--- title: 2024 February url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february --- # [2024 February](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february "2024 February") [![FC Advo Feb24 ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2024/02-february/FC-Advo-Feb24-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2024/February2024/html5/Advocate-Feb24-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [“Counsel, would you like to be heard?”](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/counsel-would-you-like-to-be-heard "“Counsel, would you like to be heard?”") Thank you to each of the judges who took the time to pen an article for this issue [Ibiere N. Seck](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ibiere-n-seck "Ibiere N. Seck") ## [A BIG Night](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/a-big-night "A BIG Night") The OCTLA Installation and Awards Ceremony [Whit D. Bertch](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/whit-d-bertch "Whit D. Bertch") ## [Newsom has high regard for the court system, it has been spared major budget cuts](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/newsom-has-high-regard-for-the-court-system-it-has-been-spared-major-budget-cuts "Newsom has high regard for the court system, it has been spared major budget cuts") Also: CAOC meets with Health Services to shorten delay in settling Medi-Cal liens [Lea-Ann Tratten](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lea-ann-tratten "Lea-Ann Tratten") ## [Minimum federal trucking insurance to increase to $5 million](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/minimum-federal-trucking-insurance-to-increase-to-5-million "Minimum federal trucking insurance to increase to $5 million") Also: The forced arbitration battle, judicial diversity, amicus curiae briefs [Linda A. Lipsen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/linda-a-lipsen "Linda A. Lipsen") ## [The heart of Trial Lawyers’ Charities](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/the-heart-of-trial-lawyers-charities "The heart of Trial Lawyers’ Charities") “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. they must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller [Bradley S. Wallace](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/bradley-s-wallace "Bradley S. Wallace") [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [Appellate Briefs](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/appellate-briefs-2 "Appellate Briefs") MICRA and ambulances involved in auto accidents; also, PAGA waivers, the trivial-defect doctrine [Jeffrey I. Ehrlich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-i-ehrlich "Jeffrey I. Ehrlich") ## [Busting through writer’s block](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/busting-through-writer-s-block "Busting through writer’s block") The solutions for focusing and starting to write are as varied as the distractions and reasons we do not [Janet R. Gusdorff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/janet-r-gusdorff "Janet R. Gusdorff") ## [Your virtual appearance](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/your-virtual-appearance "Your virtual appearance") Five gentle suggestions for making your virtual appearance less painful for yourself and everyone else [Ashfaq G. Chowdhury](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ashfaq-g "Ashfaq G. Chowdhury") ## [A reasoned approach to effective advocacy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/a-reasoned-approach-to-effective-advocacy "A reasoned approach to effective advocacy") There is a fine line between zealous advocacy and being a zealot [John M. Pacheco](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/john-m-pacheco "John M. Pacheco") ## [From telegraphs to GPT-4](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/from-telegraphs-to-gpt-4 "From telegraphs to GPT-4") AI: The new tool in the legal toolbox [Austin G. Ward](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/austin-g-ward "Austin G. Ward") ## [More thoughts about separate statements and motions to seal](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/more-thoughts-about-separate-statements-and-motions-to-seal "More thoughts about separate statements and motions to seal") Specific statements are required in many types of discovery disputes and in motions for summary adjudication [Randolph M. Hammock](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/randolph-m-hammock "Randolph M. Hammock") ## [It’s past time to fix our broken discovery culture](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/it-s-past-time-to-fix-our-broken-discovery-culture "It’s past time to fix our broken discovery culture") Keep your discovery disputes out of my court – here’s how to do it [Lawrence P. Riff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lawrence-p-riff "Lawrence P. Riff") ## [Avoiding unforced errors](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/avoiding-unforced-errors "Avoiding unforced errors") In litigation, unforced errors can hurt you and your client [Mary Ann Murphy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/mary-ann-murphy "Mary Ann Murphy") ## [Bench update for the Los Angeles Superior Court](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/bench-update-for-the-los-angeles-superior-court "Bench update for the Los Angeles Superior Court") A look at the very real challenges facing the nation’s largest trial court [Samantha P. Jessner](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/samantha-p-jessner "Samantha P. Jessner") ## [Liquidated damages could nullify a settlement agreement](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/liquidated-damages-could-nullify-a-settlement-agreement "Liquidated damages could nullify a settlement agreement") A review of the civil code and court decisions that define this common contract clause [Abraham Khan](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/abraham-khan "Abraham Khan") ## [Mentoring the advocate](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/mentoring-the-advocate "Mentoring the advocate") The California Judicial Mentor Program provides judicial mentors statewide for attorneys considering a career on the bench [Paul A. Bacigalupo](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/paul-a-bacigalupo "Paul A. Bacigalupo") ## [Legal ethics: Client Trust Account requirements, the new “snitch” rule, and conflicts of interest](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/legal-ethics-client-trust-account-requirements-the-new-snitch-rule-and-conflicts-of-interest "Legal ethics: Client Trust Account requirements, the new “snitch” rule, and conflicts of interest") While legal ethics often evolve, several specific areas are of particular interest as 2024 begins [David A. Rosen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/david-a-rosen "David A. Rosen") ## [Preserve the right to a jury trial by maximizing juror satisfaction](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/preserve-the-right-to-a-jury-trial-by-maximizing-juror-satisfaction "Preserve the right to a jury trial by maximizing juror satisfaction") Honor the Seventh Amendment by being fully engaged in the final status conference [Daniel M. Crowley](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/daniel-m-crowley "Daniel M. Crowley") ## [It takes a village](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2024-february/it-takes-a-village "It takes a village") The coda to the personal injury hub and a look at proactive case management [Michelle Williams Court](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-williams-court "Michelle Williams Court")