In This Issue

 

 

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that ruled Don't Ask Don't Tell unconstitutional and a rating of "unfit" to return to service even after the policy was repealed.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

Join us for our annual holiday party and ring in some holiday cheer!! 

When: 

6:30 - 9:30 pm

Where:

The Drake Lounge

508 4th Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

 

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.

  

 

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 

mcle@alrp.org

Call: 415-701-1200 ext. 303 

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.

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, 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.

 

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.

 

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).

 

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.

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

 

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.

December 10 - BALIF Holiday Party!

March 13, 2015 - Save the Date! 

BALIF Gala