The 2026 Community Association Law Seminar, hosted by the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), takes place January 14–16, 2026, in San Diego, California. Presented by CAI, this seminar offers a valuable legal education (and networking!) for professionals working in community association law, or anyone involved with HOAs. With HOA laws changing all over the country, there has never been a better time to brush up legal on community association laws and trends.
More than 650 attendees are expected, with dozens of expert speakers on the most practical legal topics affecting community associations like yours. So while legal education will be invaluable, the networking could be even more so.
As CAI sponsors, we’re thrilled to be attending the seminar. Here’s the inside scoop to help you prepare (including the most essential sessions for non-attorneys!).
Key Event Details
Dates: January 14–16, 2026
Location: San Diego, California.
Attire: Business casual (but consider dressing in layers)
Why HOA and Condo Management Companies Attend
While the Law Seminar is attorney-led, many sessions directly impact day-to-day association management. Topics focus on the legal issues that most often affect operations, enforcement decisions, board guidance, and risk exposure.
Management professionals attend to better understand:
- How recent court decisions affect enforcement and governance
- Where liability exposure is increasing for boards and managers
- How legislative trends are reshaping collections and compliance
- Best practices for handling conflict, documentation, and escalation
Continuing Education and Credits
The seminar offers extensive continuing education opportunities.
Attorneys: CAI files for CLE credit in multiple states. Credit requires full session attendance, daily sign-in, and completion of evaluations. Ethics sessions may require separate sign-in.
Community association managers: Certificates of attendance are available after the seminar and may count toward CMCA, AMS, PCAM, and LSM redesignation requirements.
Insurance professionals: CE credit is handled through Community Association Underwriters of America and requires in-person attendance and session documentation.
Schedule Overview
The 2026 CAI Community Association Law Seminar’s schedule balances education with networking.
Tuesday, January 13
Evening receptions for first-time and emerging attorneys, along with a separate reception for insurance professionals. Slightly less relevant for HOA and association managers, but still worthwhile.
Wednesday, January 14
Morning registration and optional programming, followed by the main opening sessions and the Wayne Hyatt Lecture Series at lunch.
Thursday, January 15
A full day of education sessions with sponsor networking breaks and a Women in Law networking reception in the afternoon.
Friday, January 16
Morning sessions conclude before noon.
Keynote Speaker
The keynote speaker is Natalia Cohen, an international speaker and world record holder for journeying across California. Her presentation, part of the Wayne Hyatt Lecture Series, focuses on leadership, resilience, and maintaining performance under pressure. While less technical than most of the seminar, it will still be invaluable.
Education Highlights Relevant to Management Companies
Several session themes stand out for HOA and condo management professionals:
Case law updates explaining how recent decisions affect enforcement, meetings, fiduciary duty, and governance practices.
Collections and foreclosure trends addressing how legislative changes are reshaping delinquency management and board expectations. This is a must for HOA and COAs!
Rules enforcement and conflict management sessions focused on handling hostile behavior, documentation, and liability risk. This is also a must for HOA and COAs!
Insurance and risk management programming that explores coverage challenges and their operational impact on communities. Again, perfect for anyone involved in community associations.
Governing document language and interpretation, with practical examples of how wording affects assessments, voting, maintenance obligations, and enforcement outcomes. Extremely helpful for anyone involved in community associations, not just attorneys. Even board members could benefit from this session.
Attorney and management collaboration, offering guidance on how legal counsel and management teams can work together more effectively. Invaluable for HOA and COA management teams.
Travel and Hotel Notes
CAI’s headquarter hotel is the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The discounted room block is sold out, and reservation links are sent to registered attendees. Discounted rates are available until December 1, 2025, subject to availability.
Why This Event Matters for HOA and Condo Management Companies
The CAI Community Association Law Seminar provides management companies with insight into the legal and regulatory decisions that directly affect daily operations. Topics like enforcement authority, collections, insurance availability, conflict escalation, document interpretation, and board liability often begin in the legal world before showing up as operational challenges.
For management leaders, attending offers a clearer understanding of how attorneys and insurers are thinking about these issues and how to better align internal processes with evolving legal expectations. The result is stronger guidance for boards, reduced exposure, and more consistent decision-making across communities.
Let’s Connect at the Trends Conference
The ManageCasa team will be attending the 2026 CAI Community Association Law Seminar in San Diego. We'd love to connect.
While we won't have a booth, our team will be available for scheduled meetings to discuss compliance workflows, governance support, accounting processes, and operational efficiencies for HOA and condominium portfolios. Attendees who complete a personalized demo during or shortly after the seminar will receive a $50 gift card as a thank you.
If you would like to schedule time to meet during the seminar, we encourage you to reach out in advance to coordinate availability.