California Lawyer was a monthly legal magazine based in San Francisco, California."California Lawyer of the Year 2002" Price and Associates. Retrieved February 23, 2011 The magazine was sent to every member of the State Bar.
History and profile California Lawyer was launched in September 1981Diamond, Diana L., editor's letter, California Lawyer, September 1981 by the State Bar of California as an updated version of the California State Bar Journal, published by the bar since 1926.
Prior to its launch, a prospectus for the magazine compared it to Business Week or Fortune for the California legal community.Bangs, George, "Prospectus for a Monthly Magazine for California Lawyers," State Bar of California, August 4, 1980 Edited by a staff of journalists and supported by advertising, California Lawyer offered legal news, as well as professional and general-interest articles.Eaneman, Paulette, "California Lawyer: A Financial Progress Report," State Bar of California, July 13, 1982
But critics asserted the new magazine "virtually extinguished" attorney participation in bar publications,Chilton, Jan T., "George Bangs' Memo on Membership Periodicals," Board of Governors, State Bar of California, August 21, 1980 and despite its financial goals relied on mandatory annual membership dues for operating expenses.
In July 1987, the State Bar's board of governors, pressured by legislators to eliminate a budget deficit, voted to eliminate all funds for California Lawyer—effectively killing the magazine.Hanley, Robert, Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 7, 1987
In October 1987 the State Bar reached agreement with Charles T. Munger, chairman of the Daily Journal Corp. and publisher of the Los Angeles Daily Journal.Magazine Watch, April 1988 The no-money sale committed Munger to include 12 pages of the State Bar's news and notices, to be written and edited by the bar, in each issue of California Lawyer.Carrizosa, Philip, Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 9, 1987 In April 1993 the bar's board of governors terminated the Daily Journal contract and voted to publish a tabloid newspaper for its members.Hall, Michael, Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 20, 1993
Once wholly independent, California Lawyer sought a wider audience for legal journalism, selling copies in bookstores and newsstands statewide.Magazine Watch, March 15, 1993 During this period, California Lawyer also produced two quarterly publications: House Counsel (1996-2002) and 8-K (2004-2006). In addition, beginning in 1996,"1996 Legal Eagles," California Lawyer December 1996 the magazine staff recognized outstanding work by lawyers in a broad range of practice areas with annual California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) awards.legacy.callawyer.com 2017 CLAY Awards
Faced with declining revenue from display and classified advertising, the Daily Journal Corp. ceased publishing California Lawyer in September 2015. The callawyer.com website continues to publish articles online. The magazine's print edition remains part of California's legal publishing history, with archived issues documenting legal developments and professional issues spanning more than three decades.
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