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Footballer Ex-Wife’s Contempt Defense Calls in Divine Interception (of Jurisdiction)

Three years ago, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was litigating the validity of his premarital agreement with his ex-wife, Pilar Sanders. Despite having finally dissolved their marriage (Pilar lost on her premarital agreement claim), they are still battling it…

If You Are A Spendthrift (Trust), Go To Hawaii

A valid spendthrift trust is entitled to certain protections in bankruptcy, especially in Hawaii. In In re Zukerkorn, 500 B.R. 598 (9th Cir. BAP 2013), the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit…

Protect Your Estate by Properly Funding Sub-Trusts

In the complex world of estate law, even a seemingly small oversight can cost your beneficiaries big money. As the successor trustee of his parents’ estate, Elwood Ty Olsen learned this the hard way. Before her death, Elwood’s mother Grace…

Homeless Advocacy Project Keeps Client Out of the “Dog House” with Creative Thinking

The Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) of the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) often has clients who are at serious risk of eviction, in part because the client’s service dog is considered aggressive by other tenants. It is not uncommon for…

New Civility Guidelines for Professional Conduct

In June 2014, the federal courts of the Northern District of California adopted “Guidelines for Professional Conduct,” also called “Civility Guidelines.” The Guidelines describe an attorney’s “duty of professionalism” as including “civility, professional integrity, personal dignity, candor, diligence, respect, courtesy,…

Medical-Legal Project: Holistic Advocacy at Work

The Justice & Diversity Center’s (JDC) holistic approach to legal services often results in clients’ realizing income and health care benefits that were unknown to them. Take, for example, Martha, who sought assistance with an inaccurate phone bill and now…

Lawyers in Schools Program Partners with Charles Houston Bar Association for Bigger Impact

In 2014, with the help of attorney Marcelo Quinones, the Justice & Diversity Center’s (JDC) Lawyers in Schools (LIS) program recruited 50 volunteers to go into 25 classrooms throughout San Francisco in an effort to expose diverse middle and high…

Use Your iPhone6 for Better Presentations

This article was first published by Morgan Smith on the Cogent Legal Blog at cogentlegal.com/blog/2015/01/use-your-iphone6-for-better-presentations With the introduction of larger screens for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus, attorneys now have another powerful tool in the world of presentation…

Volunteers Come Together to Help City’s Most Vulnerable

The Justice & Diversity Center’s Pro Bono Legal Services Program appreciates all the volunteers who joined us for the last Project Homeless Connect of 2014 on December 18.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius – One of San Francisco’s Largest Firms – Becomes BASF’s Newest Leaders Circle Firm

BASF is very excited to welcome the newest member to its Leaders Circle family – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Founded in 1873, the international law firm consists of over 700 partners and 2,000 lawyers in 28 offices across North America,…

Haywood Gilliam and Charles Crompton Confirmed as Judges

The United States Senate has confirmed President Obama’s nomination of San Francisco attorney Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., to serve as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Confirmation came by voice vote Tuesday, December…

Legal Ethics Hotline: Get Help and/or Give Help

One highly valued offering of The Bar Association of San Francisco is its Legal Ethics Committee Hotline. The hotline is staffed by volunteers from the Legal Ethics Committee, many of whom have legal practices that regularly involve professional responsibility, legal…