Here we are again with a gorgeous Bay Area spring! The sun is out and more and more of us are getting our vaccines. It’s time to re-engage with the world! Although a lot of us are suffering from Zoom…
What Not to Include in Fee Agreements
Starting your client relationships off right can minimize your risk of liability. Your engagement agreement should set the tone and act as a road map. The sample hourly and contingent fee agreements published by the State Bar of California can…
The Legal Ethics of Access to Justice
The California Rules of Professional Conduct (Rules) provide the minimum standards that lawyers must meet to avoid discipline by the State Bar. A lawyer’s professional responsibilities, however, extend beyond those rules. As Comment to Rule 1.0 instructs, a lawyer…
The End of Long-Term Spousal Support?
Ongoing spousal support is a hot-button and often-litigated issue in many divorces. Changes in case law have made the recipients of permanent spousal support look back nostalgically to the days of long-term support awards with no questions asked, compared to…
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: The Remote Paralegal
Nearly a year ago, March 17, 2020 to be exact, I started my remote working experience as a paralegal. The COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy for any of us. It has disrupted and affected our lives in profound ways. …
Chipping Away At Single-Family Zoning
For decades, San Francisco’s rate of housing production has lagged behind demand, leading to skyrocketing prices and widespread displacement. One of the most effective and affordable strategies to increase the housing stock is to allow single-family homes to be converted…
Resolving Conflicts between Properties with an Old Tool: Collaborative Land Use Easements
As an experienced litigator or real estate lawyer, what are your available strategies if you encounter situations like these? Noise, dust, and vibrations from an operating gravel quarry have not impacted the surrounding ranches, but a housing developer seeks land…
Can You Confront Opposing Counsel if Opposing Counsel Is Violating the Rules of Professional Conduct?
Believing that opposing counsel violated the California Rules of Professional Conduct (CRPC or Rule) can present a clear ethical dilemma for attorneys. However, Rule 3.10, also known as the extortion prohibition rule, provides limitations on the attorney’s actions. Rule 3.10…
Virginia Adds to the Privacy Compliance Matrix
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) dominated privacy compliance efforts in 2018. Compliance efforts for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) followed in 2019, and California voters then approved the California Privacy Rights Act in 2020—necessitating additional compliance…
What BASF’s Litigation Section Can Do For You
Whether it is taking advantage of the many Continuing Legal Education (CLE) events the Litigation Section offers, brushing up on your trial skills, getting updates on the state of the court, or networking at the annual Bench Bar Conference, most…
Three Estate Planning Keys for Solo and Small Firm Attorneys
Do you know who would make decisions for you if you lost capacity? Have you designated guardians for your children to act if you’re not around? How confident are you that your assets will go to the right people, in…
Solo and Small Firm Practitioners Gathered Virtually for Fifth Annual Conference
This year marked the fifth year of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s ever-popular annual conference, and despite being held virtually due to the current public health orders, the January 28 conference, Larger Than…