Many people think the IRS is just too big to beat, and that when the tax collector sends you a bill, you better just pay up instead of trying to defend yourself. But like David bravely fighting Goliath, some taxpayers…
Craft Beer and CLE at Black Hammer Brewing on October 15
The Barristers Club will host a Brewery Law Basics CLE on October 15. Not only will it feature top rate panelist in the industry, but the CLE will also take place at a brand new up and coming brewery in…
Family Law Corner: Custody Battle Escalates as Question of Jurisdiction Lingers
Last Family Law Corner, we updated Kelly Rutherford’s epic custody battle. When we left Rutherford’s story, it was just as a dramatic as something you would see on “Gossip Girl.” In June, Rutherford petitioned the California court to keep jurisdiction…
Legal Writing Tip: Keep Deleting the Unnecessary
Eliminating verbiage is so essential to writing effectively, the task warrants further attention. Legal writing guru Bryan Garner is fond of quoting the late Judge David Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on…
Minority Scholarship Reception Honors Donors and Recipients
More than 35 people attended the Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Reception hosted by Coblentz Patch Duff & Bass on August 6. The reception honored the scholarship donors and the 2015 scholarship recipients: Allyssa Villanueva, Luis Beltran, Adriana Mendez…
September Bulletin Board: Our Members and Leader Circle Firms Making Headlines
ABA Commission Honors Mark Schickman Past BASF President Mark Schickman, a partner at Freeland Cooper & Foreman, was recently recognized by the ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence with their 20/20 Vision Award for his trailblazing advocacy against domestic…
Paralegal Corner: Collaboration of Legal Nurse Consultants with Paralegals and Attorneys
A Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) can take any litigation case and review the medical records to provide valuable analysis for the legal team. Any case that requires medical record analysis can be improved by an LNC analysis. The LNC can…
Individual Tickets Now On Sale for JDC Gala on September 24
Individual tickets for the Justice & Diversity Center’s (JDC) Annual Gala on September 24 are on sale now. Purchase your tickets now – the member price for tickets is $200 ($100 is tax-deductible). New this year: For every individual ticket…
Pro Bono Attorney’s Family Law Work Helps Put Lives Back on Track
The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) features Meredith Gittings as our Volunteer of the Month for her work with JDC’s Family Law Project. After stepping back from legal practice for several years, pro bono service has given Gittings a way…
Law Academy Interns Meet Judge Edward Chen
Law Academy interns, including those from Farella Braun + Martel, took a field trip in June to U.S. District Court, Northern District of California Judge Edward Chen’s chambers. In addition to meeting Judge Chen, the interns also sat in…
The Importance of Mindfulness in Mediation
As the human brain evolves to include senses-engaging Apple Watch communication and avatar only mood emoticons, it is important for those of us who practice in conflict resolution to build spaces where time stands still. Mediation requires actively sitting with…
California’s Lawyer Referral Service Client Privilege and the ABA’s LRS-Client Privilege Resolution
The ABA’s Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral Services is co-sponsoring a resolution to urge legislatures to enact and courts to recognize a privilege to protect the confidentiality of the tens of thousands of conversations that occur every day between prospective…