Lawyers deal with the law – both case law and statutory law – on a daily basis. And occasionally we, as lawyers, come across a statute or a judicial decision based upon statutory interpretation that just isn’t right. The problem…
BASF Bulletin Board: Our Members and Leaders Circle Firms Making Headlines
Andrew Bridges Recognized by State Bar of California Fenwick & West’s Andrew Bridges was recently honored by the State Bar of California’s Intellectual Property Section. He was recognized in the Private Practice category with an IP Vanguard award. …
Legal Ethics Corner: Undocumented Status Does Not Mean You Can’t Practice Law
In a matter of first impression, the California Supreme Court recently ruled that the fact an undocumented immigrant is in the United States illegally “does not itself involve moral turpitude or demonstrate moral unfitness so as to justify exclusion from…
Legal Writing Tip: Using a Second Pair Eyes to Proof Your Work
I’ve long recommended that lawyers get a second pair of eyes on important documents, either a professional editor or a trusted colleague. Ideally, within the bounds of attorney-client privilege, the editor should know little about the subject matter so as…
Litigation Tech Tips for Easy Access and Analysis of Key Case Info
This article was first published by Michael Kelleher on the Cogent Legal Blog at cogentlegal.com/blog/2014/01/tech-tips-for-case-information/ Litigation would be much easier if you could work on just one case at a time, and if each case moved quickly to a conclusion. Unfortunately, litigators…
BASF Board Joins As Amicus Curiae in Utah and Oklahoma Marriage Equality Cases
The Board of Directors of The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) voted to join with the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) and seventeen other bar associations and nonprofit organizations in submitting an amicus curiae brief to the…
Mock Trial: A Season of Change [Infographic]
Adderall, the death of a young high school student, and allegations of second degree murder. No, this is not an episode of Law & Order. This is the 2014 Mock Trial Competition. As one of BASF’s diversity pipeline programs, the…
Justice & Diversity Center Collaborates with One Billion Rising to Serve Survivors of Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault at Legal Clinic
On March 1, the Justice & Diversity Center’s (JDC) Legal Services Program held a free legal clinic for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault as part of One Billion Rising, a global movement calling for an end to violence against women and girls.
BASF Welcomes Schiff Hardin as Newest Leaders Circle Firm
The Bar Association of San Francisco is excited to announce the signing of Schiff Hardin as its newest Leaders Circle firm (formerly Sponsor Firms). Schiff Hardin was founded in Chicago during the Civil War and today has nearly 400 attorneys…
Tackling the Decline in LSAT Takers, Decrease in Law School Enrollment and Attorney Unemployment
As manager of the Justice & Diversity Center’s Destination Law School Program, I meet students who express an interest, desire and passion to attend law school. Part of my role is to educate, encourage and empower these students as they…
Elimination of Bias: Tips from the Bench, In-House, Law Firm Counsel and the Bar Association
Register today for this April 10 MCLE event! To register, click on the button to the right, visit www.sfbar.org/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?id=G141613/G141613, email cle@sfbar.org or call the CLE Department at 415-982-1600 Topics: • Why it is “still” important to work to diversify the legal profession? •…
Congratulations to the Community Justice Center Court and the BASF/IDA Conflicts Attorneys Who Helped Build it
Congratulations and deep gratitude to the Indigent Defense Administration‘s Conflicts Panel who committed their time, energy and expertise to building the Community Justice Center (CJC) court to its celebrated status today. On March 5, the San Francisco Superior Court celebrated the five-year…