Category: Law Practice

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Message from the Continuing Legal Education Chair of NLD

Message from the Continuing Legal Education Chair of NLD

Hello all:

I am honored to serve on the New Lawyer Division (NLD) Executive Committee where I help organize continuing legal education presentations for new lawyers in San Diego area. I graduated from California Western School of Law in 2018 and I am Senior Counsel at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP. I am in my fifth year of practice. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Tips from the Bench: Judge Herbert Exarhos

Tips from the Bench: Judge Herbert Exarhos

Interview by Matthew M. Spolsky, Esq.

If you have the chance to have a case in the East County Courthouse you may hear the legend of Judge Herbert Exarhos. Judge Exarhos rides his motorcycle to work every day and has been a pillar of the East County Courthouse since 1993. He loves serving the community and does not see retirement in his future. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Evaluating Capacity: Trusts, Wills, and Conservatorships

Evaluating Capacity: Trusts, Wills, and Conservatorships

By Linda Nelte, Esq.
Miller, Monson, Peshel, Polacek & Hoshaw

Could lawyers have greater exposure to legal malpractice claims as the baby boom generation, the largest proportion of the U.S. population, starts to age? Unfortunately, the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias increases when an individual is age 65 and older. In 2020, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s in the U.S. was 5.8 million. This number is projected to increase to 13.8 million in 2050. This suggests that attorneys will likely encounter more situations in the future in which they need to assess whether clients have legal capacity to create estate plans and enter into legal transactions. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

Fresh Eyes May Require Fresh Disclosures

Fresh Eyes May Require Fresh Disclosures

By Mallory H. Chase

Whether newly admitted or highly experienced, working in a small firm or a large firm, or practicing in litigation or transactional law — an attorney in a law firm is likely to become involved in the handling of an existing matter for a firm client at some point. In the process of becoming familiar with the history of the file, the newly added attorney may find they are acting as a Monday morning quarterback, which may include questioning the positions and actions of others involved in the litigation, including the opposing party, other counsel, the Court — or perhaps another attorney within their own firm. When concerns arise regarding this latter category, attorneys must remain mindful of their professional obligations and the ethical limitations pertaining to client disclosures and conflicts of interest. Read More

For New Attorneys / For the Record / Law Practice

NLD Member Spotlight: Alison Adelman

NLD Member Spotlight: Alison Adelman

By Daniela Lagunas
Schwartz Semerdjian Cauley & Evans LLP

Alison Adelman, Esq., juggles many priorities as a practicing attorney and a new mother. Adelman is an attorney at the San Diego office of Ogletree Deakins. Her practice primarily focuses on employment defense cases, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims. She appreciates the delicacy and complexity of her cases.  Read More