Genie Harrison

With a practice that includes representing survivors of Harvey Weinstein as well as female Riot Games employees seeking equal pay, there’s no question Harrison is a fierce plaintiffs’ advocate.

But these high-profile cases are only one part of her practice. As the 2021 president of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and only the fifth female president in the association’s 72-year history, Harrison has a full agenda – one that not only aims to improve the experience of plaintiffs in the legal system, but the experience of plaintiffs’ attorneys, too.

One of her initiatives is creating a virtual Mandatory Settlement Conference platform, which would allow volunteer lawyers to continue to assist the Los Angeles Superior Court with personal injury settlements – but to do so virtually.

Set to launch this month, the platform will allow for remote settlement conferences and will include features that will “drastically reduce the number of human power that were necessary to manage this process” previously, Harrison explained. Marta A. Alcumbrac of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel is also working on the platform launch.

Harrison is also expanding CAALA’s diversity efforts by encouraging minority attorneys to take on leadership opportunities. Alongside other affinity bar associations, CAALA delivered a letter to Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor in May, asking the judge to adopt a standing order encouraging law firms to have women and diverse lawyers take lead counsel positions at trial and in key hearings.

Her goal is “to really encourage women and minorities to understand that they have a place in CAALA as plaintiffs’ lawyers representing consumers,” Harrison said. “There is no ceiling to their abilities to succeed, and we’re here to help them do so.”

Harrison has been a vocal opponent of the State Bar’s efforts to allow paraprofessionals to practice employment, consumer, and civil rights law, partnering with bar associations to educate attorneys about how paraprofessionals could impact the legal landscape. And last but not least, under Harrison, CAALA has also doubled down on creating resources on wellness for its members.

“We want to really take away the stigma associated with lawyers’ emotional health and well-being,” she said. “We want to get it out there for our members that these are normal human challenges… and we acknowledge that lawyers have a higher rate of experiencing things like mental health challenges and substance abuse. We want our members to be as healthy as possible, and to succeed, and we want to help them get the resources that they need.”

— Jessica Mach