The Barristers Annual Meeting Committee presents
Barristers Annual Leadership and Skills Summit
| Date |
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 |
| MCLE Registration |
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
| Virtual Program |
11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| MCLE |
2 Hours |
The Barristers Annual Skills and Leadership Summit is an annual conference which features CLE panels and presentations that highlight practical skills for attorneys in their first 10 years of practice and law students. This year's symposium features two panels: one for associates working toward partnership, and one for attorneys who have already left (or are considering leaving) to start their own firms. Both offer specialty CLE credit. Together, they cover what it takes to rise within a firm and what it takes to build something of your own, including the bias, business decisions, and technology that shape both paths. Both panels will be held remotely, followed by an in-person All Barristers Happy Hour that evening.
Time: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM | MCLE :1 Hour (Elimination of Bias)
PANEL I: Barrister to Partner: Navigating Bias and Building Your Path
This panel brings together diverse partners from across the legal profession to discuss the realities of rising through the ranks at a law firm, from associate to partnership, and the barriers that still stand in the way for many attorneys.
Speakers
Moderator
Topics
- How to transition from lawyer to partner and build a book of business
- What it takes to secure more senior roles, beyond just practicing law
- The differences between equity and non-equity partnership and what each role actually demands
- How gender and racial bias continue to affect underrepresented attorneys on the path to partnership
- Practical advice for associates and junior partners aspiring to rise through the ranks
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM | MCLE :1 Hour (Technology in the Practice of Law)
PANEL II: Barrister to Founder: Opening Your Own Firm and the Technology Behind It
This panel brings together barristers who have made the leap to opening their own firms, and will share what that transition actually looked like, including the decisions, the risks, and the technology that made it possible to run a practice.
Speakers
Moderator
Topics
- Making the leap: Why and when each panelist decided to leave and start their own firm, and how technology changed the calculus of what's possible to run solo
- The technology stack, category by category: client intake and payment processing, practice management and CRM, marketing and client communication tools, AI applications in legal work, and billing/accounting/time tracking, including how to evaluate against your practice's needs
- Technology and client development: how panelists use their tools to build a client base and generate referrals, and what's transferable versus firm-specific
- What they would do differently: Lessons learned in hindsight
Be sure to join us after the event at the Patriot House for the Barristers Annual Happy Hour from 5:30 - 7 pm!
Committee Chairs
Evan Ettinghoff, Minnis & Smallets
Jaya Narang, Farella Braun + Martel
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email barristers@sfbar.org
For a printable sponsorship form, click here.
Event Code: B267320
For a printable flyer, click here.
For related events, click here.
Cost
| FREE |
BASF Law Student |
| $10 |
Barristers Club Member |
| $50 |
BASF Member |
| $100 |
All Others |
| |
All prices increase $10 on the day of the program |
| |
Join or Renew Today and Save! |
To Register
- Sign in to your account, then select Register Myself at the bottom of the page.
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- Select Proceed to Checkout to enter payment information, then Submit Order to complete the registration process.
Program Access
A link to access the Zoom webinar will be sent in your confirmation e-mail prior to the start of the event. If you do not receive login credentials, please double check your Spam Folder. If you have any trouble, please contact cle@sfbar.org as soon as possible before the program starts so we can assist with troubleshooting. You may need to consult your local IT technician for connection issues.
Program recordings are not guaranteed and/or included with this registration, nor immediately accessible to registrants. Approved recordings of live programs are converted to On-Demand CLE Courses and available for separate purchase through a third-party library 30 business days after the live recording. Thank you for your support.
Substitution, Cancellation, and Refund Requests
For CLE events of 1.5 hours or less, Lunch & Learn programs, Happy Hours, Receptions, and Mixers, a refund is available if you submit your cancellation request at least 48 hours prior to the event. A $10 handling fee will be deducted from your refund. Please complete the Event Cancellation Form.
For CLE events longer than 1.5 hours, and for special events such as conferences, symposiums, professional development training programs, a 50% refund is available if you cancel at least 10 business days prior to the event. Please complete the Event Cancellation Form.
If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute. Please complete the Event Cancellation Form.
MCLE Notice
To receive MCLE credit, you must sign in during the designated MCLE registration period. This activity is approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California. BASF is a certified provider: Provider #103
Accessibility
People with disabilities and/or special requests should contact BASF regarding reasonable accommodations.