One of the hottest technology trends is artificial intelligence (AI), where machines are programmed to crunch large sets of data and learn to adapt and react to the data. All industries have been impacted in some way by the rise…
Lawyers Should be on Twitter and Here’s Why
The original version of this article was published at www.susankostal.com on November 15, 2017. I’ve been immersed in social media lately (beyond my typical compulsion), and thinking a lot about how best to teach both concepts and practical…
Mobilizing for Justice in Our Community
From the Winter 2017 issue of San Francisco Attorney magazine. Click to view fullscreen. community response, Trump administration, Merri Baldwin, Yolanda Jackson, Gloria Chun, Julie Traun, Kelly Dermody, How to be a good Ally, Carole Conn, DACA, Criminal Justice Task…
Risk Management Tip: Understanding Duties to Third Parties, Part 2
An attorney’s primary duty to a client is tempered by the overriding duty in all settings to be truthful. In the transactional setting there is no protection for attorneys from claims by non-clients when an attorney engages in affirmatively deceitful…
Justice & Diversity Center Supervising Attorney Receives 2018 Brosnahan Fellowship Award
The Brosnahan Fellowship award selection committee has named its recipient for 2018: Stephanie Bilinski, Family Law Supervising Attorney at the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC). The fellowship funds a monetary gift to an outstanding JDC employee each year. Bilinski well…
Setting Injustice Right: Tenant’s Wrongful Eviction Generates Half Million Dollars in Damages
In March 2016, SF-Marin Lawyer Referral and Information Services (LRIS) Supervisor, Antonio Hernandez, fielded an incoming call. The caller was a 64-year old artist and maintenance person to a collection of apartments in exchange for rent. He lived on the…
Legal Writing Tip: Heed the Bench’s Preferences
Ross Guberman, the acclaimed legal writing consultant and author of Point Made: How to Write Like the Nation’s Top Advocates and Point Taken: How to Write Like the World’s Greatest Judges, surveyed thousands of judges—ranging from those serving at…
Register Now for Paralegal Studies at City College
The Paralegal/Legal Studies Program at City College of San Francisco (CCSF), in operation since 1973, was granted approval from the American Bar Association (ABA) in August 2017. Designed for working adults, classes are taught in the evenings at its downtown…
JDC Announces Board of Directors for 2018
The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) recently confirmed its 2018 Board of Directors. Malcolm Heinicke, Munger Tolles & Olson, will serve as President; Doris Cheng, Walkup, Melodia, Schoenberger & Kelly, will serve…
BASF Welcomes New Mediators to Mediation Service
Alice Shikina of Shikina Mediation and Arbitration is a certified mediator with a unique background. She has over 20 years of theatre experience, which she brings to her mediation practice. She is a practiced improviser and an excellent people reader.…
Solo and Small Firm Attorney Column: Top Ten Ethical Blunders and How to Avoid Them
Because many ethical blunders in law practice are avoidable, it is important to be aware of common mistakes, and to take affirmative steps to avoid them. While this is true for all attorneys, this is of particular importance for solo…
JDC Volunteer Helps Pro Bono Clients Navigate Complex Tax Laws
Jason Galek is the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC)’s Volunteer of the Month for his service to low-income people facing tax issues. Through JDC’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC), Galek represents clients in their cases with the IRS, and also…