The safety of our communities and elders is of paramount importance to CILA. In light of the Delta variant and significant increase in COVID-19 cases, the CILA Board of Directors has decided to cancel our in-person conference this year and hold the 2021 California Indian Law Virtual Panel Series via Zoom from October through December 2021.
Registration is now open at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../2021-california-indian-law.... Further details and updates will be posted here and on our website. We hope you are able to join us!
Link to all written materials (for all sessions): Here
We will automatically process refunds to everyone who has paid for Conference registration for the in-person event. Please reach out if you have any questions about refunds for the in-person event.
Since 2000, CILA hosts an annual conference dedicated to the exploration of legal topics of interest to California Indian tribes and to provide continuing education on cutting edge legal issues for Native attorneys and attorneys practicing Native law in California. Over the past 20 years, the conference has tackled important issues ranging from employment law, gaming compacting, Indian child welfare, environmental compliance, and more. Each year's agenda is determined by feedback from our membership, reflecting the issues faced by tribal clients and Indian County as a whole.
The annual event also includes the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our peers by the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law and Outstanding Young Attorney awards. This year, we honor Judge Claudette White with the Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law award and present Geneva Thompson with the 2021 Outstanding Young Attorney award.
MCLE Credit:
CILA will seek retroactive approval from the California State bar for MCLE credit. We will seek 7.0 MCLE credits for the Program, including 1.0 special credit for Substance abuse, mental or physical issues that impair professional competence. We will send certificates to qualifying participants upon approval. CILA cannot guarantee that approval from the California State bar for MCLE credit will occur before the Feb. 1, 2022 reporting deadline. Registered Conference attendees will receive access to substantive written materials relevant to the program before and/or during the 2021 Virtual Panel Series. The number of MCLE credits offered for this event is pending with the California State Bar (between 6.5-7 MCLE credits). Other jurisdictions may also offer CLE credit for this event. Please contact your state and/or tribal bar association directly with any questions.
Sponsorship & Silent Auction:
The CILA Board extends a sincere thank you to all the sponsors of the 2021 California Indian Law Virtual Panel Series: Rosette, LLP; California Clean Air Project; Maier Pfeffer Kim Geary & Cohen, LLP; Peebles Kidder; McGeorge School of Law; Contra Costa Community College District; Procopio; Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard; Kanji & Katzen, PLLC; Dentons; McGeorge School of Law. And also thanks all of our generous silent auction donors including Christy Dawn, Eighth Generation, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs and many more! Interested in becoming a sponsor or donating to our silent auction? Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the CILA Board at [email protected].
The annual event also includes the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our peers by the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law and Outstanding Young Attorney awards. This year, we honor Judge Claudette White with the Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law award and present Geneva Thompson with the 2021 Outstanding Young Attorney award.
MCLE Credit:
CILA will seek retroactive approval from the California State bar for MCLE credit. We will seek 7.0 MCLE credits for the Program, including 1.0 special credit for Substance abuse, mental or physical issues that impair professional competence. We will send certificates to qualifying participants upon approval. CILA cannot guarantee that approval from the California State bar for MCLE credit will occur before the Feb. 1, 2022 reporting deadline. Registered Conference attendees will receive access to substantive written materials relevant to the program before and/or during the 2021 Virtual Panel Series. The number of MCLE credits offered for this event is pending with the California State Bar (between 6.5-7 MCLE credits). Other jurisdictions may also offer CLE credit for this event. Please contact your state and/or tribal bar association directly with any questions.
Sponsorship & Silent Auction:
The CILA Board extends a sincere thank you to all the sponsors of the 2021 California Indian Law Virtual Panel Series: Rosette, LLP; California Clean Air Project; Maier Pfeffer Kim Geary & Cohen, LLP; Peebles Kidder; McGeorge School of Law; Contra Costa Community College District; Procopio; Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard; Kanji & Katzen, PLLC; Dentons; McGeorge School of Law. And also thanks all of our generous silent auction donors including Christy Dawn, Eighth Generation, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs and many more! Interested in becoming a sponsor or donating to our silent auction? Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the CILA Board at [email protected].
Annual Membership Meeting & Board of Director Elections
The Annual CILA Membership Meeting and Board of Directors elections coincides with the 2021 California Indian Law Virtual Panel Series. Please join the CILA Board of Directors for the Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm PT. The Annual Membership Meeting will take place via Zoom and registration is required. Please click the "Register Now" link below to visit our registration page. If you have registration questions, please email us at [email protected].
The Annual CILA Membership Meeting and Board of Directors elections coincides with the 2021 California Indian Law Virtual Panel Series. Please join the CILA Board of Directors for the Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm PT. The Annual Membership Meeting will take place via Zoom and registration is required. Please click the "Register Now" link below to visit our registration page. If you have registration questions, please email us at [email protected].
Three (3) Board vacancies are up for election this year. Board Members serve three-year terms. Board Members donate their time and expertise to the benefit of CILA and California Indian Law community. Learn more about the current Board here. More information about CILA's mission can be found in our bylaws. Self-nominating candidates for Board Election may submit their name and short statement of interest ahead of the conference to [email protected].
Click here for a flyer with more information regarding Board Member expectations. Please share with your contacts!
This year's Board Elections will occur via ElectionBuddy. CILA Members will receive a unique link via email to vote. More information will be made available leading up to the event.
About the Annual California Indian Law Conference
Since 2000, CILA hosts an annual conference dedicated to the exploration of legal topics of interest to California Indian tribes and to provide continuing education on cutting edge legal issues for Native attorneys and attorneys practicing Native law in California. Over the past 20 years, the conference has tackled important issues ranging from employment law, gaming compacting, Indian child welfare, environmental compliance, and more. Each year's agenda is determined by feedback from our membership, reflecting the issues faced by tribal clients and Indian County as a whole.
The annual event also includes the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our peers by the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law and Outstanding Young Attorney awards.
Conference surveys and membership feedback illustrates how valuable our participants find the California Indian Law Conference. Attendees include tribal attorneys, elected tribal leaders, and community members.
Since 2000, CILA hosts an annual conference dedicated to the exploration of legal topics of interest to California Indian tribes and to provide continuing education on cutting edge legal issues for Native attorneys and attorneys practicing Native law in California. Over the past 20 years, the conference has tackled important issues ranging from employment law, gaming compacting, Indian child welfare, environmental compliance, and more. Each year's agenda is determined by feedback from our membership, reflecting the issues faced by tribal clients and Indian County as a whole.
The annual event also includes the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our peers by the presentation of the Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law and Outstanding Young Attorney awards.
Conference surveys and membership feedback illustrates how valuable our participants find the California Indian Law Conference. Attendees include tribal attorneys, elected tribal leaders, and community members.
2021 CILA Awardees
CILA is proud to announce that it will award the 2021 Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law Award to the Honorable Claudette White (posthumously) and the 2021 Outstanding Young Attorney Award to Geneva E. B. Thompson.
For the Outstanding Achievement Award, no one is more deserving than the late Hon. Judge Claudette White. “Judge White was a visionary leader in advancing Tribal Justice, an advocate for incorporating restorative justice in the American court system, and an inspiration for generations of Tribal leaders to continue preserving and protecting the rights and interests of our communities,” said Janet Bill, Vice President of the CILA Board of Directors.
Geneva E. B. Thompson has already made a substantial impact in her legal career, meriting the Outstanding Young Attorney Award. “From supporting the next generation of Indigenous attorneys as NALSA President and as a CILA Board member, to her current role as Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs at the California Natural Resources Agency, Geneva has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the California Indigenous community. Geneva's devotion to protecting the environment and tribal resources deserves our recognition and we are honored to celebrate her.” said Erica Costa, President of the CILA Board of Directors.
Judge White and Geneva Thompson will be celebrated during the Virtual Series Kickoff Event on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm PT. The full press release is available here.
In 2020, CILA honored the Honorable Abby Abinanti as the 2020 recipient of CILA’s Outstanding Achievement in California Indian Law Award and Fatima Abbas and Lauren van Schilfgaarde as the co-recipients of the 2020 Outstanding Young Attorney awards. Read the press release here.
Anti-Harassment Policy
CILA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. CILA has a zero-tolerance policy for hostile or harassing conduct of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or blocked from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers.
CILA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. CILA has a zero-tolerance policy for hostile or harassing conduct of conference participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any conference venue. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or blocked from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the conference organizers.