Message from the BALIF Board
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Greetings!
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
For me, Christmas came early this year when in August I was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. This of course following my 2007 discharge for being gay, my participation in the federal court challenge that ruled Don't Ask Don't Tell unconstitutional and a rating of "unfit" to return to service even after the policy was repealed. What I learned as an activist was that sharing our stories must be paired with quality legal advocacy to cement lasting change.
We are seeing this today with the struggle for marriage equality. While public opinion has significantly swung in favor of equality, no victory is guaranteed and lawyers across the country have had to stay quick on their feet to keep the legal momentum moving forward.
With Thanksgiving on our heels, it is imperative we not take any progress for granted and remain committed to equality. This is why serving on the BALIF Board has meant so much to me. I've witnessed how this Bay Area network of judges, lawyers, and law students affords us the resources and talent to quickly mobilize and effectively respond to the needs of our community. All while building a competent and passionate future legal community through mentoring.
Knowing first hand how the legal field can conquer the most insurmountable odds to make things right, this Thanksgiving I am thankful to you, for dedicating your life to increasing LGBT access to the legal field and fostering a robust profession committed to justice. As one of the two Law School Representatives, I look forward to organizing creative and powerful events for our law students that will further these efforts.
As the deluge of Christmas parties and (ever) looming finals approach, I hope that you'll join us December 10th for the BALIF Holiday Party to celebrate, in community, how far we've come and to renew our commitment to each other.
Semper Fi,
Joseph Rocha
BALIF Law Student Representative
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BALIF 2014 Holiday Party!
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Join us for our annual holiday party and ring in some holiday cheer!!
When: December 10, 2014 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Where: The Drake Lounge 508 4th Street San Francisco, CA 94107
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BALIF / AABA Halloween Fundraiser
for LYRIC a Huge Success
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On Halloween Eve, BALIF joined the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area (AABA) to host a fundraiser for LYRIC at the Drake Lounge. LYRIC is a San Francisco charity that provides a broad array of social services to LGBTQQ youth. Among its many programs, LYRIC sponsors paid job training internships for impoverished and homeless young people through its Youth Workforce Development Program.
The event was a huge success, drawing nearly 150 attendees and raising over $17,000 that will benefit LGBTQQ youth job training internships. Special thanks go to Esquire Deposition Solutions for the hosted bar, and to City National Bank and Sedgwick LLP for their generous donations!
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Post- NAPABA Networking Mixer
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If you are interested in re-connecting with new friends and acquaintances, missed your chance to connect at NAPABA, or were not able to make it to NAPABA, you will get your chance on November 19th. Come share beverages and hors d'oeuvres with new and old friends and colleagues before everyone disappears for the holidays. This event is open to all members (and those interested in becoming a member) of any NAPABA affiliate organization.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
5:30PM to 8:00PM
Baker Botts LLP
1001 Page Mill Road; Building 1, Suite 200
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Hosting coordinated by the Women in Law Committee of APABA-SV and Baker Botts.
Please RSVP here.
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Legal Event with the Oakland Raiders
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ALRP Free Fall 2014 MCLE Trainings
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Employment Law and Transgender Clients - Sponsored by the State Bar's Labor & Employment Law Section
- Thursday, November 20, 5:30-7:00pm
- Presented by Ilona Turner, Esq., Transgender Law Center
- 1.5 General CLE Credits
- Overview: This training will cover the workplace rights of transgender and gender non-conforming clients, including anti-discrimination laws and workplace best practices.
Asylum and Other Forms of Relief from Removal
- Tuesday, December 2, 5:30-7:00pm
- Presented by Zachary Nightingale, Esq. of Vanderhout, Brigagliano, & Nightingale, LLP
- 1.5 General CLE Credits
- Overview: Part of ALRP's new Immigration Training Series, this training will cover asylum and other forms of relief from removal that can provide a client with permanent status. Because all of our clients are living with HIV/AIDS and many are LGBT, we are frequently approached by people who have suffered abuse and intolerance in their countries of origin. This MCLE will contrast asylum with other forms of relief from removal such as Withholding of Removal Relief and Convention Against Torture Protections (CAT), as well as provide insight into how you can achieve asylum for your immigration clients.
All Classes take place at:
Bar Association of San Francisco
301 Battery Street, 3rd Floor, Board Room
San Francisco, CA 94111
To RSVP
Email:
mcle@alrp.org
Call: 415-701-1200 ext. 303
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Empire Mock Trial
International High School Competition
| Help high school students from across the globe learn about our legal system (and enjoy a complimentary meal!). Empire Mock Trial, an education non-profit, is hosting an international mock trial program on the weekend of November 22nd at the US District Court for the NDCA. Over 300 students from 5 countries will take part in this inaugural event.
Please join us as a Presiding Judge or Scoring Juror to evaluate and educate the students. We especially need volunteers on Sunday, November 23rd. To find out more and register to participate, visithttp://empiremocktrial.org/program/san-francisco/volunteer/judge/. If you invite a friend to judge with you, we can pair you together.
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Newly-Created Magistrate Judge Vacancy in San Francisco
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The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is accepting applications for a Magistrate Judge vacancy in San Francisco. Please see the attached notice and the court's website for additional information and the application. BALIF's Judiciary Committee seeks to develop, support, and provide the resources for those interested in joining the bench. Please contact your BALIF Judiciary Co-Chairs, Andrew Vu or Lilah Sutphen, at judiciary@balif.org, if you have any questions regarding our work and efforts to get more LGBT attorneys on the bench.
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BALIFBuzz
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Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C.
Congratulations to the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. for being named to the San Francisco Business Times' 2014 Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses List and the 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area List.
Danny Williams
Danny Williams, the former domestic partner of BALIF member Carl Wolf, died on November 4 at age 62. Danny was a supporter of BALIF and ALRP and was an acclaimed (and hilarious) stand-up comic, former MC of RSVP cruises, and an avid fundraiser for countless LGBT causes, especially AIDS charities, during the height of the epidemic.
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Office Sublet Available
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Light-filled window office (12' x 12.5') is available for sublease on the 6th Floor in 150 Post, a Class B Building renovated to the level of Class A, and located across from Gumps, between Kearny and Grant. Suite has A/C controlled by tenants, AND large operable windows. Perfect for lawyer or other professional. Full-time visitor reception, shared use of large conference room, copier/scanner, kitchen with dishwasher, and Wi-Fi. Please contact Boone Callaway at 415-541-0300 or via email
The Office will be available January 1, 2015.
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Follow BALIF on Twitter!
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BALIF's twitter feed is up and running. Follow us to see BALIF news, event info, #ThrowbackThursday posts, and more. Just click the Twitter button in the right hand column of the newsletter or here.
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Uber Discount for BALIF Members
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Request a ride with the push of a button! Uber is offering new users $20 off your first ride. Text BALIF to 827-222. You can also sign up at uber.com/go/BALIF and download the app for Android, Blackberry, or iPhone. Then sit back and enjoy the magic of Uber, everyone's private driver. (Valid for new users only, TAXI excluded).
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Join the BALIF Listserv!
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Have a job or need one? Civil procedure question? Need a
referral? Have something important to ask ... or news to tell? Want to get to our members quickly? Join our Listserv!
BALIF members should have received our invitation to join our newly-created Listserv. You must proactively respond to the request in order to be added to our Listserv. If you didn't get a request, please let us know by emailing technology@balif.org or balif@balif.org.
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We Want Your BALIFBuzz
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We all love that section in our alumni newsletters that talks about who's doing what.
Well, we're introducing the BALIFBuzz to show-off all the great things that our members are doing. BALIFBuzz will be appearing in the weekly BALIF newsletter.
New job?
New client?
Promotion?
Court victory?
Significant settlement?
Baby on the way?
Recently married or engaged?
Speaking engagement?
Award, recognition, certification, or degree?
Or anything else you're excited about...
Keep it to one or two lines. Please send to membership@balif.org.
Can't wait to hear your great news!
Meaghan Zore
BALIF Membership Chair
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Job Postings Now on BALIF Website
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All job postings can be found here!
BALIF membership must be current to view the job postings. Simply log into the BALIF website with your membership ID and password, and select JOBS from the menu on the left.
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Jamie Dupree & John Robert Unruh
Andrew Vu &
Lilah Sutphen
Dmitri Pikman & Felicia Medina Brandon Lawrence Denise Bergin
Joseph Rocha & Midori Hirai
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Senior Partner Level
Partner Level
    

Advocate Level
A.L. Nella & Company, CPAs
AT&T
Bingham McCutchen
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Jones Day
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Nixon Peabody LLP
O'Melveny & Meyers LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Perkins Coie LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Santa Clara University School of Law
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Benefactor Level
Clarence, Dyer & Cohen LLP / Swanson & McNamara LLP
Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
FTI Consulting
Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier LLP
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Golden Gate University
HaleyNelson & Heilbrun LLP
Heath Newton LLP
HendricksMurry, P.C.
Jackson Lewis LLP
JAMS
Latham & Watkins LLP
Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, P.C.
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Littler Mendelson
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Pritzker Law
Reed Smith LLP
Roeca Hass Hager LLP
San Francisco City Attorney's Office
San Francisco District Attorney's Office
Schiff Hardin LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Special Counsel
Stein & Lubin LLP
Individual Sponsors
Altep, Inc.
Todd Norris, Bullivant Houser Bailey
Michael Colantuono, Colantuono & Levin, P.C.
Peter C. Catalanotti, Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP
Debra R. Schoenberg, Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C.
Cheryl Sena, Sena Family Law
Judge Vaughn Walker ADR/Law Office Vaughn R Walker
Hon. James L. Warren (Ret.), JAMS
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP |
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