California Bar Journal
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 2000
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ANNUAL MEETING 2000

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San Diego site of event Sept. 14-17
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By NANCY McCARTHY
Staff Writer
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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 Brown Madden will be sworn in as the State Bar's new presidentPalmer 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.