This past March, Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada made waves when he predicted that Justice Anthony Kennedy would retire this summer. That may or may not happen—but if Justice Kennedy has decided to retire, it is unlikely he is…
Taking it to the Streets: JDC/BASF Street Team Brings Legal Information to the People
The first Sunday in June marked the fourth time that the JDC/BASF Street Team participated in San Francisco’s Sunday Streets. Inspired by the Ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia, Sunday Streets is a series of free, fun events empowering local communities to…
Separation Of Families At The Border Lacks Legal And Moral Justification
June 15, 2018 – San Francisco, California – On May 7, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a new “zero tolerance” policy that not only imposes criminal penalties for unlawful entry at the border, but also separates parents and children arriving…
Risk Management: Conflicts In The 21st Century
In California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund v. Superior Court, (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1065, the Court of Appeal held that disqualification of an entire firm was not mandatory where an attorney from one firm “switched sides” and joined another firm during litigation,…
Legal Writing Tip: Introduce Block Quotes
Occasionally, you will need to quote four or more lines (50 or more words) of text from a key source, such as when the precise wording matters of say, a particular statute or regulation. And, every now and then, a…
Get Certified: The California Certified Paralegal Exam
In February of this year, 30 paralegals from across the state – myself included – took the first California Certified Paralegal (CCP) exam sponsored by the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) This exam tests a paralegal’s knowledge in the…
Pro Bono for the Soul
Chances are you do not want your bar association to ask only what you can do for us, but you also want to know what your bar association can do for you. We get it, and we think the answer…
Let’s Move the Profession Forward
Some of the most important discussions we can have as members of the legal community involve how to make progress as a profession. Topics like how to better serve our clients, provide access to legal services, and embrace innovation and…
A Conversation with Presiding Judge Teri L. Jackson
San Francisco Superior Court Presiding Judge Teri L. Jackson is a fantastic judge and a wonderful person. She is also a strong supporter of the Barristers Club and the Bar Association of San Francisco. This year, the Barristers Club is…
Vote Yes on Prop F [VIDEO]
Thousands of tenants are evicted each year in San Francisco and many face the eviction and the possibility of homelessness, without a lawyer. Nationally, 90% of landlords go into an eviction proceeding with an attorney, while only 10% of tenants…
The Limits of Advance Waivers
Law firms have aggressively pursued advance waivers to represent concurrent clients whose interests conflict in unrelated matters. For example, Law Firm represents Client A in an action against Client B. Normally, this representation would preclude Law Firm from representing Client…
Prisoner Denied Medical Care Accesses Justice Through Law Firm’s Pro Bono Representation
A prison left ‘Mr. S’ in debilitating pain for weeks after another inmate attacked him. Despite having four fractured ribs, Mr. S received no medical attention for over three weeks, during which time he was unable to walk, sleep, eat,…