan Skobin Talks Shop
What Attorneys Can and Cannot Do While Marketing on Social Media
Book Review: Judicial Clerks, Politics and Compromised Values in Supreme Ambitions
MCLE: Transformation of Transgender Rights in the Workplace
Lien Avoidance in Chapter 20
Working with Dad: Valley Lawyers Carry On the Family Business
Maximizing the Meditation Experience
Book Review: Mechanical Guide for a Smooth-Running Trial
MCLE: When Worlds Collide: Compatability of Family Law and Bankruptcy Law
Crossing the Line: Don’t Let Business Clients Become Accidental Franchisors
Candid with the Candidates: Meet the 2015 SFVBA Trustee Candidates
Book Review: Examining a Tragedy at Sea
MCLE: Fun with Trademarks and Copyrights: Parody, Satire and Lampoon
Art of the Bar: Winners of the Valley Lawyer Art Contest
Book Review: Stand Your Ground – A Novel
Duly Noted: Does Obergefell v. Hodges Imperil Religious Liberty?
MCLE: Civil Law Update: Recent California Supreme Court Decisions
Meet the New SFVBA President, Carol L. Newman
Five Things Attorneys Should Know About Review Sites
Book Review: Trap
MCLE: The Ethics of Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity
Raising the Bar in the San Fernando Valley
50 Years of Changing Lives and Transforming Communities
Do Your Blog Posts Qualify as Legal Advice?
Book Review: Slave Freedom Suits in the Antebellum American Frontier
MCLE: Online Negativity: How to Fight Back
Johnny & The Scorpions: A Brief Look at the Mind of John G. Roberts
The Power of Metaphors
Moving Out and Leaving a Mess: An Analysis of In re Marriage of Davis and Its Impact on the Date of Marital Separation
VCLF Public Interest Grant Impacts Law Students and the Community
Book Review: The Story behind Thurgood Marshall’s Confirmation Hearings
MCLE: Civility in Lawyer’s Writing
‘Blanket the Homeless’ Makes a Difference Over 20 Years
It’s 2:00 a.m., Do You Know Where Your Data Is?
Overconfidence: Tips on Getting the Parties Unstuck as Early as Possible in a Mediation
Book Review: The Trouble with Lawyers
MCLE: Costly Divorces: Third Party Liability for Attorney’s Fees and Costs
It’s Time to Adequately Fund California Trial Courts
New Year, New MCLE Compliance Reporting Period
The Central District Tackles Probate Cases
Expedited Jury Trials: A Hollywood Sleeper Seeking Blockbuster Status
The Court of Last Resort: Noteworthy Pending California Supreme Court Cases
Lis Pendens: To Expunge or Not to Expunge
MCLE: Eliminating Bias in the Legal Profession: Lessons from the Cognitive Sciences
Advancing the Case for a More Diverse Legal Profession
SFVBA Names the Hon. Richard H. Kirschner Judge of the Year
SFBA to Honor Bench officers at Annual Judges’ Night
Book Review: Attorney-Client Privilege and Celebrity Clients: A Review of Henry Bushkin’s Johnny Carson
Duly Noted: On the Future of Lawyers and Lawyering
MCLE: Enforcement of Non-Compete Clauses in California
Advances in Application of SLAPP Analysis: Hunter v. CBS Broadcasting
A Commitment to Service: The Senior Citizens Legal Services Program
Immigration Law Update: Spring 2014
The Shifting Burden of Proof: Medtronic Inc. v. Mirowski Family Ventures, LLC
Business Law POV: California’s New Uniform Limited Liability Company Act
MCLE: 2014 Tax Enforcement Priorities and Practice Tips from the Tax Trenches
Stop the (Tax) Bleeding! Deductions for Self-Employed Individuals
Watching Out for Tax Authorities: The Top Three Mistakes Law Firms Must Avoid
Indispensable Support: Celebrating the Valley’s Administrative Professionals
Lessons from a Mandatory Fee Arbitration
MCLE: Missouri v. McNeely: Alcohol, Blood & Warrants
Prescription for a Conviction: The Epidemic of Drug-Related DUIs
Attorney Moms Balance Careers and Families
Practice Update: Changes to AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules
Duly Noted: Encouraging Incarceration
MCLE: The Yin & Yang of Beer Distribution and Distribution Laws
Pursuing that Work-Life Balance: A California Lawyer in Japan
Rules to Write By: Orwell’s Handbook for Lawyers and Judges
Taking a Law Practice to New Heights
Book Review: The Civil Rights Act: Lessons from Politics and History
MCLE: Home Sweet Home: The Homestead Exemption
Foreclosure Defense Strategies in California
Recovery of Attorney’s Fees in Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy as a Tool to Handle Crushing Tax Debt
Meet the 2014 Trustee Candidates
Business Law POV: Determining the Value of a Patent or Patent Application
MCLE: The Bypass Trust: A Useful Estate Planning Tool
Handling Your First Conservatorship: A Survival Guide
Motivation to Renew: Attorneys Discuss the Value of Membership
There is Life After Death and It’s Digital; Estate Planning for Digital Assets
Book Review: Amending the Constitution – A Supreme Court Justice’s Perspective
MCLE: No Small Matter: Domestic Violence, Child Custody and Family Code Sec. 3044
Divorced Parents and School Choice
Meet the New SFVBA President, Caryn Brottman Sanders
Introducing the 2014-2015 Executive Committee
MCLE: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Geolocation and the Law
Managing a Virtual Estate
A New Technological Age at the Los Angeles County Superior Court
Team SFVBA: Meet the people Behind the Magic
Boundaries: Regaining Control Over Your Electronic Devices
Book Review: Who Saved Our Nation? Read On-and-On to Find Out
MCLE: Ten Tips for Effective Brief Writing
Civility, Preparation & Reputation: CPR for Attorneys
Reflections and Guidance: World War II Veterans Share Their Stories
Content Marketing Your Solo Practice
Book Review: The Case for The Case for the Supreme Court
Dear Phil: Establishing Attorney-Client Boundaries
MCLE: Reinstating the Tax-Exempt Status & Risk Management for Non-Profits
Breastfeeding in the Workplace: A Mother’s Rights, An Employer’s Responsibilities
An Unconventional Journey: Alan Gurvey and a Commitment to Service
Changes to Criminal Sentencing Under Proposition 47
Book Review: The Bully Pulpit
MCLE: Can Lawyers Give Clients a Guarantee?
State of the Family Law Courts
LASC Reorganization Plan
Q&A With Judicial Officer Judge James Steele
Jury Fee Deposits Under the New Code of Civil Procedure Sec. 631
Duly Noted: Options to Replace the California State Bar Discipline System
MCLE: Practicing Appellate Forthought: Appeals and Writs for the Trial Lawyer
Changes on the Horizon: A Conversation with Presiding Judge David Wesley and Assistant Presiding Judge Carolyn Kuhl
The iPad for Litigators: Storming the Courtroom
Finding an Expert
Dear Counsel: The Courts and Other Aspects of Dispute Resolution Counseling
MCLE: Mobile Applications: Are You Giving More Than You Get?
The SFVBA Honors Judge Mary Thornton House and Judge Jerold Cohn
Is Franchising the Right Model for Your Client’s Business
Securities Laws Fundamentals: What Your Clients Need to Know About Raising Capital
An Attorney’s Guide to H-1B Visas
MCLE: Changes to Tax Laws in 2013
Attorney Referral Service Donates $100,000 to the Valley Community Legal Foundation
The Resurrection of the Mixed-Motive Defense
A Guide to Arbitration of International Business Disputes in Developing Economies
Tax-Related Identity Theft
Tax Filing Status During Divorce
MCLE: Domestic Violence Allegations: Protecting Your Client’s Rights
Adapting to Court Changes with Trial Techniques in Nine Modules Flat!
Spring into Action: The Return of the Women Lawyers Section
Visitation Reluctance in High Conflict Divorces
The Case of Block Billing and Voidable Contracts
Helping Clients When Parental Alienation Occurs
History, Public Policy and Plain Talk About California Family Law
MCLE: Enforcement Before Adjudication: The Writ of Attachment
The L.A. Law Library is Much Closer Than You Think
Give Motions to Dismiss in Bankruptcy Court a Second Thought
Proofs of Claim: A Primer for Attorneys
Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors: An Effective Tool for Selling and Winding-Up Distressed Businesses
Obtaining an Abstract of Judgment from a Non-Dischargeability Judgment
MCLE: Federal Habeas Corpus: Planning Your Client’s Defense
Criminal Convictions and Non-Citizens’ Eligibility for DACA
Meet the SFVBA Board of Trustees Candidates
The Law Governing Condominiums Has Been Rewritten
Workers’ Compensation: Representing Medical Providers Post-SB 863
MCLE: Elder Abuse: Identification and Legal Advocacy
Determination of Duty in Probate Malpractice Claims
Meet Adam D.H. Grant: SFVBA President on the Move
Understanding Conflicts of Interest in Estate Planning
Elder Abuse Litigation: The Basics
The Challenges of Our Aging Population: Resolving Disputes Between Aging Parents and Their Families
MCLE: California’s Disclosure Requirement in Trade Secret Legislation
SFVBA Teams with The Esquire Network
OPIP: When is it Lawful to Use Other People’s Intellectual Property?
SFVBA Members Establish the Valley Bar Mediation Center
Patent or Trade Secret Protection? The Impact of the America Invents Act
MCLE: What You Need to Know About Mandatory Fee Arbitration
Hanging Your Shingle: Tips for Starting Your Own Practice
Office Space: Finding the Right Fit
Rising Stars of the Valley Legal Community
Tricks of the Trade for New Researchers: Make Your Legal Research Easy!
So You Want to Become a Judge?
MCLE: National Origin, Ancestry, Citizenship and Employment Laws
Managing Mental Disorders in the Workplace
EEOC Crackdown: Background Checks and Employer Risks
Valley Roots and Service: Attorney Ron Hedding Gives Back
Payment by Piece Rate: Employers Should Proceed with Caution
MCLE: Celebrating a Different Voice: Embracing Judicial Diversity
Multicultural Bar Alliance’s Pursuit of Justice
SFVBA Diversity Committee Takes Action
Foreign Bank Account Report Enforcement by the IRS
Health Care Reform and Diversified Employee Benefits
MCLE: Understanding California DUI Laws
The First Year of Los Angeles Expedited Jury Trials
Small Saving(s) Graces May Ultimately Mean a Lot
SFVBA Celebrates the Valley’s Distinguished Judges
Issue Facing the Valley’s Courts
Dealing with a Client’s Criminal Law Matter
Medical Marijuana Overview: The Law and Its Ambiguities
Collaborative Practice Makes Sense
MCLE: Applying Federal Labor-Management Law
Attorney to Attorney Mentoring
New California Employment Laws
California Imposes Stiff Penalties for Misclassification of Independent Contractors
Disability Claims, the Interactive Process and Reasonable Accommodations
California Court of Appeal Clarifies Reporting Time Pay Requirements
An Inside Look at Human Resources Technology
Workplace Investigations from a Defense Perspective
MCLE: Government Contracting: Terms, Risks & Sanctions
Gifts That Keep On Giving: The 411 on Gift Taxation
Exploring Export Trade Compliance
The SFVBA Launches a New Paralegal Section
The Accidental Franchisor
When a Client Suffers a Cyber-Setback
MCLE: When Divorces Go Grey
Healing Domestic Violence
The Impact of Separation and Divorce on Children
The Balancing Act: Work-Life for Mom Attorneys
Don’t Bother, Ruth!
Equitable Relief for Innocent Spouses
MCLE: The Pros and Cons of Mediation Confidentiality
ADR in the Employment Arena
Designing the Mediation Process for Optimal Results
Exploration of Mandatory Fee Arbitration
Monetary Cutbacks to the Court System
MCLE: Legal Hold and Litigation Discovery Procedures for Electronically Stored Information\
Jurisdictional Reach in Internet Cases: Clarification from the Ninth Circuit
Meet the SFVBA Board of Trustee Candidates
Maintaining Client Confidentiality in the Cloud
The Art of Collections in a Down Economy
MCLE: Representing Artists in California
Meet Past and Future SFVBA President David Gurnick
What’s in a Business Name?
Patent on Rye: Protecting a Trademarked Sandwich
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Health Care Reform: A Blessing or Curse?
Jury Trials in the Social Media Age
MCLE: Change of Ownership: What Triggers a Property Tax Assessment
Overview of International Estate Planning
Officially Tarzana: SFVBA Celebrates Its Move
Leaving a Legal Legacy
Finding an Expert: Long-Term Care in California
MCLE: Common Client Trust Accounting Mistakes
A Winning Strategy for a Successful Trial
Eighteen Trial Suggestions That New Lawyers Need to Know
An Inside Perspective on Franchise Law
New Lawyers on the Rise
Optimizing Client Referrals Through Online Marketing
MCLE: Employment Law Developments: Review of 2012 CA Supreme Court Decisions and New Legislation
Selected Bankruptcy Opinions
California Enacts a Homeowner’s Bill of Rights
A Fulfilling Family Law Practice: Giving Clients a Choice to Resolve Cases Collaboratively
Review of 2012 Immigration Law Developments
MCLE: Avoiding Common Malpractice Risks Associated with Legal Calendaring
Los Angeles Superior Court’s ADR Program
Wiggle Room: How to Help Franchising Clients Survive the Recession
Subrogating Insurer Must Show Superior Equities
Criminal Law Update
Difficult People in the Practice of Law
MCLE: Special Jury Instructions: When CACI Won’t Cut It
Expedited Jury Trials: It’s About Time
Spotlight on the SFVBA’s Honorees
Family Law Mediation
Teaching Real Estate Abroad
Real Estate Matters
Dismissing DUI Charges: A Criminal Defense Approach
MCLE: Cat v. Mouse 2.0: Online Copyright Enforcement
Enforcement of “Non-Refundable” Retainer Provisions
Fastcase for SFVBA Members: Accelerated Legal Research
How the ‘www’ Impacts the Legal Field
Mediating Employment Cases in an Economic Meltdown
Adverse Claims: A “Mine” Field of Liability for Common Carriers
MCLE: International Business Relations: A Lawyer’s Guide to Japanese Culture, History and the Law
What Legal Entity is Best for the Small Business Client
Using Ratios to Find Hidden Income
Practicing Law in the New Economy
The Leap of Faith: How to Acquire a Franchisor
Preparing a Client for Mediation
MCLE: Marijuana Possession and the Law: What Attorneys Need to Know
Understanding Clients with Personality Disorders
Tee Time for Attorneys: Network and Ease Stress at the SFVBA Golf Tournament
Managing Disasters in Unpredictable Times
Measuring Damages for Breach of Trust
Enforcing Judgments Against Individuals Shielding Assets
MCLE: A Basic Ethics Refresher
Maximize Savings with Member Benefits
Long-Term Care Planning for an Aging Population
SFVBA member Bernard Grossman Going Strong and Leading the Way
Choosing the Right Contractor for Home Improvement
Google Potential Jurors and Witnesses
MCLE: Litigating Transportation and Warehouse Claims
Applying Cat’s Paw Liability to Discrimination Cases
SFVBA Board of Trustees Election in Review
Effective Written Advocacy Before Generalist Judges: Advice from Recent Decisions
How to Streamline and Grow a Law Firm
MCLE: Recapturing Copyrights: A Window of Opportunity for Creators
New SFVBA President Alan J. Sedley Takes Office
The Web’s World of Entertainment
The Amazon and Author’s Guild Controversy
SFVBA Attorney’s Share Book Publishing Advice
Creating an Efficient Arbitration
MCLE: Bullying and Trauma in the Workplace: The New Violence?
Navigating City Council Zoning Decisions
Ethical Hot Spots for Attorney’s Using Social Media
Are Law Clerks Entitled to Overtime?
Medical Malpractice: The Fraudulent Electronic Medical Record
Brief Assessments in Child Custody Matters
California’s Regulation of Insurance Claim Settlements
MCLE: The Income Tax Implications of Divorce
Prayer at Public Meetings: A Constitutional Violation?
Six Reasons for Attorneys to Consider Public Service
New Securities and Exchange Commission Policies: Rewards for Whistleblowers
The Paperless Legal Office
Commercial Litigation and Forensic Accounting
MCLE: A Distressed Year for Real Estate
2011 Bankruptcy Law Review
Earning MCLE Credit Year-Round
IRS Amnesty for Worker Misclassification
Five Law Practice Management Tips
Retirement Planning for Law Firms
MCLE: Got ADR? A Healthy Choice
The Hidden Treasures of Non-Binding Arbitration
Family Law Mediation
Bankruptcy Mediation Programs
Saving Time, Money and Stress
MCLE: Archaic Rules for Modern Lawyers
California’s Judicial Valentines
Background on the Bench-Bar Coalition
A Foot in the Door at the Court of Appeals
MCLE: Voices of America: Enhancing Diversity on the Bench
Diverse Attorneys Working Towards True Diversity
Capturing the Competitive Advantage
Q&A with Diverse SFVBA Member Arvand Naderi
Diversity at Neighborhood Legal Services
MCLE: Unlawful Debt Collection
Fraudulent Conveyance Action is a Viable Collection Option
Dealing with Client Competency Issues
S Corporations – The Rules for Listed Property
Business Owners Weigh Options
11 Practical Tips for Negotiating Leases for Tenants
MCLE: Putting the ‘Family’ Back in Family Law
SFVBA Succeeds in Protecting Its Membership List
Animal Pragmatism: Tips for Pet Trusts
Business Valuation Services for Marital Dissolution
Mediation Mirrors the Marriage
Preparing for a Family Mediation
MCLE: The Hidden Secret Among Lawyers – Stress, Anxiety and Addictions
Blowing the Whistle on Patent False Marking Legislation
Q&A with Judge Jay C. Gandhi
Sherman Oaks Lawyer Wins $15 Million Verdict in Boston
Alternative Careers for JDs
Ranch Damages for Trespass-by-Fire
SFVBA Mark Shipow Pays It Forward
MCLE: Horses in Entertainment, Sports and the Law
Proverbial Lessons from a State Bar Suspender
Advising Senior Clients
When a Client Commits a Crime and Asks for Help
When a Parent Moves Away
Placing Form Over Substance: Opposing Counsel Cannot Rely on Attorney’s Approval
MCLE: New Technologies Benefit Small Law Firms
Patent Protection for Software Business Methods
Internet Marketing 101 for Attorneys
A Bodyguard for Electronic Information
It Takes a Thief
MCLE: Discrimination Against Employees Who Report Workers’ Compensation Injuries
Compensation Equality in the Workplace
Cut Stress and Overhead with a Home-Based Office
Q&A with the SFVBA’s New President, Seymour I. Amster
Federal Workers’ Compensation Claims
Striking Life’s Balance
MCLE: Illegal Alien Spotting: A Basic Field Guide for Lawyers, Law Enforcement and Patriots
Interpreting Foreign Languages in Litigation
International Service of Process: What Every Attorney Should Know
A Young Attorney’s Guide to Building Business
The Cost of Raising a Child Calculation Tool
The Disgruntled Employee
MCLE: Protecting Confidences and Secrets vs. the Duty of Loyalty
California Supreme Court’s Employment Law Cases
A Preview of 2010 California Real Estate Law
A Modern Family Meets the Great Recession and Divorce
Alternative Financing for the CleanTech Entrepreneur
The Small Business Jobs Act and the Corporate Lawyer
System Failure: Issues of Medical Malpractice
MCLE: Sex Crimes and Deviants
The Risks and Rewards of Calendaring for Small Firms
Honor Jurists on Both Sides of the Hill
Diversity in the Legal System
The Law Goes to Open Source
November MCLE Article Reprint
MCLE: FCC Investigates Embedded Advertising on TV
Temporary Judge Profile
Sprinkles Cupcakes is Seeing Red…Velvet That Is!
Requesting Proposals for Changes in the Law
Valley Lawyers Secure Temporary Judge Assignments
MCLE: Essential Negotiating Skills: A New Perspective
An Efficient Way to Resolve Fee Disputes
The Effective Use of an Accountant in Divorce
Achieving Success in Real Estate Mediations
The Raisin and the Negotiator
Spotlight on SFVBA Executive Director Liz Post
MCLE: The Threat of the ‘B’ Word
The Role of the Chapter 7 Trustee
The Global Economic Crisis Hits California
Bankruptcy Preference Law Highlights the Malpractice Trap
MCLE: 10 Common Misconceptions About Family Law
Preventing and Responding to Company Theft
It Takes a Team
Children With Special Needs: Family Law Proceedings
Co-Parenting vs. Parallel Parenting
An Intro to California Securities
MCLE: The Mechanic’s Lien Law
Using the Science of Influence
Foreclosure Safety Nets
Real Estate Fraud Litigation
The Case of the Missing Plumber
MCLE: Malpractice Insurance: Understand Before You Disclose
Q&A with Former California State Senator Sheila Kuehl
A Tribute to Pearl F. Vogel
Is Health Insurance Killing Your Bottom Line?
MCLE: Suspended Corporations: Tips and Traps to Avoid
Civility Encouraged by Law and State Bar Guidelines
Courting Disaster by Not Understanding Technology
Q&A with New SFVBA President, Robert Flagg
MCLE: Protecting Film Industry Clients
Q&A with Philanthropic Attorney David Fleming
Theft of Intellectual Property
Music Licensing 101
Solving Showbiz Puzzles
MCLE: Protecting Clients and Counsel Against Metadata Leaks
22 Ways for Attorneys to Use Twitter
Courtroom Etiquette for New Lawyers
A Road Map to Legal Careers
A Guidepost for New Bankruptcy Attorneys
MCLE: Fortune Favors the First to Court
A Puzzling Year in Review
Are Massive Court Closures on the Horizon?
Employment Law Review
Estate Planning Lessons from Michael Jackson
Non-Profit Directors: The IRS Raises the Governance Bar
Teddy Bears Comfort Court Kids
Los Angeles Superior Court Recruiting Temporary Judges
MCLE: Street Legal: Ethics in Business Development for Small Firms
The Journey into a Paperless World
2008 Conference of Delegates Gather to Change Law
Technology and ARS: Striking a Balance
Appeals Court Disallows Graduated Probate Filing Fees
MCLE: Sticky Settlement Agreements
Installation of SFVBA Officers
Los Angeles Superior Court-Connected Civil Mediations
Fastcase Search Tips: Batch Printing
MCLE: Sword and Shield: New Media’s Legal Savior?
State Trial Court Funding: Missing the Mark
SFVBA Board of Trustees Elected; Five New Members Join Board
ARS Refresher Checklist
Attorneys for Less Illustration
MCLE: Keeping Exempt Organizations Exempt
2008 Conference of Delegates Update
VCLF Partners with Haven Hills
Videoconferencing: The Attorney’s Newest Productivity Tool
MCLE: The Future of Arbitration
California Severance Agreements
2008 Labor and Employment Legislation Update
Text Messaging and Privacy Concerns for the Employer
The Advantages of Hiring Your Nanny Legally