Providing Access to Justice by Ensuring Oversight and Quality Control in California’s Appointed Appellate Counsel System.
Announcements
Guidance for using AI in the Practice of Law
› Second Appellate District Guidance on the use of AI:
If considering whether AI tools like ChatGPT can help with your court case, please visit the Second Appellate District’s “Using AI?” page to help use these tools safely and effectively. Generative AI is a tool that can help you write or explain things, but it can make mistakes. Use it carefully—especially for legal issues.
› CALBAR Guidance on the Ethical use of AI:
As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the practice of law becomes more frequent, attorneys have questions about how this can ethically be done. To help answer some of these questions, the California State Bar Committee on Professional Responsibility & Conduct has created guidelines to help navigate ethical issues.
State Bar Seeks Public Comment for New “Civility Oath” Proposed Rule
The State Bar seeks public comment on a proposed new rule 2.3 of the State Bar Rules regarding the civility oath for a 30-day public comment period.
The public comment period ends December 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Comments should be submitted using the online Public Comment Form
Upcoming MCLE Opportunities
CAP-LA Appellate Practice Selected Topics – Jan. 20, 2026 (In-person/Zoom)
Presented by CAP-LA Staff Attorneys
8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. with two short breaks and a lunch break
Join CAP-LA at the beautiful DTLA California Endowment’s conference center, Located at 1000 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Phone (213) 928-8900
Registration links will be live by noon on December 11, 2025
IN PERSON ATTENDANCE IS ENCOURAGED – SPACE IS LIMITED!
Topics will include:
- Recently Decided Cases and Cases Pending Review
- Lesser Included Offenses
- Guilty Plea Cases
- Compassion Fatigue
- Ethical Use of Unpublished Opinions (30 min.)
- Ethical Use of AI Update (30 min.)
*Approximately 5 hours of MCLE credit to be provided, including 1.0 hour of Ethics.*
Summer Internship Opportunities
CAP-LA is looking for rising 2L or 3L students with a strong interest in social justice, criminal defense, juvenile delinquency, or juvenile dependency law.
Up to four (4) summer interns in this 10-week, full-time internship will gain hands-on experience in appellate criminal defense and juvenile law. Working closely with staff attorneys, interns will review case records, draft legal memoranda, and contribute to active appellate cases, including writing an opening brief under supervision. The hybrid program includes in-person work at our downtown Los Angeles office and opportunities to observe both appellate and trial-level proceedings. This is an ideal opportunity for law students seeking practical experience in appellate work while deepening their understanding of the criminal justice and juvenile systems.
Applicants should have:
- Excellent legal research and writing skills,
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently,
- Ability to work collaboratively in a hybrid office environment, and
- Demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, and/or the rights of parents and children.
Attorneys Wanted
Join the Panel for Indigent Representation with Flexibility and Impact!
- Are you passionate about justice and ensuring fair legal representation for all?
- Are you a new attorney looking to start an appellate career with training opportunities and case assistance?
- Are you a seasoned attorney looking to shift gears and bring your expertise to a more flexible and fulfilling practice?
