Blog - Page 24 of 174 - The Bar Association of San Francisco

Notes and flowers left at the U.S. Supreme Court in memory of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

How Will SCOTUS Handle Future Issues Related to the COVID-19 Crisis?

The COVID-19 pandemic, not surprisingly, has led to a great deal of litigation throughout the country, especially as there have been challenges to the shelter-in-place and shutdown orders. Overwhelmingly, federal and state courts have ruled in favor of the government…

A health care professional kneels in protest as part of the movement, 'White Coats for Black Lives,' during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pandemic Constitutional Rights: Not an All-or-Nothing Proposition

The death toll associated with the novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19, has surpassed 200,000 in the United States. To place this suffering in context, more Americans have died due to COVID-19 than all the American deaths suffered during the…

Attorney is working, with a scale on the table.

What It’s Like To Litigate Appeals During COVID-19

I’m the chairman of a specialty appellate law firm with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and I’m involved with a number of appellate-related local and federal committees and organizations. COVID-19 disruptions began to appear on my…

When to Stay Away From Him, Her, and Them

In legal and other formal writing, when you don’t know the gender identity of a specific human individual and are not in a position to inquire, it’s best to avoid using any of the singular personal pronouns to refer to…

A graffiti drawing of both hands put next to each other with palms up. Both hands are painting in a variety of colors.

We All Need a Little Support: Modifying Support Orders During a Pandemic

On March 4, 2020, when Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency in California in response to COVID-19, most Californians had no idea what the broad sweeping implications of this pandemic would mean. As months have gone by, households are…

Chess black stands on chess board against the light source with shadow reflected on chess board.

Dad’s Last Wishes Survive Tammy’s Last Stand

Frank and Louise Gomez’s love story sounds like something out of Hollywood. He proposed, she accepted. Yet before they could marry, Frank gets called up to go to war. Fearing that he may not return from Korea, Frank calls off…

Hands of a multiracial group are put together in the center of the photo.

Adjust and Grow: The Paralegal Section’s Strategy on Succeeding During Uncertain Times

It’s hard to believe the fall season has arrived as many of us are still learning how to navigate this new reality imposed on us by COVID-19. Since March, when the shelter-in-place orders were first issued, local courts have implemented…

Aerial view of cars driving on freeways that go to four different directions

Location, Location, Location: Unauthorized Practice of Law in California

Thanks to advances in technology, lawyers around the country are able to represent their clients remotely, no matter where the lawyers physically shelter-in-place. Unfortunately, the rules and laws governing the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) and multi-jurisdictional practice (MJP) are…

Gala Raises Close to $300,000 for JDC Legal and Diversity Programs

The 16th annual and first virtual Gala of the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) on September 16 was a night to remember. This year’s Gala continued the tradition of celebrating JDC’s impact and sharing inspiration through client and student stories.…

Aerial view of Bay bridge during daytime

November Members in the News

Daily Journal Announces Top 100 Lawyers in California The following BASF members were recognized as Top 100 Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal: Mary E. Alexander, Mary Alexander & Associates; Rafey S. Balabanian, Edelson; Michael W. Bien, Rosen Bien…

Finding Opportunity in Challenging Times

This has been a year none of us expected. After so many months of doing things differently to minimize the risks of COVID-19, the memories of how things were at the beginning of the year, and last year, and the…

Cybersecurity for law firms: what every practice needs to know

Cybersecurity incidents are on the rise. And unfortunately, law firms are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Here’s a breakdown of why larger law firms need to invest even more in cybersecurity and what they can do to keep their offices safe.…

Legal By The Bay