With 70 miles of scenic coastline and a burgeoning
population, San Diego has emerged from its sleepy beginnings as a mission town in the
1700s to the nation’s sixth largest city, with more than 2.5 million residents.
California’s lawyers will have a chance to explore the border
city when they gather for the State Bar’s Annual Meeting Sept.14-17.
More than 4,000 lawyers and legal professionals are expected to
attend MCLE classes, luncheons and dinners, as well as take advantage of San Diego’s
reputation as a water playland and southern California cultural hub.
162 education programs
During the four-day meeting, 162 educational programs will be
offered, the vast majority with MCLE credit. Every attorney attending will have the
opportunity to collect up to 18 hours of MCLE credit during the long weekend and for the
first time, an audio clinic will be available to participants so they may earn credit at
any time during the four-day meeting.
Meetings and educational programs will be held at the Hyatt Regency
and the Marriott Hotel and Marina. Exhibits and registration will be at the Marriott.
Kicking off the weekend is the Thursday luncheon, sponsored by the
Foundation of the State Bar, featuring Ronald M. Shapiro of Maryland, one of the most
respected agent-attorneys in baseball. Shapiro’s dispute resolution talents have
facilitated solutions to human relations problems and issues in governmental and corporate
disputes. He is the author of The Power of Nice and hosts a series of primetime
NBC-affiliate TV specials.
Pro Bono Awards
Later that day, recipients of the State Bar President’s Pro Bono
Service Awards and the winner of the Loren Miller Legal Services Award will be honored at
the president’s reception from 7 to 10 p.m. at the San Diego Aerospace Museum in
Balboa Park. Honorees will include individuals from each of the nine State Bar districts
as well as law firms from northern and southern California and outstanding retired
attorneys who have volunteered their services to the public. Chief Justice Ronald George
will be the keynote speaker.
Tickets to the event include hors d’oeuvres, wine-tasting and a
self-guided tour of the museum’s exceptional exhibits.
Pamela Samuelson, professor at the University of California at
Berkeley, is the speaker at the Friday luncheon and will discuss the challenges that new
information technologies pose for traditional legal regimes in an address entitled,
“Will the Internet Transform the Legal Profession?” Samuelson, who has a joint
appointment to the School of Information Management & Systems as well as in the School
of Law, recently announced the creation of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology,
where she will serve as co-director.
Women lawyers dinner
Friday wraps up with the 26th California Women Lawyers’ annual
dinner, where the organization will honor Beth H. Parker of San Francisco and Sharon
Kalemkiarian of San Diego as recipients of the Fay Stender Award.
After a few days of sitting in meetings, a chance to get the old
ticker pumping and refresh “the little gray cells” will be offered early
Saturday morning with a 5K power walk along the scenic shoreline at Seaport Village. The
timed run is open to all levels and guests are encouraged to participate. The entry fee
includes a T-shirt, light refreshments and awards.
Swearing-in
 Palmer Madden of Contra Costa County will be sworn in later that morning as the
75th president of the State Bar, following the chief justice’s annual state of the
judiciary address. In addition, five new members of the bar’s board of governors will
take their seats at that time.
Lunch will be highlighted that day with the annual Morrison Address
at the Bench and Bar luncheon Saturday. The speaker had not been confirmed at press time,
but past speakers include Kenneth Starr, Esther Lardent and Abner Mikva.
The long day ends with the Bench & Bar dinner dance, featuring
entertainment by Haute Chili and musical comedy troupe Frivolous Motions.
The Sunday lunch features Sarah Weddington, a respected Texas
attorney who served as a state legislator and as former President Jimmy Carter’s
special assistant on women’s issues.
Other highlights of the meeting include the annual confab of the
Conference of Delegates, which will debate resolutions affecting all areas of law in
California, an art show including works ranging from painting and drawing to photography,
and exhibits by more than 100 law-related companies and organizations.
Online information
Participants at the annual meeting can earn continuing legal
education credit from a wide array of seminars and programs which offer something for
everyone.
Presented by the bar’s education sections and other specialty
groups, the courses range from a discussion of DNA testing to attorney fees to mediation
to domain name disputes. A full listing of the courses can be found in the Annual Meeting
Preview, online at www.calbar.org/annualmeeting.
The preview also includes registration instructions, fee and
reservation information for luncheons and other events, and other general information.
Attendees can save $75 by registering before Aug. 14. After that time, fees increase by
$40 to $80. The deadline for pre-registration is Aug. 31.
Participants may register online.
Because a large number of meetings is scheduled that weekend, the San
Diego Visitors and Convention Bureau anticipates most hotels will be fully booked.
Those wishing to attend the annual meeting are urged to make hotel
reservations well in advance. |
