If you wish to be taken seriously by the court, whether in oral or written argument, never malign or belittle your opponents or their position. Treat opposing counsel with respect, regardless of whether you feel they deserve it. This is…
Legal Writing Tip: Seriously, Just Use the Serial Comma
Of all punctuation marks, the comma is the one most often debated in courthouses; its presence or absence in statutes and other legal texts has determined the outcome of cases—going back in U.S. history to at least 1872, when the…
Legal Writing Tip: Statement of Facts, Part Two
When writing the statement of facts, choose your material wisely, set it forth clearly, and end it with a kick. Many judges consider a brief’s statement of facts to be the most important section, or at least as important as…
Legal Writing Tip: Write Your Statement of Facts in the Form of a Narrative
The first step in writing a compelling statement of facts for your brief or motion is to prepare a chronology of events in the case. That will help you identify the crucial elements, e.g., who did what to whom when,…
Are You an Attorney Seeking Legal Advice? Call the Attorney-to-Attorney Advice Program
The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) has operated an Attorney-to-Attorney Advice Program (ATAA) since 1975. From brief advice to long-term mentorship, this free service matches newer attorneys with experienced practitioners willing to advise them.…
Update to LRIS Legacy Business Status Case
In November 2015, this publication ran an article regarding a small business owner who had contacted BASF’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) for help in fighting an eviction. The Navarro family owned the Academy of Martial Arts & Bodybuilding…
Sample Forms for Law Practice Management: Time-Saving Resources at the San Francisco Law Library
The San Francisco Law Library maintains a comprehensive Law Practice Management Collection, with publications that detail all aspects of running a practice—client relations, billing, marketing, finances, risk management, technology, and more. This post gathers the Law Library’s LPM resources that…
Legal Writing Tip: Make Your Headings and Subheadings Full Sentences
When writing your brief, craft the section and subsection headings in complete, informative sentences. It’s a good idea to do this early on, at the outlining stage. This practice allows the court to quickly scan your brief and get an…
BASF’s Immigration Efforts Expand and Move Under the Justice & Diversity Center
Over 30 years ago, The Bar Association of San Francisco’s (BASF) Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) started the Attorney of the Day Program (AOD) at the request of the U.S. Immigration Court in San Francisco. Experienced immigration attorneys qualified…
Legal Writing Tip: Start Your Brief with a Solid Introduction
If you do not begin your brief with an issue statement, that is, a syllogism ending in a question, then open with an introduction that gives the judge a short and persuasive overview of the case. Present the facts plainly…
New Year, New Books: Recent Additions to the San Francisco Law Library’s Law Practice Management Collection
The San Francisco Law Library maintains a comprehensive Law Practice Management Collection, with publications that detail all aspects of running a practice—client relations, billing, marketing, finances, risk management, technology, and more. This post gathers together the newest additions to the…
Top 10 Legal by the Bay Articles of 2016
We compiled the top 10 Legal by the Bay Blog posts of 2016. A huge thank you to our writers and contributors, along with all of our readers. If you would like to write for Legal by the Bay,…