Program Details
2026-11-30 12:00:00
Over 1,000+ webinars
Course Overview
2026-11-30 12:00:00
2h CLE Credits
Intermediate
2
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ESTThis session teaches public-body advisory and defense counsel how to collect a council member’s texts, chat messages, and AI records under state records acts without the agency ever taking custody of the phone. The hour runs from proactive communication guidance and retention polices, through the self search certification and the choice between self-export and neutral-examiner extraction, to Teams chat, AI application and notetaker retention settings. This session is led by practitioners who have constructed and managed these searches for officials, created agency retention policies and guidance, and who can speak to current data storage challenges and the pitfalls of record mismanagement in the digital era.
J. Leah Castella
Alexandra Mulhall 1:10 pm - 2:10 pm ESTThis session teaches defense and advisory counsel to public bodies facing records-act suits that claim an agency search missed an official’s texts or chat messages, or failed to produce them altogether. The hour runs from the identification of litigation risks and common triggers for a public records lawsuit under California law, through the produce, supplement, or litigate decision. The speakers’ experience defending these suits is what turns the statutes and critical decisions into judgment attendees can use: how to navigate pre-litigation interactions with requesters, the role of self-search certifications and affidavits, managing resistant officials, and navigating fee demands.
J. Leah CastellaAlexandra MulhallLeah Castella is a partner in the Oakland office of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, and a seasoned public law lawyer, litigator, and appellate advocate. She currently serves as General Counsel of the Iron house Sanitary District, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, and as Assistant General Counsel for the Union Sanitary District. Deeply familiar with the full range of laws affecting California public agencies—including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, Proposition 218, and the Public Trust Doctrine—Leah has particular expertise advising public agencies on governance, rate setting, election law, and constitutional law.
Alexandra (Alex) Mulhall is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, and a member of the firm’s Public Law and Litigation practice groups. Alex advises and represents public entity clients on a wide variety of matters, including the California Public Records Act, the Brown Act, election law issues, leasing and grant disputes, constitutional First Amendment issues, and code enforcement. She has defended public entities in litigation ranging from inverse condemnation and premises liability to public contract disputes and Public Records Act matters.
Leah Castella is a partner in the Oakland office of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, and a seasoned public law lawyer, litigator, and appellate advocate. She currently serves as General Counsel of the Iron house Sanitary District, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, and as Assistant General Counsel for the Union Sanitary District. Deeply familiar with the full range of laws affecting California public agencies—including the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, Proposition 218, and the Public Trust Doctrine—Leah has particular expertise advising public agencies on governance, rate setting, election law, and constitutional law.
Alexandra (Alex) Mulhall is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, and a member of the firm’s Public Law and Litigation practice groups. Alex advises and represents public entity clients on a wide variety of matters, including the California Public Records Act, the Brown Act, election law issues, leasing and grant disputes, constitutional First Amendment issues, and code enforcement. She has defended public entities in litigation ranging from inverse condemnation and premises liability to public contract disputes and Public Records Act matters.
Requirements
The Alabama State Bar MCLE Commission requires attorneys to complete 12 credits, including 1 ethics, by December 31 of each year. All credits must be reported by February 15 of the following year. A maximum of 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried over for 1 year only.
Formats
