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California’s legislative session nears its end in the next few weeks, and as usual, state legislators have introduced several bills that will surely affect employers if they become law. Although this session had fewer employment legislation than those of previous years, there are still a handful of proposed laws of which you should be aware as ... More +
Divorces can be highly charged and emotionally challenging. California’s legislature is considering a bill that will further streamline the process for many divorces. Currently, the dissolution and legal separation proceedings begin with one spouse filing a petition with the court and arranging for the other spouse to be personally served with ... More +
Oral argument is an integral part of the judicial process. Before the advent of case law and written opinions, lawyers relied primarily on oral argument to advocate for their clients. Today, judges and lawyers alike will tell you that the legal briefs, i.e., a lawyer’s written arguments, are more important than oral argument. This explains why ... More +
In December of 2023, Federal Rule of Evidence 702 was amended. This provision is commonly known as the Daubert standard. The Advisory Comments state the amendment is only intended to clarify the standard and promote uniformity across courts. In practice, however, this amendment may have changed the way federal judges evaluate expert testimony. Ac... More +
For you aspiring law students, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) may be an intimidating obstacle as you begin the journey to law school. It may possibly seem like the source of many heartaches and sleepless nights, especially for those working full-time. However, with the proper discipline, motivation, and healthy habits, the LSAT obstacle can... More +
For lawyers preparing to go to trial, the two weeks before trial are critical. That is when you check off the final items on your to-do list and finalize your trial plan. After months of hard work, your research and preparation will be put to the test. Fourteen days until trial Finalize your strategy and visualize how you want the trial to play o... More +
It’s that time of year again. The weather gets cold and rainy, the calendar turns from December to January, and new employment laws go into effect that could shake up your workplace. The California legislature is always forward-thinking when it comes to employment laws, and 2023 was no different. As numerous key bills cleared Governor Gavin... More +
With a new year come new laws. Below are five employment laws that will take effect in California in 2024. Paid Sick Leave Increases Effective January 1, 2024, Assembly Bill (“AB”) 616 will, require employers to provide at least 40 hours or 5 days, whichever is more, in paid sick leave (“PSL”) to employees who work at least 30 days with a... More +
Law students are some of the busiest people in the world. Between working, attending class, and making time for family, who has time for networking? Along with everything else you need to do, networking can become a chore that gets pushed down the list of priorities. Networking must be prioritized. It can lead to job referrals and other professio... More +
Trial is fast approaching. With 30 days left before the starting date, how will you accomplish all the tasks that remain? It’s time to work together and utilize your support staff to get you successfully through the final push to trial. 30 days until trial Schedule regular meetings with your trial team. Your trial team will include all att... More +
After months of hard work, countless hours poring over exhibits and documents, and late nights at the office, your case is headed to court. You are confident that you will be ready when the time comes, but as the date of trial approaches, how can you ensure that you are really and truly prepared? The answer is simple: tackle trial preparati... More +
Recreational reading is a luxury — especially for attorneys — but there’s no better day to pick up a pleasant paperback than August 9: National Book Lover’s Day. Despite the existence of e-books, audiobooks, and other digital reading tools, leafing through a physical book can be a novel (pun intended) experience. Yet, as a... More +
The California legislature is in the midst of its 2023 legislative session, having already considered more than 2,000 bills. As the Senate and Assembly work towards the September 14 deadline to pass legislation, below are five of the most impactful employment bills currently working through the Capitol. From new policies that could impact the res... More +
Photo by Shantanu Kumar (Pexels). The Rise of ChatGPT: A Revolution in AI Interaction What is ChatGPT and why is everyone talking about it? The use of Artificial Intelligence technology has evolved more quickly than anticipated, which has forced leading schools and businesses to update policies in anticipation of how AI will affect work activiti... More +
Let’s face it… most of us do not naturally love to network. The networking concept has connotations of forced, insincere, and transactional communication. From those who spend half of an event in the restroom to avoid conversing with strangers, to those who come fully prepared and know the name of your cousin’s cat, networking ... More +
Key Takeaways from the Santa Clara County Civil Judges Santa Clara County Civil Judges Preferred Methods of Practice On March 22, members of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA) gathered at McManis Faulkner for the annual “Evening Conversation with the Civil Bench” which provides a unique opportunity for members of the legal... More +
Do you know the name of your family law paralegal? Although you may not immediately think of a paralegal when you hire an attorney, your paralegal should become a trusted companion as you navigate your family law case. The paralegal is a critical member of your team. Paralegals assist the client with tasks that might initially seem confusing to y... More +
A great mentor is invaluable for a young lawyer. In a profession based on judgment, young lawyers need the guidance of a wise, battle-tested lawyer to help them unlock their true potential. If they’re especially lucky, like I was, they will get the opportunity not just to “see,” but to “do.” My mentor was Jim McManis... More +
1. Be organized. Simple, right? Not quite. You must of course organize before trial to make trial smooth. Some easy examples include: before each day at trial, ensure that you have all exhibits labeled, copied, and packed; prepare each exhibit in the order that the trial outlines suggest; ensure that witnesses remember to appear at trial; k... More +
October was Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but every day we should be aware of the potential threats that exist while using technology. The following is an interview with Alvin Margallo (AM), IT specialist at a Silicon Valley law firm. This interview covers some cyber security basics, and risk avoidance practices that could be implemented both in... More +
Holidays are upon us and invitations to fun events may come your way. You may think your timely response is not important, but is this true? Can your RSVP or lack of RSVP affect your personal brand? As a marketing, business development, and PR person for a Silicon Valley law firm, I can tell you it truly can. Word travels fast and, yes, the way y... More +
A recently-fired Google engineer claims that the company’s artificial intelligence program has become sentient, and—even worse—has hired a lawyer. A court may now have to face a question once considered only theoretical: is a human-like artificial intelligence (AI) a “person” in the eyes of the law? In what sou... More +
Take a quick look in my garage and you will see boxes filled with tools. At first glance, many of them appear to be doubles of the same tool. You may ask, ‘why so many of the same tools?’ I would answer, ‘take a closer look. They are similar, not the same’. When working on different cars, each... More +
For the last several years, the California legislature ushered in a multitude of labor and employment laws, taking aim at controversial employer practices and furthering a pro-employee public policy. 2021 proved no different, with several bills making it out of the Capitol that are bound to affect employers going forward. Here are three key bills... More +
Like many other partnerships, spouses frequently divide responsibilities between each other to maximize time and efficiency. Perhaps one spouse handles the grocery shopping and school pick-ups, while the other is responsible for paying the bills and managing household finances. Although this “divide and conquer” approach p... More +