AIKEN, S.C, Sept. 18, 2017 -- Best Lawyers®, the only purely peer-review™ guide to the legal profession, is currently accepting nominations for the 25th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Nominations can be submitted by the general public, clients, other practicing attorneys, and marketing teams. We only ask that lawyers not nominate themselves. All lawyers included in the previous edition of The Best Lawyers in America are automatically nominated in their listed practice areas for the 25th Edition.
 
After nominations are complete, attorneys are divided by geographic region and practice area. They are evaluated by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication review to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing with their local bar associations.

"Nominating qualified attorneys is the first step in acknowledging the accomplishments of exceptional legal professionals," said Best Lawyers CEO Steven Naifeh.

Nominees are recommended to be in practice for at least 10 years. It is also in the nominator's best interest to only submit nominations in practice areas in which the attorney specializes.

The redesigned Best Lawyers website permits the public to easily enter information for the eligible attorney using the online nomination form. The nomination period ends December 1, 2017. 

Search the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America by attorney's name, firm, region, and/or practice area, by visiting www.bestlawyers.com.

Request for Comments:
 
A new proposal, LEG17-07, to amend Government Code section 68560.5(a) and Code of Civil Procedure section 116.550 has been posted to www.courts.ca.gov – Invitation to Comment.
 
The Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force and Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee recommend that the Judicial Council sponsor legislation to: (1) amend Government Code section 68560.5(a) to delete an exception stating that interpreters are not required in small claims proceedings; and (2) amend Code of Civil Procedure section 116.550 to authorize courts to appoint certified and registered interpreters in small claims proceedings.  Revised Code of Civil Procedure section 116.550 also makes clear that courts should follow the provisional qualification process if a certified or registered interpreter is not available.  It also provides judges with discretion to appoint a temporary interpreter to assist a court user during a small claims hearing if a certified/registered or provisionally qualified interpreter is not available even after a continuance, or at the first hearing if the judge makes a similar determination of unavailability, depending on the complexity of the case.

For Deputy Attorney General III positions, please ensure you complete the online training and experience questionnaire in order to establish eligibility before applying.
You can access the questionnaire HERE. For Deputy Attorney General positions, you can access the exam bulletin HERE.
 
If you have any questions in regards to the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can respond to this email with the Job Control (JC)
number in the subject line and I will be happy to answer your questions.

Thank you,
 
DOJ Recruitment Unit
California Department of Justice
Division of Operations (OPS)
Email: Careers@doj.ca.gov

Please click on the link below to access the Notice from the Clerk regarding Changes to Local Rules Proposed to Become Effective December 1, 2017. 

http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/changes-local-rules-proposed-become-effective-december-1-2017

Senior Counsel – Real Estate 

Senior Counsel – Finance

We hope to be able to review applications/resumes by 9/1/2017.  

The United States District Court, Central District of California, is currently accepting applications from qualified attorneys interested in serving on the Central District’s Merit Selection Panel.  Please refer to the link below for more information. 

http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/seeking-applications-merit-selection-panel-members

I am the State Chair of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s judicial advisory committee.  As you may know, there is a California vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
 
To assist the Senator in fulfilling her responsibility to ensure this vacancy is promptly filled, we are interested in interviewing candidates who would serve with distinction as a Federal Appeals court judge.
 
If you are interested in applying, please go to the Senator’s website at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/applications-jud and fill out the information for the judicial application.  If you know a highly-qualified candidate who might be interested in applying, please have that candidate visit the Senator’s website and fill out the application.  In addition, anyone applying for the opening should also contact me directly at (619) 238-1811 or email me at dcasey@cglaw.com.  Applications should be filled out and sent to me no later than Friday, September 8, 2017.
 
Finally, please feel free to forward this e-mail to other leaders in the legal community who you think would be or could identify outstanding candidates for this position.
 
Thank you for your consideration.
 
David S. Casey, Jr.

One Year Term Beginning ASAP.

Organization Description

The Public Law Center (PLC), Orange County's pro bonolaw firm, is committed to providing access to justice for low-income residents. Now in its 36th year of service,

PLC works with over 1,400 volunteer lawyers, paralegals and law students to provide free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy to challenge societal injustices.

Qualifications 

• Admission to California Bar or awaiting Bar exam results
  
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills required
  
• Experience or in representing low-income people in civil litigation or
  
• administrative proceedings a strong plus
  
• Knowledge of elder and consumer legal issues preferred
  
• Commitment to working with volunteer lawyers and law students
  
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
  
• Must have own transportation, valid CA Driver’s license, and good driving record
  
• Applicant must qualify for service under the AmeriCorps program, including mandated criminal background checks

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide quality legal services to low-income Orange County individuals over the age of 60 in collaboration with an established team of attorneys
• Provide consumer legal services to clients over the age of 60. Assist elderly clients with unraveling the consequences of elder financial abuse, including working with law enforcement, Adult Protective Services, doctors, banks and concerned family members to counteract the abuse. Defend elderly clients from predatory consumer transactions where elderly clients may be taken advantage of, including automobile transactions and payday loans.
• Oversee case referrals and provide support to pro bono attorneys.
  
• Conduct community education presentations to elder clients and related community organizations
• Represent PLC at legal networking and community outreach events
  
• Occasional evening and weekend work required
  
• Other duties as assigned
  

Salary & Benefits

• Annual living allowance, as well as financial support for housing, student loan repayment, and other permissible reimbursable living expenses.
• Benefits: Education award; Health, dental, vision and life insurance; State and local bar dues paid.
• Interested applicants should contact PLC with any follow up questions
  

Please submit Resume, Cover Letter and Writing Sample (10 pages or less) to: lferrin@publiclawcenter.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled

Public Law Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race,

color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status.

Comments sought:
 
The Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions has approved and posted for public comment its 31st release of proposed revisions and additions to the civil instructions (CACI). This release includes proposed new and revised instructions and verdict forms, including one revocation and some renumbering, in response to developments in the law over the last six months. The committee is very interested in your input.
 
The proposed changes and additions are available for viewing on the internet at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm. Only these currently proposed changes and additions are being submitted for comment at this time. We will gladly accept other comments, but the committee will not be able to consider them until the next release cycle.
 
Our preferred way of receiving your comments is in a Word file attached to an e-mail sent to civiljuryinstructions@jud.ca.gov. However, you may also respond online.  And we have also posted a comment form that you may use to comment on individual instruction or groups of instructions. Please do not comment by Reply All to this e-mail.
 
Comments by letter should be sent to:
 
Mr. Bruce Greenlee, Attorney
Judicial Council of California
Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

The deadline for receiving comments is Friday, September 1, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

All comments will be reviewed by the advisory committee, which will make recommendations to the Judicial Council's Rules and Projects Committee and then to the full council. Comments received will become part of the public record of the council's action.
 
When submitting comments, please:
Indicate whether you agree with the proposal, would agree with the proposal if it is modified, or do not agree with the proposal.
Clearly identify the specific language in the instruction that you are commenting on.
Suggest alternative language, if appropriate.
Provide any applicable authority for your position.
 
We encourage your comments and critique because they help us refine both the particular instructions and the more global choices about format and approach.  We appreciate your participation in this effort.
 
On behalf of the Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions
Hon. Martin J. Tangeman, Chair