East West Family Law Council was created in the 1980’s and incorporated in 1994.  Back then, the main courts were in Los Angeles and in San Bernardino with the two branch courts of Pomona and Ontario in the middle.  Due to the way the departments calendared their RFO’s (previously called OSC’s) and trials, it was difficult for an attorney to service both branch courts.

          The family law attorneys who practiced in West Covina, Pomona, Chino, Ontario and the Rancho Cucamonga area first formed the group to work with the branch courts to create consistency in calendaring so it would be easier for them to make their appearances.  

          The group then decided to create a study group where an attorney would present a current case or topic to the other attorneys.  These grew into our modern day MCLE dinner events.  These regular dinner events brought attorneys together from the East end of Los Angeles and the West end of San Bernardino.  This is how East West Family Law Council was born.

          The organization is a 501(c)(6) where members pay dues and pay a fee for the dinner and other events.  Membership is open to family law attorneys, family law professionals and law students.  The Board of Directors is comprised of local volunteer attorneys and family law professionals.  The Executive Team, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary are elected by the general membership every two years.  They organize the events  and promote collegiality within the profession.

          East West Family Law Council has a special relationship with the judges and commissioners (aka ‘judicial officers’) in the Inland Empire.  The organization prides itself in having judicial officers speak at our events so that attorneys get to learn more about the judicial officer’s perspective and are aware of court and department rules.  

          Collegiality, respect, civility, and excellence in one’s craft are valued and rewarded with East West’s annual awards.  Each year East West presents the award to one outstanding person in each category: Judicial Officer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Lawyer of the Year, Judicial Assistant of the Year and Deputy of the Year.

          The East West Family Law Council is proud of its history and look forward to continuing its purpose of bringing together family law professionals from the East to the West to help them excel with top notch education in an environment where collegiality and civility are supported.