The Journal — California Legal Briefs

No. IThe Journal

Counsel, in writing.

Plain-English briefs on California law — statutes cited, sources public, and every entry reviewed before it carries the seal. Legal information, not legal advice.

Latest BriefJuly 2, 20264 min read

The 2026 Guide to Checking a California Attorney's Record Before You Hire

License status, discipline history under Business and Professions Code § 6086.1, certified specialist verification, and what a Growth Score does and does not tell you — the full pre-hire record check.

Read the brief →

July 2, 20264 min read

Filing Deadlines Californians Sleep On: A Q1 Review of the Statutes of Limitation That Bite

The limitation periods Californians asked about most in early 2026 — the two-year injury clock, the six-month government-claim trap, medical malpractice's double deadline, and the one-year statutes that surprise.

Statute of LimitationsDeadlinesGovernment Claims

July 2, 20264 min read

California Employment Law in 2026: What Changed on January 1

A mid-year review of the employment rules that moved on January 1, 2026 — the indexed minimum-wage step-up under Labor Code § 1182.12, the exempt salary floor tied to it, and the sector wage schedules on their own clocks.

EmploymentMinimum WageWorkplace Rights

July 1, 20264 min read

How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in California?

California generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 — but the exceptions can shorten that window to six months. Here is the full map of deadlines.

Personal InjuryStatute of LimitationsDeadlines

June 24, 20263 min read

How to Verify Any California Attorney's License in Two Minutes

Every California attorney's license status, discipline history, and bar number are public record. A step-by-step walkthrough of the State Bar's attorney search — and the red flags to check before you hire.

Verify a LawyerState BarHiring an Attorney

June 16, 20263 min read

How the CalegalLaw Growth Score Works — Methodology in the Open

Every attorney on the registry carries a Growth Score from 0 to 100, computed nightly from four published factors. Here is the methodology, what each factor measures, and — just as important — what the score is not.

Growth ScoreMethodologyTransparency

June 8, 20263 min read

Community Property in a California Divorce, Explained

California divides the community estate equally in divorce under Family Code § 2550. What counts as community property, what stays separate, and how the date of separation and reimbursement rules change the math.

Family LawDivorceCommunity Property

May 29, 20264 min read

California Wrongful Termination: What Counts and What Doesn't

California employment is at-will, but firings that punish protected activity — whistleblowing, discrimination complaints, protected leave — cross into wrongful termination. Where the legal line actually sits, statute by statute.

EmploymentWrongful TerminationWorkplace Rights

May 20, 20263 min read

What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a California Attorney

A prepared first consultation gets you a real answer instead of a maybe. The documents to gather by case type, the questions worth asking, and the fee agreement rules California law already guarantees you.

Hiring an AttorneyConsultationsPractical Guides

Legal information, not legal advice · Statutes cited in every brief