November 2017

News from the Paralegal Section: December 2017

The Paralegal Section is concluding its third year, and big changes are afoot! BASF’s first non-attorney section was the brainchild of Raquel Cabading, Director of Continuing Legal Education, who recognized a need for support and education for paralegals and other…

Family Law Corner: Will Reality Show Accusations Play a Starring Role in Real Housewife Custody Case?

The Real Housewives franchise that started it all, the “Real Housewives of Orange County” (RHOC), is back in the news again due to cast member Shannon Beador’s impending divorce. RHOC’s undeniable “star,” original cast member Vicki Gunvalson (the “O.G. of…

Risk Management Tip: Understanding Duties to Third Parties, Part 1

The primary duty to a non-client is to be truthful. This month we examine this duty in litigation. Generally, attorneys owe no duty to a non-client. In Goodman v. Kennedy (1976) 18 Cal.3d 335, purchasers alleged they were damaged because…

Estate Planning Corner: The Times, They Are A-Changin'

Court of Appeal Welcomes Women to Generous Men’s College Bob Dylan did not tell school trustees to heed the call that “The Times They Are A-Changin.” But a California Court of Appeal did. Women may now attend Deep Springs…

Project Homeless Connect Volunteers Bring Services to 300+ People in Need

The Justice & Diversity Center thanks the volunteers who joined us to serve 300 people at Project Homeless Connect in October. With assistance, courtesy and kindness from 25 volunteers, 235 homeless people applied for DMV ID cards—a threshold to…

Law Firm Differentiation – Going Beyond “Full Service” & “Client Focused”

On October 12, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Legal Marketing Association hosted a panel discussion about law firm differentiation. The panelists included two senior law firm marketers — Brian Colucci, Chief Marketing Officer at Kilpatrick Townsend &…

BASF Introduces Answer1 to LineUp of Member Benefits

The Bar Association of San Francisco is proud and excited to welcome its newest member benefits partner – Answer1. Answer1 provides answering and receptionist services to small and medium sized businesses. Through the support of virtual receptionist services, Answer1 helps…

Barristers Club Announces 2018 Board of Directors

The Barristers Club, The Bar Association of San Francisco’s (BASF) new attorney division, recently announced the officers for its 2018 Board of Directors: Drew Amoroso, How to be an Invaluable Associate Program, will serve as president; John Hamasaki, Hamasaki Law,…

Thomas Crosby Joins BASF’s Bay Area Mediation Service

Meet Thomas Crosby, Crosby Law Group, the newest mediator to join BASF’s Bay Area Mediation Services panel. His areas of experience include: Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Toxic Torts, Professional Malpractice, Construction Disputes, Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination, Public Entities, FELA, Family…

The Most Effective Legislative Body in California (That You Barely Know About)

The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Delegation to the Conference of California Bar Associations (CCBA) enjoyed a string of successes this year. The CCBA is California’s foremost attorney-run legislative body that has, for over 70 years, provided unparalleled opportunities to…

Legal Ethics Corner: Is it Ethical to Pay for Testimony or Evidence?

Compensation of witnesses is primarily governed by California Rules of Professional Conduct (“CRPC”), Rule 5-310. Rule 5-310(B) prohibits payment to a witness that is contingent on the content of the testimony or the outcome of the matter. The rationale is…

Project Homeless Connect Volunteers Bring Services to 300+ People in Need

2017/11