In this issue
Archives
Mt. Diablo Sponsor
EAST BAY CHAPTER ALA CONNECTION
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear EBALA Members and Business Partners,
It’s hard to believe we’re already in the second half of 2026. I hope you’re enjoying the longer days and making time for all your favorite warm weather activities.
Speaking of activities -- if you aren’t already active in our Online Community, what are you waiting for? Come join us! I recently posted a poll requesting member input on locations for a new quarterly-or-so series of no host social hours across the East Bay that we are scheduling soon, and I would love to hear from you.
Later this month, Javier Morelos (Treasurer) and I will travel to Tempe, Arizona for ALA’s 2026 Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI). CLI is an amazing annual opportunity to connect with both seasoned and new chapter leaders, share ideas, collaborate, and grow our leadership muscles. Javier and I are looking forward to networking with our fellow chapter leaders from across the country (and globe!) and bringing back fresh perspectives and new ideas. If this sounds interesting to you, consider volunteering on EBALA’s Board! And if you need a little encouragement, check out, “How Volunteering Can Increase Your Impact” by ALA President Elyssa A. Goldstein, CLM, PHR, SHRM-CP in Legal Management Magazine.
In case you missed it, I also want to call out ALA’s new Legal Operations Bootcamp for administrative professionals. The four 90-minute sessions will be held virtually on Wednesdays from August 5 to August 26. This practical, career-building program is designed to equip new and aspiring legal administrative assistants with the essential skills, tools, and confidence needed to thrive in today’s modern legal workplace.
As always, I would love to hear from you. Let me know how your summer is going, your ideas for chapter activities, or just reach out to say hello. I’m always available at [email protected].
Truly yours,
Crystal Ludlow
East Bay Chapter President
East Bay FoodBank
EBALA members spent time at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano giving back to the community and supporting an important cause. We are grateful to everyone who volunteered and helped make a difference. A special thank you to Lorie Gehrke, our DEIA Committee Chair, for organizing this meaningful opportunity and making the event a success.
EAST BAY CHAPTER MEMBER SCHOLARSHIP
Helen Miranda was the lucky recipient of the chapter's Annual Conference Scholarship this year. She shares her experience attending the conference below.
"Since rejoining EBALA in 2017, I have had the opportunity to attend seven ALA Annual Conferences. My journey began in Grapevine, Texas, in 2019, followed by the first post-pandemic conference in Austin in 2021, then Orlando (2022), Seattle (2023), Aurora (2024), Nashville (2025), and, this year, National Harbor, Maryland.
When I reflect on those experiences, I can't help but feel fortunate, not just because I've been able to attend, but because each conference has provided an exceptional opportunity for continuing education and professional growth. Year after year, the ALA Annual Conference delivers high-quality educational programming that addresses the real-world challenges facing legal management professionals. The knowledge, ideas, and practical solutions I bring back from each conference continue to make a meaningful impact on my work and my organization.
I am especially grateful to have received this year's conference scholarship through the raffle at January's Morning in the East Bay event! My second time since 2019, woohoo!
One of the highlights of every Annual Conference is the opportunity to spend time with fellow chapter members and connect with members from neighboring chapters. Whether attending educational sessions, discussing emerging trends between programs (AI!), or sharing experiences over a meal, the conversations often deepen and reinforce what we learn in the sessions.
This year's conference in National Harbor was no exception. In addition to the outstanding educational programming, I had the opportunity to explore Washington, D.C., and Georgetown with fellow ALA members.
Visiting an area so rich in American history was truly a highlight of the trip. From walking the streets of Georgetown and admiring its historic architecture to experiencing the Washington Monument, memorials, and landmarks that tell the story of our nation's past, the experience was both inspiring and humbling. Sharing those experiences with fellow ALA members, including EBALA President Crystal Ludlow, provided a unique opportunity to strengthen professional relationships and create lasting memories.
While continuing education remains the primary reason I attend the Annual Conference each year, the opportunity to connect with fellow ALA members while exploring a destination with such historical significance made this year's conference especially memorable. It also served as a reminder that some of the most valuable aspects of ALA are the relationships we build along the way."
EBALA Member Spotlight
Celebrating the Promotion of Abeda Bayanzai
CSAA Insurance is proud to announce the promotion of Abeda Bayanzai to Manager, Litigation Operations Regional Support, based in Claims Law Oakland. In her new role, Abeda will report to Lisa Costello and continue to play a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s litigation operations across the region.
Since joining CSAA in 2015, Abeda has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to operational excellence and leadership. Over the years, she has been instrumental in several major initiatives, including helping guide the transformation of the law practice from paper-based processes to a fully paperless system, as well as supporting the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also played a key role in the successful relocation of the office from Oakland to Walnut Creek and in the continued growth of the in-house defense counsel litigation operations and support teams.
Abeda’s dedication to professional development and leadership is equally notable. She is a graduate of the CSAA Leadership Development Program and has contributed to mentorship efforts by co-leading the Claims Law/Subrogation Mentoring Program. Her leadership extends beyond CSAA, having served two terms as President of the East Bay Association of Legal Administrators. She has also made meaningful contributions at the national ALA level through her work on the ALA Chapter Connection Committee and as a leader within the ALA Corporate/Government Shared Interest Group. Most recently, she volunteered on the CSAA Professional Development Month committee and has been selected to participate in the 2026 Accelerators Leadership Program.
This promotion formally recognizes the leadership responsibilities Abeda has already been successfully carrying out, including team leadership, day-to-day operational oversight, and close collaboration with the Claims Law leadership team. With the addition of Subrogation Law office operations to her scope, her role will further enhance regional consistency and strengthen the execution of key litigation operations initiatives. Abeda will continue to deliver exceptional support to both the Oakland and Subrogation teams in this expanded capacity.
Outside of her professional achievements, Abeda enjoys a vibrant personal life in Brentwood, where she lives with her husband, their two teenage sons, dog Zeno and cat Echo. In her free time, she enjoys visiting amusement parks, watching scary movies and true crime documentaries, reading, art, going to the beach and exploring nature.
Abeda’s promotion reflects not only her accomplishments to date but also the confidence CSAA has in her continued leadership and impact.
EAST BAY CHAPTER - CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Cyber Chapter Webinar: Do We Need a Website Redesign? (Maybe) - 5 Questions Law Firms Should Ask First
Before committing valuable time, budget and internal resources to a full website redesign, law firms should take a strategic pause and evaluate what’s actually broken and what isn’t. This webinar is designed to guide legal managers, marketing directors , and managing partners walk through five practical questions that help determine whether their website requires a full redesign, targeted improvements, or simply smarter ongoing maintenance. The goal is to help firm’s avoid unnecessary overhauls, allocate resources wisely and make a strategic, data-driven that strengthens performance and return on investment.
To register, please visit: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qRoyoRRoTu-KXNB_XMawaA#/registration.
For more information about the Cyber Chapter of the ALA, please visit: https://cyberala.org/.
2026 Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI)
Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU
Up Your Leadership Game!
DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY SPOTLIGHT
July - French-American Heritage Month
July is French-American Heritage Month, which honors and recognizes the significant contributions made to the United States by people of French descent.
July 1 - Canada Day
Canada Day is a Canadian federal holiday that celebrates the 1867 enactment of the Constitution Act, which established the three former British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
as a united nation called Canada.
July 4 - Independence Day or Fourth of July
Independence Day, or Fourth of July, is a United States federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The original 13 American colonies declared independence from Britain and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America.
July 11 - World Population Day
World Population Day is an observance established in 1989 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme. The annual event is designed to raise awareness of global population issues.
July 18 - Nelson Mandela International Day
Nelson Mandela International Day was launched on July 18, 2009, in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday via a unanimous decision of the U.N. General Assembly. It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandelamade a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices: “It is in
your hands now.” It is more than a celebration of Mandela’s life and legacy; it is a global movement to honor his life’s work and to change the world for the better.
July 24 - Pioneer Day
Pioneer Day is observed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to commemorate the arrival in 1847 of the first Latter-day Saint pioneers in Salt Lake Valley.
July 26 - National Disability Independence Day
National Disability Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
CERTIFIED LEGAL MANAGER (CLM)
ALA CLM Exam - Application Deadline
As the legal services industry becomes more diverse and competitive, the need for capable managers has never been greater. That’s why earning the Certified Legal Manager (CLM)® credential — regardless of the stage in your career — shows your commitment to staying on top of the legal management profession.
It’s not an easy credential to earn — but that’s the point. The CLM credential demonstrates to your firm that you’ve mastered the knowledge, skills and abilities to operate at a high level of expertise in the field of legal management. In fact, those who pass the CLM exam have the depth and breadth of knowledge and management skills that enables them to visit any 30- to 50-attorney law office, review practices and procedures, and be conversant about — and offer advice in — each of the areas listed in the Body of Knowledge.
ALA is the exclusive credentialing body of the CLM program, and CLM Certification is offered twice a year — in the Spring and the Fall. (See below for important 2026 dates.)
Fall 2026
Application deadline: September 4
Test dates: November 2-25
ALA’s Certified Legal Manager (CLM)® credential demonstrates to your firm that you’ve mastered the knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate at a high level of expertise in the field of legal management. ALA is the exclusive credentialing body of the CLM program, and CLM Certification is offered twice a year — in the Spring and the Fall.
For more information on ALA's Certified Legal Manager exam, please visit https://www.alanet.org/certification or contact [email protected].
Riddle of the Month
I arrive in the middle of the year, With fireworks, cheers, and barbecue near. I’m not a person, but I bring a crowd— What am I?
