It is important that all of us attorneys strive to incorporate pro bono work into our practices. Although doing so in a solo or small firm practice setting presents some unique challenges, it is not only possible to do, but…
Legal Malpractice Corner: Risk Management Tip – SEC Reporting Rules Preempts California’s Attorney-Client Privilege
Over the past three months this column has reviewed attorney Sanford Walder’s trial victory over his former employer, Bio-Rad. Among other attorney-client privilege issues, the district court examined whether California law is preempted by regulations promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.…
Four Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Recipients Announced
The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) of The Bar Association of San Francisco recently announced the recipients of its 2017 Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarships. Thanks to the generosity of donors, four scholarships will be awarded to minority students…
Probate Mediator Joins BASF Mediation Panel
The Bar Association of San Francisco welcomes Margaret Hand to its Bay Area Mediation Services panel. Margaret M. Hand, Hartog, Baer & Hand, has been mediating disputes arising under the Probate Code since 2004 and has litigated these disputes since…
Legal Ethics Corner: Two’s a Company, Three Might Get You Disqualified: The Ethics of Joint Representation
Amy retains Attorney to prosecute a personal injury action for an arm fracture she sustained in an automobile accident. Amy asks Attorney to meet with Bill who was rendered quadriplegic by the same accident. Bill’s claim is clearly more “valuable”…
Volunteer Attorney Offers Life-Changing Family Law Assistance
Professionally, Jennifer Letulle practices a wide range of civil law, including contracts, employment, design defect and professional liability. Family law isn’t part of her day job but that hasn’t stopped her from representing 35 family law clients through the Justice…
District Judge William H. Orrick Honored at Barristers Club 33rd Annual Judges Reception
The Barristers Club of The Bar Association of San Francisco presented its Tara L. Riedley Barristers Choice Award at the 33rd Annual Judges Reception on July 19 to United States District Judge William H. Orrick, United States District Court for…
Mock Trial Volunteers Needed
Mock Trial is now accepting volunteer coaches for its 2017-2018 academic year. Help under-served students in San Francisco’s public high schools learn the fundamentals of debate: mastering critical reading; practicing effective thinking and verbalizing; and participating in a team effort…
Representing Consumers Facing Debt Collection Clears “Insurmountable Obstacles”
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass scored another win for a JDC client facing questionable debt collection efforts with no means to fight back. The National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts (NCSLT) had sued the client and alleged he owed $115,000 on…
Fenwick & West Achieves a First in JDC Pro Bono Cases
Congratulations to Fenwick & West attorneys Lynn Pasahow; Amy Hayden and Abby Wald who won actual and punitive damages for a prison inmate assaulted by correctional officers:. For the Justice & Diversity Center, this is the first trial of a…
Risk Management Tip: Beware of Broad Subject Matter Waivers of the Attorney-Client Privilege
We have been examining the role attorney-client privileged information played in Sanford Wadler’s trial victory over his former employer, Bio-Rad. Bio-Rad engaged in actions the court concluded were express waivers of attorney-client privilege under federal law, allowing Wadler to use…
Small Firm, Big Leaves – A Planning Guide
An attorney taking an extended leave of absence or sabbatical can be difficult for any law firm to manage, and particular challenges arise for small firms where there may only be a few—or even no—other attorneys to cover the caseload…