Imagine yourself as a 61-year old African-American from Oakland who has worked as a union plumber for 35 years. You read newspapers religiously, and know a few things about civil rights. You live in a rented converted garage in a…
Paralegal Corner: Meet Dennis Hanshew
In my interview of BASF Paralegal Section’s Education Coordinator Dennis Hanshew, he discussed his unique path to becoming a paralegal, the most important skills paralegal need, and how to avoid burnout. Education I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from…
Paoli & Geerhart: Two Decades of Pro Bono with the Justice & Diversity Center
The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) is pleased to recognize our Volunteers of the Month, Chuck Geerhart and Tom Paoli, attorneys at JDC’s Legal Advice & Referral Clinic (LARC). Geerhart and Paoli share a private practice specializing in plaintiffs’ personal…
Should we “put all citations in footnotes”—or not?
Everyone agrees legal brief writers should strive for clear, orderly prose and a coherent chain of argument. At the same time, we must show there is legal precedent for most of our assertions, and identify precisely these sources of support.…
Sheppard Mullin Quadruples Its Pro Bono Service For Underserved Communities
The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) recognizes and thanks Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton for its notable commitment to pro bono service. Last year, under the leadership of partners Neil Popovic and Peter Carson, Sheppard Mullin helped ensure access to…
Perfectly Matched Client and Attorney = Another Successful LRIS Referral
Mixing family matters with business matters can strain even the closest of relationships. The additions of a step-family, a church, various real estate holdings, possible elder financial abuse, and an inheritance, brought one family to the breaking point. In 2013,…
Legal Ethics Corner: How Much Do You Need to Know About Your Client’s Insurance Coverage?
It’s no secret that insurance coverage is often a key issue in litigation, as insurance is used to pay defense costs, fund settlements, and satisfy judgments. In recognition of this, courts have recently been imposing more burdens on lawyers when…
Hire a Law Academy Intern, Inspire a High School Student
The Law Academy, established in 1997 by then BASF President Judge Jeffrey Ross, is a program that encourages, inspires and increases career opportunities for high school students at San Francisco’s Balboa High School. Attorneys Ryan Sandrock and Steve Berninger co-chair the…
Upping our Game: Mindfulness and Meaning in Mediation
Whether you are a relatively new mediator or have been mediating for decades, you may ask yourself on occasion why a mediation didn’t settle, or even when it did, why one or more sides was unhappy with the result even…
"No Sleeping on the Job!" California Supreme Court Rules Sleep Time Must be Compensated in Certain Industries
In Mendiola v. CPS Security Solutions, No. S212704 (Cal. January 8, 2015), the Supreme Court of California ruled that employers cannot exclude sleep time from wages during “on call” time by agreement between the employer and the employee unless a state wage order…
Open Doors 1L Job Shadow Program Expands in 2016
In March 2015 the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco and the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law launched the Open Doors 1L Job Shadow Program. The program is a partnership between…
Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights of the Bay Area Hosts Pro Bono Awards
Thanks to Morrison & Foerster for inviting JDC’s Gloria Chun and Katie Danielson (pictured with James Brosnahan) to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards luncheon in January.