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Bar Association of San Francisco Barristers Club Committees

• What is the Conference of Delegates?
• The BASF Delegation
• What do delegates do?
• Location and dates
• What are the expenses involved?

What is the Conference of Delegates?

• Local and specialty bars from around the state, including The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), submit resolutions to the Conference of Delegates of California State Bar Associations (CDCBA).
• The resolutions are then disseminated for possible counterarguments, State Bar committee positions, and recommended action by the Conference of Delegates Resolutions Committee, and finally, are debated at the annual Conference of Delegates.
• Many of the resolutions passed by the conference become part of the CDCBA's legislative program and are proposed as legislation before the California legislature.

The BASF Delegation

The CDCBA allocates seats at the conference to certified bar associations based on number of members. BASF has one of the largest delegations.

BASF's delegation includes a certain number of Barristers Club seats, which are allocated based on the proportional size of the membership of the Barristers Club to BASF's total membership.

What do delegates do?

Study Groups

Delegates are assigned to a study group, hopefully based on their area of practice or interest.

The study groups are as follows:

• Business/Corporate and Taxation
• Courts and Rules of Court
• Criminal Law
• Family Law
• Civil Procedure I, II
• Labor Law/Workers Compensation
• Real Property
• State Bar and Legal Practice
• Miscellaneous
• Probate, Trust & Estate

Study groups are led by members of the BASF COD Executive Committee.

Study groups have the task of reviewing their assigned group of resolutions, including the counterarguments and recommended positions. Study groups recommend what BASF's delegation position on those resolutions should be.

Delegation Caucuses

In the Fall, all the study groups gather at three caucuses in San Francisco, present their findings, and vote on BASF's position on them. You are expected to attend these caucuses.

Caucuses are held at BASF's offices, 301 Battery Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco.

Positions the groups take are the following:

• approval in principle
• disapprove
• approve as amended
• action unnecessary

MCLE Credit

Delegates who have paid their BASF delegation fee may now earn up to three hours of MCLE credit at each caucus.

The Conference Itself

At the conference, BASF is prepared to debate every resolution. You will vote on all resolutions called up for debate.

You don't have to vote the official BASF position. If you feel differently, you may speak to any resolution as an individual. You are responsible for your resolution(s), usually 2 or 3.

You should be prepared and available to speak on the conference floor and to drum up support for your position from other delegations.

Locations and Dates

The conference alternates between Northern and Southern California annually and is held in late August, September, or early October (coinciding with the State Bar's annual meeting).

In 2008, the conference will be held in Monterey from September 26-28.

What are the expenses involved?

Each delegate is responsible for all expenses, including registering to attend the State Bar's Annual Meeting as a COD delegate, arranging a hotel room, travel, and the like.  In addition, each delegate must pay the BASF Delegation Fee.

Your expenses will include:

• State Bar Registration fees (about $350 for early registration)
• BASF Delegation Fee (aka Hospitality Suite dues) $150 per delegate
• Transportation
• Lodging
• Meals

Visit http://www.cdcba.org/conf08.html  for State Bar Conference registration and hotel information, which will be posted soon.

Visit http://www.sfbar.org/calendar/eventdetail.aspx?id=G087006/G087006  to pay your BASF Delegation Fee.  You may also pay by check to finalize your BASF delegation membership.

BASF maintains a Hospitality Suite, which is paid for by your dues, corporate sponsors, and BASF itself. Light meals, beverages and a reception will be provided at the suite during the conference.

The entire delegation meets there to caucus, and you can arrange to rendezvous with other people there as necessary.

For information about the Hospitality Suite, please contact Judy Barrows at 415-782-9000 x8786 or jbarrows@sfbar.org.