May 2016

Need Quality Referrals? Join the SF-Marin Lawyer Referral Service

The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Recently renamed to reflect its expansion into Marin County, there is no better time to become a member of the long running,…

IOLTA Basics: What You Need to Know

If you are thinking about going solo, make sure you have the appropriate bank accounts set up from the beginning. You will need at least two accounts to start. One is an operating account where you conduct the daily business…

Barristers Club Open House

The Barristers Club held its annual Open House on April 21. Over 100 attorneys and law students came to BASF to learn about the various sections and committees of the Barristers Club. There were lots of new faces interested in…

Former Staff and Interns Continue to Give Back Through Volunteering

Thank you to former staff members and interns who continue to support the important work of the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) through volunteering! Big shout outs to 2015 Outstanding Volunteers in Public Service recipients Kyle Bassman, Nick Baran, Serene…

Paralegal Section Member Spotlight: Mitzi Wortman

In my interview of BASF Paralegal Section’s Mitzi Wortman, she shares her path to becoming a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant and the deepest influences in her life: family, community and creative expression. Education and certifications I received my Associate of…

Electronically Stored Information and the Duty of Competence

California Rule of Professional Conduct 3-110 (“Rule 3-110”) states that “ member shall not intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly fail to perform legal services with competence.” Every attorney considers this duty on a daily basis in the practice of law. While…

Charlie Sheen Needs “Two and a Half Men” to Pay His Child Support

Charlie Sheen’s exes are claiming he knew exactly what he was doing when he sold his rights to his hit show “Two and a Half Men.” Sheen recently sold his profit participation rights to “Two and a Half Men” for…

Legal Writing Tip: Watch Out for Common Usage Errors

Since writing last month’s column on the importance of regularly consulting a usage guide, I’ve become more aware of the prevalence of particular mistakes in word choice. It seems like they’re everywhere these days—especially on the Internet where articles and…

LGBT Youth Project Volunteers Visit Local High School to Inspire Students to Pursue a Legal Career

On April 19, Paul Sousa, Kate Svinarich and Tami Fisher volunteered for the LGBT Youth Project’s visit to Downtown High School. The volunteers met with approximately 30 students across three school organizations, including the debate team and the school’s Gay…

The Problem with Unpaid Interns

As summer approaches, many small law firms receive emails from students interested in summer internships. Some students offer to work for free to gain experience. Law firms may be tempted to accept such offers, or even to advertise unpaid internships…

How “California Love” and Marriage Differs from North Carolina

What do Kurt Cobain and Tupac Shakur have in common aside from legendary status and huge estates? Family members who want to keep those estates for themselves. Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, is divorcing her…

BASF Holds Forum, Releases Superior Court Seat 7 Candidates’ Evaluations

On April 19, BASF, with the League of Women Voters of San Francisco, hosted a judicial candidates forum for the contested election for San Francisco Superior Court Seat 7. The Seat 7 candidates, Paul Henderson, Victor Hwang and Sigrid Irias,…

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