Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the New Year! January marks the second half of my tenure as the 23-24 LACBA President. Thanks to the hard work of the LACBA staff and our Board of Trustees, LACBA has accomplished a great deal over these past six months and has solid plans in place for 2024 and beyond that will help to support the association’s mission and benefit members.

Work is well underway reviewing and updating the association’s 2020 long term strategic plan. I expect this effort to be completed prior to the end of my term as President and thank the many members who are assisting with this effort.  For a detailed discussion on this project, please refer to the December issue of the Los Angeles Lawyer.

LACBA is hard at work planning a wide variety of programs and events, including the annual Installation and Awards Dinner scheduled for Thursday, June 27, 2024, again at the Bonaventure Hotel. I look forward to the evening for many reasons, including meeting fellow members, welcoming sponsors, congratulating the 2024 awardees, and passing the gavel to President-Elect Sarvenaz Bahar.

As the name indicates, a key component of Installation and Awards dinner is the recognition of our awards winners. In 2023, LACBA revisited the longstanding criteria for award nominations and selection. The most significant change has been to accept nominations for those who reside outside Los Angeles County, increasing both the pool of award nominees as well as the prestige of the annual event.  At its December meeting, the Board of Trustees selected the 2024 awardees from among a pool of incredibly well qualified candidates. 

Building on past success, LACBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Conference returns in 2024 with expert speakers and panelists, breakout sessions, and a networking reception. Thanks to all who contribute to the success of this event.  Their efforts have made LACBA’s D&I Conference a sellout in the past and we expect it to be another sold out event in 2024.

With recent updates to qualifications, LACBA has welcomed more affiliate bar associations over the past few months—a number that continues to grow. Our focus on affiliate growth stems from the collaborative opportunities these affiliates bring to LACBA, which in turn supports the association’s mission to serve members, the legal profession, and our communities.

During my many years as a LACBA member, I have been privileged to interact with many other members who have had a lasting and positive impact on my life and career. With this sentiment, I encourage you to attend an in-person event in the New Year, and, if you see me or other LACBA leadership, please stop to say “hello”.

All the best in 2024.

Kristin Adrian
2023-2024 Los Angeles County Bar Association President