Real estate is a valuable asset and a blessing, but it can become a curse that causes family strife if ownership is not clearly spelled out in your trust. Consider a recent California Supreme Court case in which a man…
October 22 CLE: Hear From California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger
The Bar Association of San Francisco is excited to announce that next week, Leondra Kruger, one of the newest justices on the California Supreme Court and the youngest jurist on any court of last resort in the United States, will be…
DLA Piper’s Transactional Attorneys Boost Pro Bono Efforts For Local Nonprofits
For their dedication to nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities, DLA Piper and its transactional attorneys are our Volunteers of the Month. The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) provides nonprofits with free business and transactional legal services through its Community Organization…
Audrey Hepburn’s Heirs Still Split Over Stuff
More than two decades after Audrey Hepburn’s death, her two sons still can’t agree on how to divvy up some of her belongings: A locker at Los Angeles Fine Arts & Wine Storage filled with photos, movie posters, clothing, jewels,…
Legal Writing Tip: Strive for Clean, Uncluttered Sentences
A well-structured sentence wastes no words. Craft a tidy sentence by placing the actor first, the action second, and the object of the action third. Consider the sentence, “It is possible for the court to modify the judgment.” The actor is…
Wanted: Certified Paralegals
I often see ads on job boards seeking “certified” paralegals. In the words of Inigo Montoya, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” So what does it mean for someone to…
Trent Thornley: Probate Attorney and Buddhist Chaplain
The confluence of religious studies and the practice of law may seem an unlikely pairing, but for Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) Probate Panel attorney Trent Thornley, they are a perfect match. As an undergraduate at Indiana University, Thornley…
October Bulletin Board: Our Members and Leaders Circle Firms Making Headlines
American Lawyer Magazine Names Top Pro Bono Firms The following Leader Circle firms were recognized by American Lawyer magazine as Top Pro Bono firms: Arnold & Porter; Morrison & Foerster; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; O’Melveny & Myers; DLA Piper; Latham…
Gifts from Clients? Is it OK? Maybe
Gifts are generally given as an act of kindness, as a token of appreciation based on relationships. As attorneys, many of us have established long standing relationships with our clients over a number of years; and in some cases have…
Law Library Partners with BASF to Offer Free Mediation Seminars
In July, BASF’s Bay Area Mediation Service and the San Francisco Law Library presented the first in a series of free lunchtime legal presentations on mediation. More than 25 attorneys and members of the public packed the library meeting room…
Destination Law School Volunteer and Mentor Opportunities
Volunteers and mentors are needed for BASF’s Destination Law School (DLS) program. DLS provides information and resources about law school and the legal profession to diverse undergraduate students in colleges located in the Bay Area. The purpose of this program…
The Veen Firm Wins First Place at Annual Diversity Bowl
More than 55 bowlers came out to Lucky Strike on August 10 to participate in the 2nd Annual Diversity Bowl. Bowlers and sponsors raised more than $11,000 for the Mock Trial program of the Justice & Diversity Center. The InVeencibles…