As AI technology continues to advance, providing greater efficiency and the ability to process extensive amounts of data, legal professionals are increasingly tempted to utilize Generative AI as a convenient shortcut for drafting legal motions and pleadings. However, lawyers must…
Argue in the Alternative
Sometimes the best way to organize your points is with an “even if” structure. Let’s say you are starting to write a brief and you have come up with the list of reasons why your side should prevail. You know…
April 2024 Members in the News
Partner at MoFo featured in Wall Street Journal Susan Mac Cormac, partner at Morrison Foerster specializing in ESG + Sustainability, commented in a recent Wall Street Journal article on the financial implications of the SEC’s new climate disclosure rules for…
What are the State Bar of California’s new MCLE course requirements?
Beginning with the compliance period ending January 31, 2025, licensees are required to also complete and report compliance on the following new subfields: Competence credit (two hours required) At least one hour focused on prevention and detection education that addresses…
How to Ethically Prepare a Witness
I offer this short primer on the ethics of preparing a witness as a teaser trailer to this year’s annual Legal Ethics Lessons Learned from Fictional Attorneys CLE, to be presented by the Ethics Committee of The Bar Association of…
March 2024 Members in the News
Hanson Bridgett Recognized by World Trademark Review 1000 2024 Leader Circle Firm, Hanson Bridgett, has been recently honored by World Trademark Review (WTR) for the seventh consecutive year in their WTR 1000 rankings. Firms are eligible for a WTR listing…
Join the Planning Committee for the 40th Annual Judges Reception
Join the Planning Committee for the 40th Annual Judges Reception! Each year, the Barristers Club hosts the Judges Reception to honor locally based state and federal judges. The event provides Barristers (law students and attorneys in their first ten years…
For the sake of writing in plain English, at the very least, banish these words and phrases
In the first chapter of Plain English for Lawyers (5th ed. 2005), Richard C. Wydick states simply the premise of his book: “Good legal writing should not differ, without good reason, from ordinary, well-written English.” Bryan A. Garner makes the…
February 2024 Members in the News
Monica Mazzei: 2024 Top Women Attorney in Northern California The Bar Association of San Francisco extends its congratulations to Monica Mazzei, shareholder at Buchalter, a Leader Circle firm, for her outstanding recognition as one of the 2024 Top Women Attorneys…
Join the Barristers Ambassadors Committee
Barristers Ambassadors are the point people and representatives for their workplace and play a crucial role in spreading the word about Barristers programs and events. This is a great way to get more involved with BASF and gain exposure to…
January 2024 Members in the News
Duane Morris Announces New Leadership Duane Morris is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael L. Fox as the new Managing Partner of its San Francisco office, effective January 3rd. Fox is a distinguished trial lawyer with extensive experience, succeeding…
The California Prenup: A Marriage Plan
Every married Californian has a prenuptial/premarital agreement (“prenup”)—it’s the California Family Code. The Family Code governs during the marriage and during a divorce. Even if California spouses ‘don’t want to plan for a divorce,’ the state legislature has already codified…