SDCBA COMMITTEES
All Committees are appointed by the President and report to the Board of Directors.
Self-Nominations for 2025 SDCBA Committees are being accepted through October 3, 2024.
Most committee meetings are open to all SDCBA members. To request information on how to attend, please contact Ashley Turner.
Community-Focused Committees
Governance-Focused Committees
Community-Focused Committees
Conscious Inclusion Committee
Purpose:
The Committee’s purpose is to provide oversight of diversity programs of the sections, committees, divisions, and Board of Directors. The CIC also recommends targeted anti-racism training for Board members and the professional team when appropriate, monitors the diversity of CLE panels, conducts organizational racial equity assessments, manages organizational initiatives, including the Diversity Fellowship Program and the Diversity Pledge, and develops proposals for DEI strategy for the SDCBA.
Composition:
The CIC is comprised of two Directors appointed by the President and the Chair of the DEI Division. The Chair position will be held by a Director.
Qualifications:
The CIC Chair must be a current member of the Board of Directors. CIC members must be serving as a member of the Board of Directors or as the Chair of the DEI Division.
Fee Arbitration Committee
Purpose:
The purpose of the Fee Arbitration Committee is to oversee the program administered by the SDCBA in which attorney-arbitrators arbitrate disputes between attorneys and clients concerning costs and/or fees charged for professional services by attorneys in San Diego County.
Composition:
The President appoints a Chair and three Vice Chairs who comprise the Fee Arbitration Committee. (Note: The Fee Arbitration Committee is separate from the Panel of volunteer Arbitrators that arbitrate the disputes. There currently are 56 Attorney-Arbitrator volunteers and 8 Lay-Arbitrator volunteers who serve on the Arbitrator Panel.) Members of the Fee Arbitration Committee cannot also concurrently serve on the Fee Arbitration Panel.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a two-year term. The terms are renewable up to three times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Committee Vice Chair limit:
Three Vice Chairs are appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
Previous experience as an arbitrator is required. Fee Arbitration Program volunteer experience a plus. Committee members may not participate in the program as arbitrators during the term on the committee.
Judicial Election Evaluation Committee (JEEC)
Purpose:
The purpose of JEEC is to evaluate San Diego County Superior Court judicial candidates. The SDCBA is to publicize those evaluations as a public service to the San Diego community at large. The JEEC process is similar to the process utilized by the state’s Judicial Nomination Evaluation (JNE) Commission that reviews applicants who have submitted an application for a judicial appointment by the Governor. The JEEC process is educational in nature and is not an endorsement of any kind for any candidate that is evaluated.
Composition:
The Committee is comprised of 21 voting members, including the Committee Chair, who represent a cross-section of San Diego’s diverse legal community. No current member of the SDCBA Board may serve as a member of the JEEC. The Committee Chair and members are appointed by the SDCBA President and confirmed by the SDCBA Board.
Committee member term limit:
Each member shall serve a four-year term.
Lawyer Referral and Information Services Committee
Purpose:
The LRIS Committee manages the operations of the Lawyer Referral and Information Service. It functions in accordance with the State Bar standards governing administration of the lawyer referral services and the Rules of Operation of the Lawyer Referral Service of the San Diego County Bar Association (as they may be amended from time to time).
Composition:
The President appoints a Chair, Vice Chair, and seven additional members. Half of the LRIS Committee’s members serve on LRIS panels, while the other half does not. LRIS Committee members should come from varying areas of practice.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a two-year term. The terms are renewable up to three times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Committee Vice Chair term limit:
A Vice Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications: "
The LRIS Committee should be balanced with a mix of practice areas.
Public Positions Advisory Committee (PPAC)
Purpose:
The PPAC considers specific factors in determining whether the SDCBA will issue a public position or comment on a particular issue. PPAC may also generate law-related ideas/topics for consideration by the SDCBA’s internal communications team or its retained public relations firm.
Composition:
The PPAC will be comprised of at least 6 but not more than 7 individuals, including a chairperson, all appointed by the President. In addition to the chairperson, the members will include, the SDCBA president, a SDCBA past president, two SDCBA board members, and preferably, a past member of the SDCBA Board of Directors. A judicial officer will also serve as a non-voting advisory member. The PPAC may also consult with other individuals or law-related organizations as appropriate on an as-needed basis. Members should have deep understanding of SDCBA culture and mission.
Committee Member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
The Committee should be balanced with a mix of practice areas.
Click here to read the PPAC guidelines.
Request consideration of an issue:
Click here to request consideration of an issue for public position by the SDCBA.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Committee
Purpose:
The SCRA Committee hosts a pro bono program that assists active-duty military servicemembers in obtaining stays in pending litigation while the servicemember is deployed. Through the SCRA program, attorney volunteers represent servicemembers in civil, family, and unlawful detainer cases.
Composition:
The President appoints a Chair, a Vice Chair, and no fewer than one other Committee member.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a two-year term. The terms are renewable up to three times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Committee Vice Chair term limit:
A Vice Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
A desire to help military families. Committee members serve as volunteers and trainers and represent servicemembers in court.
Governance-Focused Committees
Audit Committee
Purpose:
The Audit Committee is charged with ensuring an independent external auditor is retained and an annual audit of the Association’s finances is conducted each year.
Composition:
The President appoints a Board member to chair the Audit Committee. No Board members who serves on the Finance Committee may serve on the Audit Committee. The President may appoint up to three non-Board members to serve on the Audit Committee.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
Experience with reviewing financial and or tax documents and working with independent, external auditors.
Elections Committee
Purpose:
The Elections Committee shall review the election process each year. The Immediate Past President shall review the vote totals and report the election winners to the Board and membership. If the Immediate Past President is not available, the President shall review the vote totals and report the results to the Board and membership.
Composition:
The President shall appoint a committee of not less than three Board members to serve on the elections committee. Service is for a one year term.
Executive Committee
Purpose:
The Executive Committee, as described in Article IV, Section 4.5.1, of the Bylaws, has the power to act on behalf of the Board in two areas:
- Routine administrative actions
- Emergency measures
Composition:
The Executive Committee is comprised solely of Board members: The President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Finance Committee
Purpose:
The Finance Committee annually reviews the proposed budget for the next fiscal year of the Association, previews unbudgeted monetary requests pursuant to policy enacted by the Board and any budgetary variances, and oversees relevant finance policies. The Finance Committee is consulted by the Executive Director and Director of Finance in establishing and reviewing internal controls.
Composition:
The Finance Committee is composed of the Treasurer, who chairs the committee; the President; the President-Elect; and other Board members appointed by the President.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term.
Qualifications:
Experience with multi-million-dollar budgets and financial reports desired.
Governance Committee
Purpose:
The Governance Committee provides oversight and assistance to Sections and Divisions to ensure they are functioning and collaborating in accordance with SDCBA policies and procedures, develops an assessment tool for use by the Board, and oversees Board development with respect to governance best practices.
Composition:
The Secretary serves as Chair, and the President appoints between two to four additional members, including at least one member with Section Leadership experience, with one person serving as Vice Chair. The Chair and Vice Chair roles are for one-year terms.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a two-year term. The terms are renewable up to three times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Qualifications:
Experience with SDCBA Section or Division leadership or experience with Board governance at other 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations.
Investment Committee
Purpose:
The Investment Committee oversees the Association’s investment transactions, management, policies and guidelines, including review of investment manager selection, establishment of investment benchmarks, review of investment performance and oversight of investment risk management exposure policies and guidelines.
Composition:
The Investment Committee is Chaired by the Treasurer. The President appoints two or more individuals (who may be non-members) with professional investment experience to serve on this Committee.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Qualifications:
Professional investment experience is strongly preferred.
Leadership Outreach Committee
Purpose:
The Leadership Outreach Committee (LOC) is charged with recruiting members to run for the SDCBA Board, Sections, or New Lawyer Division who reflect the general diversity of the legal community, including personal diversity (ethnic, gender, sexual preference) and professional diversity (practice area, expertise). This recruitment may take multiple years, given the self-nominating nature of SDCBA elections.
Composition:
The Leadership Outreach Committee is chaired by the immediate Past-President of the Board of the SDCBA, who shall select the members of the committee. Membership on the committee is a one-year commitment subject to reappointment. The size of the committee is no larger than 21 members and no less than 10 members and is intended to be as representative as possible of the San Diego legal community. It should include members who have a wide understanding of the legal community. The following is a guide for who could serve: 1) up to four past presidents of the SDCBA; 2) a new lawyer (in the first 7 years of practice) representative as selected by the chair; 3) a member of the Committee for Diversity & Inclusion; 4) three chairpersons of the most active SDCBA sections or committees; 5) between 4 and 7 representatives from the local gender, ethnic, and minority bar associations; and 6) between two and four at-large members of the SDCBA. No term limits. Appointees must be available from May through August.
Qualifications:
The Committee should include members who have a wide understanding of the legal community.
Strategic Planning Committee
Purpose:
This Strategic Planning Committee is charged with actualizing and ensuring implementation of the Strategic Plan. The Committee also makes recommendations with respect to activities that are or are not aligned with the Strategic Plan.
Composition:
The Strategic Planning Committee is chaired by the President-Elect. The President appoints Board members and other SDCBA members, as needed, to serve on this Committee.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Qualifications:
Familiarity with the SDCBA’s mission, vision, and core values. Experience with strategic plan implementation at other organizations is desired.
Profession-Focused Committees
Awards Committee
Purpose:
The Awards Committee presents the Board with nominations for the Association’s Annual Service Awards and makes recommendations to the Board as to other awards to be presented from time to time. In addition, as part of the External Award Nominations pilot program (Policy § 5.7.2), the Committee recommends to the Board the nomination of Association Members for certain, pre-approved third-party awards or recognitions.
Composition:
The President appoints the Committee Chair (who ideally should have served on the Committee for at least two years); a Vice Chair; and up to eleven other Association Members to serve as Committee members.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Committee Vice Chair term limit:
A Vice Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
Recommended qualifications for Committee members include active involvement in the Association and the community. Past Service Award recipients are strongly encouraged to serve on the Committee.
Bar History Committee
Purpose:
The Bar History Committee works to preserve the long-time history of people and events associated with the SDCBA.
Composition:
The President appoints the Chair, Vice Chair, and no fewer than one other member.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Committee Vice Chair term limit:
A Vice Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
An interest in the SDCBA’s history, reviewing archival material, and interviewing members. Videography skills are a plus.
Legal Ethics Committee
Purpose:
The Legal Ethics Committee (LEC) is responsible for educating and informing the SDCBA membership about legal ethics issues. To accomplish its goals, the LEC, among other things, develops comments and opinions on statewide and national legal ethics issues, operates a legal ethics hotline, writes ethics content for the SDCBA publications, produces the quarterly e-publication Ethics Quarterly, provides ethics expertise and panelists to the SDCBA Sections and Committees for CLE content, and addresses any education or revisions related to the SDCBA’s Attorney Code of Conduct or other relevant civility guidelines.
Composition:
The President appoints the Committee Chair and Vice Chair, and up to 18 additional Committee members. The Committee may elect to have judicial officers or former Committee members participate in the Committee's work as non-voting advisory members (who shall not be counted as Committee members). The Committee may also consult with other attorneys, judicial officers, or Law-Related Organizations as appropriate on an as-needed basis.
The Committee's executive committee is comprised of the Committee Chair, Vice Chair, and Immediate Past Chair.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a two-year term. The terms are renewable up to three times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Committee Vice Chair limit:
A Vice Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
The Committee is limited to twenty (20) attorney members whose practice has regularly involved interpreting ethical rules for California lawyers for at least the previous five years. Given the scope of the committee’s purview and the high visibility of the committee’s work product, any person interested in serving as Chair must have considerable ethics experience. Interested members who do not meet the requirements for Chair or do not wish to serve in that leadership role are invited to apply to serve on the LEC.
Legislative Committee
Purpose:
The Legislative Committee recommends resolutions that address gaps or inefficiencies in current California law. If approved by the SDCBA Board, these resolutions are submitted for debate at the annual Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations (CCBA) where attorneys gather annually to engage in high-quality debates over resolutions authored by their peers that touch on every aspect of law. Every resolution that passes the CCBA is eligible for inclusion in their annual Legislative Program to be actively lobbied.
Composition:
The President appoints the Committee Chair and Vice Chair, and up to 15 additional committee members. The Committee Chair will present to the Board a proposed slate of delegates, selected from the Committee's Leadership, who will attend the annual meeting of the California Conference of Bar Associations as the Association's delegation.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members have no term limit.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role.
Committee Vice Chair limit:
A Vice Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Vice Chair role. A previous Vice Chair is eligible for appointment as Chair.
Qualifications:
Attorneys with family, criminal, probate, business, tax, and general litigation backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Interest and/or experience with drafting legislation is a plus, as is the ability to attend the annual CCBA meeting (typically in September/October).
Membership Committee
Purpose:
The Membership Committee reviews and provides recommendations regarding member recruitment, retention, feedback, and other big picture membership issues.
Composition:
The President appoints a Board member to Chair the Membership Committee. The Committee typically includes all three Regional Representatives. Non-Board members also are eligible for appointment to the Committee.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Qualifications:
Engaged and creative SDCBA members with ideas on how to grow and engage the SDCBA’s membership.
Programs and Education Committee
Purpose:
The Programs and Education Committee oversees all Section, Committee, New Lawyer Division, and bar-wide educational programming and events. Specifically, the Committee (1) monitors the health and wellness of all educational programming and events, including all new lawyer and law practice management content and events; (2) reviews CLE/educational programming and identifying any gaps in content, and makes recommendations for programming; and (3) ensures all programming is in alignment with the SDCBA’s Strategic Plan. The Committee will include subcommittees on: (1) Leadership Academy, (2) Leadership Speaker Series, and (3) Wellness.
Composition:
The President appoints a Board member as Chair of the Programs and Education Committee, in addition to other Board members and non-Board members.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Committee Chair term limit:
A committee Chair is appointed at the discretion of the President for a one-year term, renewable up to one additional year in the Chair role, though subject to the term limits of a Committee member.
Subcommittees:
The Committee oversees the following standing Subcommittees or programs:
- Leadership Academy Subcommittee
Purpose: To host intensive trainings that equip attorney members with essential skills and relationships to be effective leaders within the SDCBA, the legal profession, and the community as a whole. - Leadership Speaker Series Subcommittee
Purpose: To provide unique, accessible, and affordable leadership training opportunities to members on a broad range of topics with the goal to enhance members’ exposure to leadership topics, experts, and opportunities. - Wellness Subcommittee
Purpose: To promote the wellness of SDCBA members through programs, activities, and content related to wellness for legal professionals.
Qualifications:
Members with experience in programming through an SDCBA Section or the New Lawyers Division, or with experience related to relevant programming at another professional association.
San Diego Lawyer Editorial Committee
Purpose:
The San Diego Lawyer Editorial Board convenes monthly to discuss relevant and pressing topics to cover in the SDCBA's bi-monthly magazine and to write articles.
Composition:
The President appoints two Co-Editors and no fewer than two other members to the San Diego Lawyer Editorial Committee. Co-Editors have two-year staggered terms.
Committee member term limit:
Committee members are appointed for a one-year term. The terms are renewable up to seven times, for a maximum of eight years of consecutive service. Following the eighth year, an appointed committee member must take two years off the committee before being eligible for re-appointment.
Co-Editor term limit:
Co-Editors are appointed at the discretion of the President for two-year staggered terms. A previous Co-Editor may continue service on the committee by appointment for an additional two-year renewable term up to the eight consecutive year term of committee members.
Qualifications:
A journalism background or significant editorial experience at a publication and exceptional writing skills.