CLE Program

The recently-enacted Partition of Real Property Act creates new procedures for properties held as a tenancy in common. In the absence of published appellate cases interpreting the new statute, what are the best practices for navigating the new procedural requirements? Join real property/partition litigator Curtis Holdsworth, partition referee and attorney Matthew Taylor, and the Hon. Elizabeth Feffer (Ret.), as they provide an overview of California’s long-established partition statutory scheme, and also offer their perspectives on the impact of and implementation of the new statute. By the end of this session, attorneys with or without experience litigating partition actions will have an understanding of the Partition of Real Property Act, and will also receive practical tips and strategies to deploy in or out of the courtroom.

This 1-hour CLE presentation will discuss the important new torts cases published by California courts between January 1 and June 30, 2025.

Hear from a variety of speakers at this annual conference.

Strategies and Techniques for an Effective Mediation

The 2025 two-day--TUES November 12th and WED November 13th, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM--(virtual) conference with a wide array of provocative MCLE programs that fulfill Specialty (Civility in the Legal Profession, Legal Ethics, Implicit Bias, Prevention and Detection Competence, Wellness Competence, Technology in the Practice of Law), Legal Specialty (Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law) and General MCLE credits. Attend all or just a few of the offerings for one flat fee. The MCLE Committee has selected current topics and issues challenging our legal profession and community.

In this presentation Mark Kramer will cover various aspects of civility, the new California State Bar MCLE requirement, the Code of Judicial Ethics, and changes to the oath for attorneys regarding civility.  Mr. Kramer will also discuss the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) principles of civility, reported case law and other examples of the benefits of practicing civility and the many downsides of incivility with practical tips to enhance your practice. Mark will also discuss how practicing civility enhances your credibility with counsel, judges and jurors.

Description: Franky Carrillo was exonerated after serving 20 years in prison for murder. During this panel, Mr. Carrillo will share the impact of his wrongful conviction. Deputy DA Juan Mejia, the prosecutor in Mr. Carrillo's case, and Deputy DA Amy Wilton, both former leaders of the Habeas Corpus Team, will discuss the DA's approach to habeas corpus matters. Joseph Trigilio, ED of Loyola Law School's Project for the Innocent (LPI), will discuss how the LPI deals with wrongful conviction claims. Judge Kelvin Filer, the Supervising Judge of the Compton Courthouse where Mr. Carrillo's conviction and exoneration occurred, will provide the...

Description: Appellate strategy doesn’t begin after trial—it begins the moment a case is filed. In high-profile disputes, where the stakes are amplified by media coverage, public perception, and evolving areas of law, careful planning is critical at every stage. This program will highlight how trial lawyers can collaborate effectively with appellate specialists to shape litigation strategy, preserve issues for review, and prepare for appellate challenges long before the record is finalized. Through discussion of nationally recognized cases—the panel will explore how appellate courts engage with emotionally charged issues, what happens behind the scenes at the Court of Appeal, and how...

Insurance issues frequently determine whether a case can settle—or whether it stalls indefinitely. From wasting policies to excess carriers holding out, attorneys and mediators alike encounter insurance complexities that directly shape outcomes. 

In this dynamic program, a distinguished panel of mediators, coverage counsel, and trial lawyers will unpack how insurance works in practice and offer strategies for navigating disputes that arise in mediation and settlement negotiations. The program begins with an accessible “Insurance 101” primer on policy types and key terms, followed by real-world hypotheticals drawn from employment, personal injury, and construction/professional liability cases. Panelists will share practical insights on:

• Determining the real amount of insurance available for settlement
• Managing wasting policies and balancing defense vs. indemnity obligations
• The role of declaratory relief actions and punitive damage exclusions
• Strategies for policy limit demands (PLDs) and insurer valuation of claims
• How mediators can frame insurance issues to keep negotiations moving

Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of how to identify coverage pitfalls, educate clients, and leverage insurance knowledge to resolve disputes more effectively.

This program explores the most pressing ethical issues lawyers face in mediation and arbitration — from confidentiality and client decision-making to disclosure obligations and arbitrator impartiality. Designed to be practical and engaging, the session blends short presentations with group discussions and interactive exercises that help participants apply ethical principles to realistic scenarios.

Description: This engaging MCLE presentation by Hon. David Rosen (Ret.) explores the evolving landscape of legal ethics in California, with a focus on new professional obligations and risks at the intersection of technology, civility, and professional conduct. Attendees will gain practical insights into the ethical implications of generative AI in legal practice, the impact of California's still recent "snitch rule" (CRPC 8.3), the ongoing movement toward mandatory civility standards, and heightened client trust account compliance requirements under CTAPP.  The program also examines conflicts of interest for attorneys, judges, and neutrals, providing real-world analysis drawn from recent case law and State...

The South Bay Bar Association and Women Lawyers of Long Beach are excited to announce the relaunch of their acclaimed “Her Honor Series.” Throughout the series we will be interviewing judicial officers about their path to the bench and lessons they learned along the way. Each episode will focus on one judicial officer. Throughout the interview we will discuss her path to the bench, words of advice for those seeking to join the bench, insights into how the landscape has evolved for women in the profession, and what she would like to see more of from the bar to push the profession forward.