Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day? Bill Murray’s character wakes up each morning to his alarm clock playing “I Got You Babe” and he realizes, with dread, that he is about to re-live February 2, again. Have you ever…
Meet the Justice & Diversity Center's New Diversity Director
Please join us in welcoming Samantha Akwei as our new Diversity and Pipeline Programs Director. In this role, Samantha oversees JDC’s educational pipeline programs, including the School-to-College program, Law Academy, and the Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship program. She…
San Francisco Rapid Response Network Honored with Immigrant Leadership Award
The San Francisco Rapid Response Network, which is in part coordinated by the Justice & Diversity Center’s (JDC) immigration team, was honored at the 2018 Immigrant Leadership Awards on Monday, June 11. The event, held at San Francisco City Hall,…
Our Too-Powerful Supreme Court
This past March, Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada made waves when he predicted that Justice Anthony Kennedy would retire this summer. That may or may not happen—but if Justice Kennedy has decided to retire, it is unlikely he is…
Taking it to the Streets: JDC/BASF Street Team Brings Legal Information to the People
The first Sunday in June marked the fourth time that the JDC/BASF Street Team participated in San Francisco’s Sunday Streets. Inspired by the Ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia, Sunday Streets is a series of free, fun events empowering local communities to…
Separation Of Families At The Border Lacks Legal And Moral Justification
June 15, 2018 – San Francisco, California – On May 7, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new “zero tolerance” policy that not only imposes criminal penalties for unlawful entry at the border, but also separates parents and children arriving…
Risk Management: Conflicts In The 21st Century
In California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund v. Superior Court, (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1065, the Court of Appeal held that disqualification of an entire firm was not mandatory where an attorney from one firm “switched sides” and joined another firm during litigation,…
Legal Writing Tip: Introduce Block Quotes
Occasionally, you will need to quote four or more lines (50 or more words) of text from a key source, such as when the precise wording matters of say, a particular statute or regulation. And, every now and then, a…
Get Certified: The California Certified Paralegal Exam
In February of this year, 30 paralegals from across the state – myself included – took the first California Certified Paralegal (CCP) exam sponsored by the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) This exam tests a paralegal’s knowledge in the…
Pro Bono for the Soul
Chances are you do not want your bar association to ask only what you can do for us, but you also want to know what your bar association can do for you. We get it, and we think the answer…
Let’s Move the Profession Forward
Some of the most important discussions we can have as members of the legal community involve how to make progress as a profession. Topics like how to better serve our clients, provide access to legal services, and embrace innovation and…
A Conversation with Presiding Judge Teri L. Jackson
San Francisco Superior Court Presiding Judge Teri L. Jackson is a fantastic judge and a wonderful person. She is also a strong supporter of the Barristers Club and the Bar Association of San Francisco. This year, the Barristers Club is…