Growing up, San Francisco native Justice Therese Stewart never imagined she would one day lead the city in its legal battles for marriage equality. Nor did she know that in 1999, she would serve as the first openly gay…
Advancing Women in the Law 2.0
The following are excerpts from Doris Cheng’s remarks at her December 18, 2018 installation as the 2019 president of the Bar Association of San Francisco. Spanish philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to…
Daniloff Reflects on Giving Back
Deborah Daniloff’s face lights up when she talks about one of the pro bono family law cases she worked on last year, helping to reunite a young man with his child. If not for the legal help, the man…
In It to WIN It: Revitalized Women’s Impact Network Strives to Benefit Everyone
On November 29, 2018, Bar Association of San Francisco members gathered to launch the revitalized Women’s Impact Network: No Glass Ceiling 2.0 (WIN) with its inaugural conference, Step In, Step Together, Step Up: Reshaping the Culture for the Modern…
Kelly Dermody Wins Margaret Brent Award
The American Bar Association’s highest award for women in the profession—the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award—this year goes to a San Francisco attorney who has long been blazing a trail for women both in and out of…
Welcome to Santa Fe: A Personal Travel Guide
The sky is huge, the clouds heroic. In the summer the heavens open with a torrent of rain and an opera of lightning to rival Wagner. The colors are soft blue, soft pink, and adobe tan. History is everywhere. Welcome…
Virtual Reality at the Bar
Take a moment and think back to the first time you appeared in court. Most of us remember very clearly how stressful and uncertain that experience felt. Where should I sit? Who goes first? What do I say? And even…
The 2018 Pro Bono Road Show
Throughout his term as president of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), Malcolm Heinicke promoted “pro bono for the soul” to encourage people in the Bay Area legal community to find meaningful ways to give back to the larger…
The Many Trials of Fatty Arbuckle
There’s a scene about seven minutes into the 1915 silent film short Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World’s Fair in San Francisco where the camera pans right, across, and up the façade of the St. Francis Hotel. If the audience…
Students, Mentors Benefit from Law Academy’s 21-year Partnership
Hundreds cheered when Balboa High School senior Kitty Zeng stepped up to the podium in the Bently Reserve Building’s boisterous banquet hall. Zeng was nervous. She had never given a speech before, let alone in front of a crowd this…
President’s Report: Thanks for the Community
As I enter my final month as president of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) and the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC), several people have (at least sometimes jokingly) commented that I must be relieved that this year is…
Let’s Lose the Booze: Rethinking Networking Events
Burned out after a long, stressful day? Unwind at happy hour. Presenting a difficult case in court? Here’s some liquid courage. Need to introduce new associates to your clients? Host a networking event with an open bar. Alcohol consumption and…