At the end of 2023, the California Legislature passed AB 1620, which as of January 1, 2024, is codified in Civil Code Section 1954.53(a)(4). This new law is a welcome amendment to the Costa-Hawkins Act and aims to alleviate a…
Should You Redesign or Refresh Your Law Firm Website?
Understanding the Difference Between a Website Redesign and Refresh Members of the San Francisco Bar Association may find themselves at a crossroads when considering whether to redesign or refresh their law firm’s website. Knowing the distinction between these two processes…
May 2024 Members in the News
BASF Members Honored in 2024 San Francisco Business Times’ 40 Under 40 The Bar Association of San Francisco extends heartfelt congratulations to our members Chambord Benton Hayes, Isaac Chaput, Lidia Lopez, and Jacqueline Simonovich for being named in the San…
Outstanding Volunteers Recognized by the Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco
On April 30th, The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) hosted its annual Outstanding Volunteers in Public Service Celebration at UC Law SF. JDC volunteers and their supporters gathered to celebrate the amazing work of volunteers who provide pro bono legal…
LRIS Attorney Sandra Ribera Speed Perseveres to Settle Crosswalk Injury Case for $1.175M
In May of 2019, the San Francisco-Marin Lawyer Referral and Information Service answered a call from a client needing representation for a hit and run accident involving her 14-month-old son who was struck by a car on International Blvd and…
A Warm Welcome to Our 2024 AT&T Legal Services Fellow Emily Pedro!
As Summer comes back to the city, we at The Justice & Diversity Center are excited to announce our AT&T Legal Services Fellow for the year of 2024, Emily Pedro. Emily Pedro is a rising 2L at the University of…
Voice Writing: A Game Changer for Court Reporting
Shorthand was invented by Sumerian scribes, who captured speech by writing logo-syllabic cuneiform on clay tablets with a reed stylus. Since then, shorthand methods have evolved into writing with pen on paper; steno machine; and speaking into a steno mask.…
July 1, 2024: Upcoming Deadline for Employers to Put in Place Workplace Violence Prevention Plans
Under SB 553, enacted in 2023, all California employers — with some limited exceptions — must have a workplace violence prevention plan in place by July 1, 2024. Cal/OSHA has issued FAQs and other information about workplace violence and has…
Using AI In Legal Work: COPRAC’s Tips On Confidentiality And Competence
As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
Ethical Duties in Handling Appeals: 2024 Edition
In pursuing an appeal on behalf of a client, a California lawyer must meet the requirements of the California Rules of Professional Conduct (“CRPC”) and the State Bar Act. The following summarizes some of those requirements and recent developments. Fundamentally,…
Using AI In Legal Work: COPRAC’s Tips On Confidentiality And Competence
As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
Argue in the Alternative
Sometimes the best way to organize your points is with an “even if” structure. Let’s say you are starting to write a brief and you have come up with the list of reasons why your side should prevail. You know…