Practice Area Corner Archives

BASF Welcomes Bill Helvestine and Tonya Salehi as Mediation Services Panelists

Bill Helvestine, Crowell & Moring, has more than 40 years’ experience handling complex business litigation. His recent work concentrated on the healthcare industry where he is a widely recognized expert, but his deep experience is not limited to healthcare. He…

Family Law Disclosure Forms: The Ins and Outs

In late April, BASF’s Paralegal Section hosted a presentation about Family Law disclosure forms. The speakers included David Blacker, a partner at Blacker, Sammis & Blacker; Patricia Pennington, RP®, a senior paralegal at Sideman & Bancroft; and Dennis Hanshew, a…

I Just Received Mail From the [IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE]. Now What?

Open the envelope Yes, the tax authority will write again if it is important; nonetheless, generally nothing good comes of waiting. (Beginning this year the Franchise Tax Board will communicate primarily by email. Open those messages.) Read the communication…

Marketing & Business Development: Must-Read Resources at the San Francisco Law Library

The San Francisco Law Library maintains a comprehensive Law Practice Management Collection, with publications that detail all aspects of opening a practice—hanging your shingle, billing, finances, risk management, technology, and more. This post introduces the Law Library’s LPM resources that…

Estate Planning Issues in the News

Privacy Lessons of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Author Harper Lee As the daughter of a country lawyer in Alabama, Harper Lee was able to bring fictional defense attorney Atticus Finch vividly to life in her classic Pulitzer Prize-winning 1960 novel…

Solo and Small Firm Section Happy Hour

A few photos from the recent Solo and Small Firm Section Happy Hour. You can find more photos from the event on our Facebook page. Learn more about the Solo and Small Firm Section here.

Silence is Just Plain Sound

“Hello darkness, my old friend,” begins Paul Simon’s “Sounds of Silence” made famous by the movie The Graduate. “People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening.” As mediators and lawyers we should take the need of silence to heart. For…

Estate Planning Corner: Prince Has Left the Building, But Did He Leave a Will?

When inimitable superstar Prince died in April at the age of 57, he left behind millions of grieving fans and a majestic artistic legacy. But it’s still unknown whether he left a will indicating who inherits his estimated $250 million…

IOLTA Basics: What You Need to Know

If you are thinking about going solo, make sure you have the appropriate bank accounts set up from the beginning. You will need at least two accounts to start. One is an operating account where you conduct the daily business…

Paralegal Section Member Spotlight: Mitzi Wortman

In my interview of BASF Paralegal Section’s Mitzi Wortman, she shares her path to becoming a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant and the deepest influences in her life: family, community and creative expression. Education and certifications I received my Associate of…

Charlie Sheen Needs “Two and a Half Men” to Pay His Child Support

Charlie Sheen’s exes are claiming he knew exactly what he was doing when he sold his rights to his hit show “Two and a Half Men.” Sheen recently sold his profit participation rights to “Two and a Half Men” for…

Electronically Stored Information and the Duty of Competence

California Rule of Professional Conduct 3-110 (“Rule 3-110”) states that “ member shall not intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly fail to perform legal services with competence.” Every attorney considers this duty on a daily basis in the practice of law. While…

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