Bench & Bar Relations Meeting

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As Assistant Presiding Judge, the Honorable Von Deroian has scheduled a Bench & Bar Relations meeting to take place on:

Thursday, March 13th, 2025 at 12:15 PM.
The meeting will be held IN-PERSON in the Figueroa Street conference room and via Zoom video conference (the Zoom link can be found HERE).

These Bench & Bar Relations meetings provide a forum for local members of the Bar to engage in an informal dialogue with the Assistant Presiding Judge as a means of raising issues and concerns that may not be otherwise addressed. All attorneys and paralegals are welcome to attend.

If you have a question you would like the Court to address, please send them to Bench & Bar Relations Chair, Tom Foley at tfoley@foleybezek.com

2025 Employment Law Update

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When: March 12th, 2025 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Where: Colleges of Law – Santa Barbara Campus

MCLE: 1.0 Hour (General) Credit

Speaker: Jared Speier, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth LLP

On March 12th, Stradling attorney Jared Speier will present a succinct update on major labor and employment developments thus far in 2025. During this one-hour presentation, Jared will discuss important decisions and administrative guidance regarding arbitration agreements, confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions, wage and hour issues as well as other areas of concern to employers and the attorneys representing them.

Price: Members $35 Non-Members $40 (Lunch will be provided)

Please mail checks by Monday March 10th payable to Santa Barbara County Bar Association, 15 W. Carrillo St., Suite 106, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
To pay online click the link HERE

Contact Information/RSVP: Please RSVP by March 7th to: Alex Craigie, Esq.,The Craigie Law Firm, PC, 1482 East Valley Road, Suite 511, Santa Barbara, CA 93108, alex@craigielawfirm.com (805) 845-1752, or Marietta Jablonka sblawdirector@sblaw.org

Click here to view our refund policy

Monthly Happy Hour

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When: Wednesday March 5th, 2025 at 5:00 PM

Where: Finch & Fork
31 W. Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara

Join us for the Santa Barbara County Bar Association’s Monthly Happy Hour starting in March!

We’ll meet at a different location on the first Wednesday of each month. Drinks and food will be available for purchase (no host).

This is a great opportunity to connect, unwind, & network with fellow members. Stay tuned for location details each month.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Time to Register! 2025 Bench & Bar Conference

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2025 Bench and Bar Conference
Saturday, January 25th, 2025

Join us as we explore relevant legal and social issues, including elimination of bias, civility, civil rights, criminal law, wellness, and the second amendment.

Hybrid Zoom/In Person Presentation at the Colleges of Law – Santa Barbara Campus (20 E. Victoria Street)

Lunch and refreshments provided

6 hours MCLE credit, including wellness, competency, and elimination of bias

Keynote Speaker:
Hon. Hernaldo Baltodano

Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Second Appellate District, Division Six

Schedule:
Saturday, January 25, 2024

Arrival: 8:15 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.
Presentations: 9:00 A.M. – 4:10 P.M.
Social Hour: 4:10 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.

Cost: $60 Members $75 Non-Members (click the link HERE to register online!)

Time to Register! 2025 Bench & Bar Conference

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2025 Bench and Bar Conference
Saturday, January 25th, 2025

Join us as we explore relevant legal and social issues, including elimination of bias, civility, civil rights, criminal law, wellness, and the second amendment.

Hybrid Zoom/In Person Presentation at the Colleges of Law – Santa Barbara Campus (20 E. Victoria Street)

Lunch and refreshments provided

6 hours MCLE credit, including wellness, competency, and elimination of bias

Keynote Speaker:
Hon. Hernaldo Baltodano

Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Second Appellate District, Division Six

Schedule:
Saturday, January 25, 2024

Arrival: 8:15 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.
Presentations: 9:00 A.M. – 4:10 P.M.
Social Hour: 4:10 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.

Cost: $60 Members $75 Non-Members (click the link HERE to register online!)

 

Using AI for Legal Tasks: Ethical Issues and Practical Guidance

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When: Thursday December 12th, 2024, 12:00 – 1:15 PM

Where: Zoom (click the link HERE to join)

MCLE: 1.0 Hour Ethics

The use of artificial intelligence tools raises many ethical issues for attorneys in the areas of confidentiality, competence, supervision of non-lawyer personnel, communication with and billing of clients, and candor to tribunals. We will consider sections of the California Rules of Professional Conduct and Business and Professions Code that may affect attorneys’ engagement with AI and provide practical guidance for its ethical use in the practice of law. In addition, we will discuss federal cases concerning the dangers of AI-generated “hallucination” output, the use of large language models for interpreting contracts, statutes, and other legal documents, and a sampling of judges’ local rules concerning the use of AI.

Speaker: Michael D. Harris, SoCal IP Law Group

Michael Harris is a partner in the Westlake Village office of SoCal IP Law Group. His practice focuses on litigation, prosecution, and licensing in the areas of patent, trademark, and copyright, and on advising clients about enforcing their IP rights and avoiding infringement. Mr. Harris began his career as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office before moving to private practice with IP-centric firms in the Los Angeles area. He has served as president of the Century City Bar Association and on the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Harris earned his undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and his law degree from Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, D.C.

Reservation:
To receive the meeting link via email, please respond by Tuesday, December 10th to Marietta Jablonka at sblawdirector@gmail.com AND to Chris Kopitzke at ckopitzke@socalip.com
You can also find the meeting link HERE

Cost: $20.00

Mail checks by Tuesday, December 10th payable to Santa Barbara County Bar Association, 15 W. Carrillo St., Suite 106, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

To Pay Online: Click the link HERE

Questions? Please email sblawdirector@gmail.com

Click here to view our refund policy.

Santa Barbara ADR: The View from the Court

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Date: Thursday December 5, 2024, at 3:00 PM
Place: Department 5, Santa Barbara Superior Court
MCLE: 1.0 Hour (General)

Moderator: John Derrick

Judge Colleen Sterne, who presides over the Santa Barbara Superior Court’s ADR programs, will be joined by Judge Frank Ochoa (Ret.) — who first brought ADR programs to the Court at a time when they were truly pioneering — and Vance Saukko, the CADRe coordinator, in a not-to-be-missed MCLE presentation.

Topics to be covered include:

  • The history of the current ADR programs.
  • An overview of how they operate.
  • Best practices for both litigators and neutrals.

Whether you litigate cases in the Santa Barbara Superior Court, are currently a neutral in any of the court programs, or would like to become one, this is a unique event to get fully up to speed on how best to use and contribute to these valuable programs.

The event will allow for audience members to provide their own perspectives and ask questions. Whether you are seasoned in Santa Barbara ADR or newer to it, there are plenty of reasons to attend.

Cost: $20 (click the link here to register/pay online)

Click here to view our refund policy

MCLE: “A Discussion of the Racial Justice Act”

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When: Wednesday December 9th, 2024, from 12:15 – 1:15 PM
Where: Santa Barbara Superior Court, Anacapa Division, Dept. 2 (Zoom option also available: click the link HERE to join)
MCLE: 1.0 Hour General 

Speakers: The Honorable Pauline Maxwell, Presiding Judge Santa Barbara County Superior Court; Tracy Macuga, Public Defender of Santa Barbara County; and John Savrnoch, District Attorney of Santa Barbara County.

About the Event: This presentation will provide an overview of the Racial Justice Act of 2020, which prohibits the State from seeking a criminal conviction or sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin. Speakers will also discuss steps the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office and Public Defender’s Office are taking in response to the Racial Justice Act.

Cost: Members: $20 Non-Members: $25

Mail checks by Friday July 19th payable to Santa Barbara County Bar Association 15 W. Carrillo Street, Suite 106 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Venmo @SBCBA; or via credit card by clicking the link here.

Contact Information/RSVP: Please RSVP to Teresa Martinez at teresamaemartinez@gmail.com OR Marietta Jablonka at sblawdirector@gmail.com

Click here to view our refund policy.

MCLE: “Microsoft Excel and Outlook: Tips & Tricks for Attorneys”

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When: Wednesday December 4th, 2024, from 12:00 – 1:15 PM
Where: Zoom (click the link HERE to join)
MCLE: 1.0 Hour General 

In this MCLE you will learn about:

  • Understanding the basic core functionality of Excel and Outlook?
  • Best practices on how to build spreadsheets and organize your work?
  • Leveraging core keyboard shortcuts for Outlook and Excel?
  • Effective integration of Outlook with legal technology tools, such as case management software

Speaker: Jordan Turk, Attorney and Legal Technology Advisor at Smokeball

Jordan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Classics, History, and Religious Studies and then went on to attend the University of Arkansas School of Law to earn her J.D. After almost four years of practice with a high-asset family law firm in Houston (and after being frustrated at the lack of automation in her firm), she discovered the world of legal technology which ultimately brought her to Smokeball.

Cost: Members: $20 Non-Members: $25

Mail checks by Friday July 19th payable to Santa Barbara County Bar Association 15 W. Carrillo Street, Suite 106 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Venmo @SBCBA; or via credit card by clicking the link here.

Contact Information/RSVP: Please RSVP to: Marietta Jablonka at sblawdirector@gmail.com

Click here to view our refund policy.

Refund Policy

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Santa Barbara County Bar Association (SBCBA) strives to provide exceptional services and courses to our members and local community. We understand that circumstances may change, and you may need to request a refund. Please read our refund policy carefully to understand the conditions under which refunds can be issued.

1. General Refund Policy.
SBCBA will provide full refunds for purchases requested within seventy-two (72) hours of the purchase date. After the seventy-two (72) hour refund period, refunds will no longer be issued. MCLE attendance Certificate will not be issued and credit will not be reported to the CA State Bar if MCLE payment is not received or there is no attendance.

2. Cancellation of Live Events.
To cancel a registration for a live event and receive a refund, please send a written cancellation request to sblawdirector@gmail.com.

All refund requests for live events must be received two (2) or more weeks prior to the scheduled course date. Refund requests for live events will be subject to a $50 administrative fee. Registrants who do not attend a live event (“no-shows”) or cancel their registration less than two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled event will not qualify for a refund.

3. Refund Requirement.
All refund requests must be made in writing and sent to sblawdirector@gmail.com.  SBCBA will process your refund as quickly as possible, but please allow for a reasonable processing time. Refunds will be issued using the original payment method, unless otherwise agreed upon. If you have any questions or need further assistance regarding our refund policy, please don’t hesitate to contact sblawdirector@gmail.com.

4. Appeals:
Should you have a good faith reason to request a refund that falls outside of our policy, please submit your request in writing with all supporting documentation for our consideration to sblawdirector@gmail.com.