SAN FRANCISCO, July 15, 2024―Terrance J. Evans, a partner in the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices of Duane Morris LLP, has been elected chair of the California Lawyers Association (CLA) Board. Evans is the first person of color and first Black person elected to this high profile position. CLA is the largest voluntary state bar association in the United States, representing the interests of California’s more than 260,000 lawyers. Evans is currently the vice chair of the CLA board and previously served as the chair of the CLA Litigation Section, which is the largest of CLA’s 18 sections.
Evans has played a role in the leadership of myriad professional organizations, including the National Bar Association, the California Association of Black Lawyers, the Charles Houston Bar Association―California’s oldest Black bar association― and the Bar Association of San Francisco, as well as sections and committees within such groups. He is a co-founder of the Charles Houston Bar Institute and CLA Racial Justice Committee.
Evans has spoken at more than 200 diversity, equity and inclusion programs and civil rights programs in partnership with more than 65 law schools, bar associations, colleges, universities, high schools, law firms, churches and other organizations. He also frequently appears on national and local television and radio discussing issues ranging from the United States Supreme Court and California courts to important legislation and civil rights issues. During his legal career, Evans has raised more than $550,000 for scholarships for underprivileged students. He has also created five annual scholarships that have provided tens of thousands of dollars to underprivileged students across the United States.
Evans is the co-leader of the firm’s Banking and Finance Industry Group, co-chair of the Duane Morris San Francisco Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and is also a member of the Duane Morris ESG Working Group. His practice is focused on representing clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts across the United States including the United States Supreme Court. Evans also regularly counsels clients regarding racial justice and diversity and inclusion issues. He has led dozens of diversity trainings for judges, lawyers, law students and members of the community around the United States.
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