March 2019

Erica Villanueva Named to 2019 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows Program

BASF board member Erica Villanueva, partner at Farella Braun + Martel, has been named a member of the 2019 class of Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows. LCLD created the intensive year-long Fellows Program to identify, train, and advance the…

R. Kelly Can’t Fly Away from Child Support Contempt

R. Kelly (aka Robert Kelly) may have once believed he could fly, but no longer. Famous for hits such as “I believe I can fly” and “Bump n’ Grind,” Kelly has been under the microscope recently after two documentaries…

The Bar Association of San Francisco Welcomes Mikele Lewis-Nelson as Executive Assistant

Welcome Mikele Lewis-Nelson, who joined the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) in February as Executive Assistant to Yolanda Jackson, Executive Director and General Counsel and Jack Hannan, Deputy Executive Director. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Mikele has a…

More than 60% of JDC’s Homeless Advocacy Project Clients are 50 Years or Older

Nearly half of all homeless people who are 50 years or older became homeless after they turned 50. This is the dismaying truth revealed by a study conducted by Margot Kushel, professor at UCSF. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle…

Job Shadowing Program Opens Doors of Opportunity to 34 Students

On Wednesday, March 6, 2019 members of the legal community came together to celebrate the success of the 2019 1L Open Doors Job Shadowing Program. Hosted by Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, the reception marked the conclusion of yet another successful…

JDC Immigration Staff Presenting at UC Davis Class

On Thursday, February 28, Mario Castillo Martinez and Hamid Yazdan Panah of the Northern California Rapid Response and Immigrant Defense Network (NCRRIDN), housed at the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC), were invited to present as guest lecturers by Dr.…

Proposed Changes to San Francisco Superior Court Local Rules, Effective July 1

Pursuant to California Rule of Court 10.613(g)(2), the public comment period for the proposed changes to the San Francisco Superior Court Local Rules commenced on March 13, 2019 and will end on April 26, 2019. The proposed changes to…

Immigration Advocates: ICE, GEO Mesa Verde Contract Raises Transparency and Accountability Concerns

Immigration advocates in California are deeply alarmed over the legality of a newly announced $19 million contract between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and GEO Group, Inc. to continue the operations of the Mesa Verde Detention Facility in…

BASF Leader Circle Firms Named Among Best Firms for Women and Minority Attorneys

Several BASF Leader Circle firms were highlighted in Law360’s 2018 Glass Ceiling Report. The following firms were named Best Law Firms For Female Attorneys in their size category. For the top ranked firms in every tier, women make up at least 50 percent of…

Justice & Diversity Center Welcomes New Director of Donor and Community Engagement

The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of the Bar Association of San Francisco welcomes Shuwaski Young as our new Director of Donor & Community Engagement. A Mississippi native, Shuwaski moved to California after serving in the Obama Administration’s Department…

Mayor Breed Names Manohar Raju as Successor to Late Public Defender Jeff Adachi

This morning, Mayor London Breed named Manohar Raju as the next public defender of San Francisco. Raju is a long-time attorney with the public defender’s office and was mentored by the late Public Defender Jeff Adachi who passed away…

Nonprofits Focus on Finance at Day of Service Clinic

Every penny counts – especially if you’re a small nonprofit providing direct services! With that in mind, the Justice & Diversity Center’s Community Organization Representation Project (CORP) partnered with volunteers from Holland & Knight, Deloitte, and Fiscal Management Associates…

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