Annual Meeting set for next month

Monterey, known for its breathtaking coastline, world-class aquarium and rich cultural history, will once again play host to the State Bar’s Annual Meeting this year.

Attendees of the 85th Annual Meeting, Oct. 11-14, will have plenty of opportunities to soak up knowledge thanks to an education agenda packed with 142 seminars, allowing for up to 18.5 hours worth of MCLE credit and legal specialization. Those classes will also be easier to get to. For the first time, all of the education sessions will be within walking distance in downtown Monterey.

Keynote speakers for this year’s conference include Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center; Congresswoman Jackie Speier; University of Southern California Gould School of Law professor and intellectual property expert Jack Lerner; and CNN senior analyst and best-selling author Jeffrey Toobin.  On Thursday, Oct. 11, John M. Dean, White House counsel to President Richard Nixon, will speak at the State Bar Luncheon on “Watergate at 40: The Lasting Lessons for Lawyers.” Each of the events is ticketed, with prices ranging from $35 to $110.

A number of receptions hosted by the State Bar, its various sections, local bar associations and law school alumni groups, will provide opportunities to mingle with other attorneys during the four-day conference. On opening night, Thursday, Oct. 11, complimentary appetizers and no-host cocktails will be served at the exhibit hall, allowing attendees to visit with more than 100 vendors. Other highlights include the President’s Reception at the Museum of Monterey, the 2012 Awards Reception and the State Bar Fun Run/Walk for Justice.

On Oct. 13, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye will administer the oath of office to new State Bar President Patrick Kelly, new members of the State Bar’s Board of Trustees and the board of the California Judges Association.

To register, go online. Early-bird registration, which comes with a $100 discount, lasts until Sept. 12. The deadline for pre-registration, which is required for ticketed events and hotel reservations, is Sept. 19. For registration assistance, call 415-538-2508 or email AnnualMeeting@calbar.ca.gov.