New Lawyers

Newly licensed lawyers are a vital part of the SDCBA and the future of San Diego’s legal community. Your first few years in practice are an exciting, tenuous time where you build your practice, professional network, and reputation as a practitioner. The SDCBA provides you with unparalleled resources and support to ensure your success.

Get Involved!

Join the New Lawyer Division: a community specially designed for those attorneys new to the legal profession and in their first 7 years of practice. Benefits include access to the NLD listserve, where you can get questions answered by your peers and work collaboratively with others who are new to the profession. You'll also have great opportunities to network and socialize at a wide variety of NLD-sponsored events.

Join a Section or Committee Joining one of our 26 sections is free and a great way to learn about a specific area of law, connect with practicing attorneys and gain volunteer and leaderhip experience.  And serving on a Committee is another great way to gain valuable volunteer and leadership experience.

Attend our Networking Events and Educational Programs: Cultivate relationships with fellow legal community members at our many virtual and in-person networking events and educational programs happening throughout the year, nearly all free if you're a member, with special members-only discounts for special events. And join us for our Signature Events throughout the year including our Annual Bench-Bar Reception and our Annual Bench-Bar Luncheons where you can engage with local attorneys and judges in an informal setting.

Advice: get free expert consulting from our Technology and Practice Management Advisor (and potentially save thousands of dollars in consulting fees)
 
Information: stay current with what is going on in your legal community with this website, our members-only e-newsletters (This Week at the Bar and NLD's For The Record) and our award-winning print magazine, San Diego Lawyer.
 
Services: take advantage of SDCBA members-only services, including free use of our downtown Bar Center workspace and lounge next to the Superior Court, free notary service, free legal ethics hotline, and more 
 
Name-brand discounts: save a bundle on more great services from our member benefit providers including Clio, LawPay, Faster Law, LAWCLERK, Courtfiling.net, Lawyaw, Ruby, TrustBooks, Office Depot, and more
 
CLE: fulfill your CLE requirement with exclusive, custom-crafted content from the SDCBA CLE Center™, spanning a comprehensive variety of timely, relevant subject matter (with members-only discounts!)
 
"All You Can Eat CLE": get unlimited access to all our online and live CLEs with the members-only SDCBA CLE All-Access Pass for just $100 additional per year. You can purchase the pass from your Member Profile page.

Build your Practice: Check out our Building Your Practice Resource Page.