Santa Cruz County
Trial Lawyers Association
Supporting Local Trial Lawyers for Over 30 Years
Mission
SCCTLA provides members with continuing legal education, social and professional networking opportunities and assistance to improve the administration of justice.
Members
Our members are trial lawyers, students, paralegals and support staff with a commitment to trial work and to our community.
More
SCCTLA supports our community and local trial lawyers with continuing education, camaraderie, and networking and community outreach opportunities.
“We continue to be inspired by our members’ dedication to empowering our youth to learn more about trial work through our support of 5th Grade Cookie Court and High School Mock Trial. If you have not yet volunteered for these programs, this is your year!”
~ Heather Rogers, Board Member
What We Do
COOKIE COURT. With SCCTLA’s support, Santa Cruz County 5th graders continue to benefit from the Santa Cruz County Superior Court-sponsored Elementary law Program, that pairs volunteer trial attorneys with local teachers to help students put on a “Cookie Trial” inside the courthouse.
MOCK TRIAL. SCCTLA works hard to ensure that Santa Cruz County high school students have the opportunity to participate in the statewide Mock Trial program, led by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and supported by SCCTLA. This next generation of trial lawyers benefits from our members’ expertise, mentorship and support.
ELBOW RUB. Our annual Elbow Rub gives members and guests the opportunity to enjoy food, drinks, and fun, while honoring someone who has made a unique contribution to our trial lawyer community.
MCLEs. SCCTLA offers regular MCLE courses, designed specifically for civil and criminal trial lawyers. Earn your MCLE credits while mingling with friends.
ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUP. SCCTLA members have exclusive access to our online discussion group geared at keeping local trial lawyers connected and informed.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SCCTLA brings trial lawyers together to support our community. Whether it’s coming up with ways to support members who have been affected by natural disasters or personal hardships, organizing wellness and social activities to bring balance to busy lives or spreading the word about volunteer opportunities, SCCTLA nurtures a community of trial lawyers who are actively engaged in the community as a whole.
Join us for the 2026 Elbow Rub Honoring Judge Stephen S. Siegel!
Donation Dues Model Continues Through 2026: JOIN US!
In 2026, SCCTLA remains committed to supporting local trial lawyers and building our trial lawyer community. We welcome all trial lawyers and people who support trial work to join us. Our donation dues model is designed to make it easy and affordable for everyone to participate in SCTTLA. SCCTLA has been an integral part of the Santa Cruz County trial community for over 30 years, supporting signature programs like High School Mock Trial and the Elementary Law Program (“Cookie Court”) and hosting social events like the annual Elbow Rub and CLEs designed specifically for trial lawyers. Dues and donations support this work. If you are in a position to contribute financially, please do. If not, we welcome your energy, enthusiasm, and camaraderie. We will leave your dues up to you.
Pacific Collegiate School Wins 2026 County Mock Trial
Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association congratulates Pacific Collegiate School (PCS), winner of the 2026 Santa Cruz County Mock Trial competition. Santa Cruz High School competed against PCS in a dramatic finals event on February 24, finishing as runner-up.
Micaela Garcia and Camila Suarez from St. Francis High School received the Paul Marigonda Award for the initiative they demonstrated in forming a team this year that performed admirably and finished 4th in the competition.
Teams from eight Santa Cruz County high schools competed in the 2026 Mock Trial, with 14 judges and 49 attorneys volunteering their time in support. SCCTLA members and Board members were among the many volunteers who supported these talented students in demonstrating exceptional trial skills in the courtroom.
The Santa Cruz County Mock Trial is a program of the Santa Cruz COE, provided in partnership with Teach Democracy, Santa Cruz Superior Court, the Santa Cruz Trial Lawyers Association, and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Events Calendar
The Events Calendar tracks volunteer, networking and social opportunities, trials and evidentiary hearings, local court holidays, and other dates of interest to our members. To add an event to the calendar, send a request to scctla@gmail.com. (Viewing the calendar requires you to log in to your Google account.)
Trial Lawyer News
Stay tuned for information about events designed for trial lawyers, including virtual happy hours, MCLEs, and opportunities to volunteer and network with our trial lawyer community.
Click the button below to head over to our blog to see all news and updates.
Pacific Collegiate School Wins 2026 County Mock Trial
Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers Association congratulates Pacific Collegiate School (PCS), winner of the 2026 Santa Cruz County Mock Trial competition. Santa Cruz High School competed against PCS in a dramatic finals event on February 24, finishing as runner-up. Micaela Garcia and Camila Suarez from St. Francis High School received the Paul Marigonda Award for…
Our 2026 Elbow Rub Will Honor Judge Stephen S. Siegel
All our welcome at the SCCTLA Elbow Rub. We would love for you to join SCCTLA but you do not have to be a member to celebrate with us. Our dues model is donation-based to make membership accessible to our entire trial law community, including student, interns, nonprofit and government attorneys, and non-attorney trial team…
2025 Elbow Rub Drew a Happy Crowd
Our annual Elbow Rub, honoring Court CEO Sasha Morga and raising money to support the Elementary Law Program (Cookie Court) and High School Mock Trial, drew a crowd of trial lawyers, court staff, family, friends, and children. Revelers enjoyed music by Public Defender DJ Juan Calzetta, tacos by Taco Nayarit, and a piñata filled with…
Meet Us
Meet our Officers and Board.
Support Us
Support our programs by volunteering to help out with high school Mock Trial or 5th Grade Cookie Court.
Join Us
Support our programs by volunteering to help out with high school Mock Trial or 5th Grade Cookie Court.
About Us
SCCTLA has been supporting local trial lawyers and building community for over 30 years. In 1989, local trial lawyers Bob Katz and Robert Yonts saw a need for an organization dedicated to providing programs, events and services designed specifically for local trial lawyers. SCCTLA continues to fill this niche.
Free Membership
SCCTLA membership is completely free. To join and get a Member Password, fill out a simple form here.
Support Our Sponsors
Our sponsors make it possible for SCCTLA to consistently provide quality programs, events, and services to our members and community. If you would like to support SCCTLA with a tax-deductible sponsorship of $250, get in touch. You can pay for your sponsorship now at our online store, or by sending a check to SCCTLA, 716 Ocean Street, Ste. 100, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. If you would like to make a lasting contribution to the growth and future of SCCTLA, consider making a sustaining monthly or yearly donation to support SCCTLA or the 5th Grade Cookie Court or high school Mock Trial programs.
Gerard Chambers Psy.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
PECK-LAW, Employment
Elizabeth (“Lisa”) M. Peck, Esq.
Forbes-Roberts Law
Representing Victims of Elder Abuse or Neglect