The Marin County Bar Association's 2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference brought together attorneys from across the region on November 12–13 for a thoughtfully curated program that balanced substantive legal education with pressing conversations about the profession's evolving landscape. This year's conference offered not just continuing education credits, but a space for reflection on what it means to practice law in a moment of significant social, technological, and institutional change.

Opening with Wellness and Candor
The conference began with Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas's presentation, "Briefs, Briefings & Brain Fog: Menopause in the Legal Lane." Dr. Sholes-Douglas offered a medically grounded yet deeply personal exploration of the cognitive and physical challenges that many women attorneys face—challenges rarely discussed openly in professional settings. Her session set a tone of honesty and humanity that carried through the two days, reminding attendees that competence and wellness are not separate concerns but deeply interconnected aspects of sustainable
practice.

Women's Sports and the Evolution of Sports Law
One of Day One's most engaging sessions was "The Rise of Women's Sports," featuring Leonard Lun, Meghann Burke, and Gabrielle McKee. The panel traced the remarkable growth of women's professional athletics, exploring equal pay negotiations, league expansion, evolving media rights, and new labor frameworks. What emerged was a picture of women's sports as not just a niche practice area, but a dynamic force reshaping sports law more broadly—one that reflects wider cultural shifts and presents complex, cutting-edge legal questions for practitioners to navigate.

Professor Leah Litman on the Current Supreme Court Term
Midway through the conference, attendees heard from Professor Leah Litman, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast and author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. Litman delivered an accessible yet incisive analysis of the current Supreme Court term, breaking down complex developments in administrative law, election law, and First Amendment juris-prudence. Her presentation helped practitioners understand how federal decisions may ripple into California practice, all delivered with a blend of clarity, humor, and scholarly insight that made challenging material feel approachable.

When the Rule of Law Comes Under Pressure
Perhaps the most profound moment came during a keynote conversation with John Keker, Robert Van Nest, and Elliot Peters, titled "A Lawyer's Obligation When the Rule of Law Is Under Attack." The panel explored what happens when lawyers face pressure—sometimes from government actors—to withdraw from representing vulnerable or politically unpopular clients, particularly in immigration and asylum cases. They told the audience, “Never give up!”

Drawing from their own experiences, the speakers described how certain administrations have attempted to discourage large firms from pro bono work supporting asylum seekers and immigrant families. Rather than retreating, many firms responded by deepening their commitments. The panelists spoke candidly about resisting efforts to chill legal representation, protecting judicial independence, and ensuring access to counsel for those who need it most.

Their message was sobering: the legal profession is not simply a participant in upholding the rule of law—it may be one of its most essential defenders.

Day Two: Tools for Resilience and Navigating New Technology
Day Two continued with sessions focused on attorney well-being and the practical realities of modern practice. Cameron Stout presented "On the Path to Wellness in the Legal Profession," offering a compassionate framework for building mental health resilience. Carolyn Rosenblatt and Mikol Davis followed with a hands-on workshop providing six concrete tools for managing stress, reactivity, and burnout—strategies attendees could begin using immediately.

Technology sessions addressed the ethical dimensions of generative AI, privacy obligations in an increasingly digital world, and cybersecurity risks. The program exploring recent ABA guidance on AI proved particularly valuable, helping attorneys distinguish between thoughtful integration of new tools and potential ethical missteps.

A Community Reconnected
The conference closed with a reception at The Burren House Irish Pub & Kitchen in San Rafael, where colleagues gathered to reconnect and reflect on the sessions. The gathering underscored something that can sometimes get lost in the demands of practice: the legal community is strengthened not just by shared knowledge, but by genuine connection.

The 2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference reminded attendees that continuing legal education is about more than checking boxes. It's an opportunity to pause, learn together, and consider not just how we practice law, but why—and for whom.