Message from the BALIF Board
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Greetings!
I'm writing to you having just returned from a month in Indiana teaching at Indiana University McKinney School of Law. Not so long ago, Indiana made headlines all over the world because of the Religious Freedoms Restoration Act (RFRA) signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence and the ensuing firestorm it created. Watching the drama unfold from the West Coast, I counted myself lucky that I made it out, wrote off the state as unprogressive, and went on about my day. However, this recent return home was eye opening. While the rest of the world has mostly forgotten about Indiana's RFRA fiasco. The people of Indiana, or at least the people in Indianapolis, are still furious. And rightfully so, the passage of RFRA threatened to cost the state $250 million. All over the city "Pence Must Go" signs remain in people's front yards, and businesses continue to exclaim that they serve everyone. I have never seen this level of backlash against a sitting Governor in Indiana. This pressure from Indiana's citizens and businesses, eventually caused Gov. Pence to pass a "clarification bill" establishing that RFRA is not an authorization to refuse service, housing, products or jobs to someone based on sexual orientation.
Yet still, no Indiana state law explicitly bars businesses from discriminating against gay customers. Employers in most of the state of Indiana can fire a person simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning. My hope is that this wave of indignation will serve as a springboard for the citizens of Indiana and big businesses to continue to work together and demand that Indiana join the 18 other states that already have a state-wide employment non-discrimination law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity.
Meaghan Zore
BALIF Board Membership Chair
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BALIF's Connections
Mentorship Program
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It's that time of the year again! BALIF's Connections mentorship program is seeking mentors and mentees for 2015-2016. For more information, see the program guidelines and description on the BALIF website. If you are a law student, recent law school graduate, or newer attorney seeking a mentor, or if you are an experienced attorney interested in serving as a mentor, please contact the Young Lawyers and Students Programs Committee, younglawyers@balif.org. Mentor/mentee pairs will be assigned on a rolling basis from July-September.
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BALIF Partner Exchange Luncheon
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When: Thursday August 20, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015; Tuesday, September 22, 2015; Thursday, October 22, 2015; Thursday, November 19, 2015; Tuesday, December 15, 2015; Thursday, January 21, 2016 (dates subject to confirmation by SF City Club)
Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Where: San Francisco City Club (155 Sansome, 10th Floor)
What: Gourmet buffet lunch with other partners and firm owners
Cost: $40 payable by cash or check only
BALIF has created the BALIF Partner Exchange to bring together our members that are looking to network and exchange business and ideas. This event is exclusively for BALIF members who are partners or owners of their firm with 7 years or more of experience.
August's luncheon topic: Bring any thorny issue or problem you'd like to get advice on from your peers. For example, do you need advice on: How to add a partner? How to fire a friend's business whose services have declined in quality? How to figure out how to compensate your employees? What's the best method to track and thank referral sources? Or maybe you'd like to share news of a recent victory or favorable outcome.
RSVPs being accepted for August 20, 2015 only.
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KABA 2015 Bar Study Scholarship via KABANC
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The Korean American Bar Association of Northern California (KABANC) is pleased to announce the 2015 Bar Study Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded by the KABANC Foundation at KABANC's upcoming 2015 Annual Gala, and is open to all graduating law students or recent grads in Northern California who are planning to take the California State Bar examination in July of 2015, or February or July of 2016. Selection factors include academic achievement/work experience, demonstrated leadership and commitment to community service, particularly to the Korean and Korean American community and other diverse communities, and financial need. The deadline has been extended to August 24th. Please contact Liz Kim, KABANC Scholarship Committee Chair, with any questions.
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The AABA LGBT Committee Presents Gender In/sight Workshop
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The Asian American Bar Association LGBT committee presents Gender In/sight: A Workshop on Understanding and Unpacking Culture and Constructions of Gender To build supportive and inclusive communities, society needs to acknowledge gender and consider how gender dynamics influence daily interactions. This workshop examines racial, ethnic, and legal meanings of gender, updating cultural definitions and providing new understandings. Gender In/sight provides a tool for recognizing gender in its diverse manifestations and begins a lifelong process of learning about how gender intersects your multiple identities. Come to this workshop, led by Adam Chang and Stephanie Wildman, and learn with your colleagues to promote diversity in your legal professional work and life. Tuesday, August 25, 20156:00 PM - 7:30 PM Farella Braun + Martel, LLP 235 Montgomery St., 17th Fl. San Francisco, CA Approved for 1.5 credits of Elimination of Bias CLE credit. Food and drinks to be served. RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/AABAGenderInsight
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Mentor / Mentee Kick-off &
Back-to-School Mixer
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Join us for drinks to welcome back the law students to a new school year! We will also be kicking off our Mentor / Mentee Program!
Friday, September 18, 2015
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Lookout
3600 16th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
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San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Tribute Celebration
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Tribute Celebration honors the achievements of leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS and benefits the work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The event is on September 19, 2015 on the Waterfront at the Exploratorium and includes dinner, hosted bar, live music, and a limited amount of inspiring speakers and speeches. The event starts at 7:30pm with a VIP reception that starts at 6pm.
For those not prepared to spend the entire evening, there is also a later evening (9pm-11pm) portion of the event being hosted by the First City Council, an entry-level philanthropic arm of the SF AIDS Foundation. This portion of the event includes artisanal desserts, a hosted bar, and a live cover band.
Click here to purchase tickets. I hope to see you at Tribute Celebration!
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Back-to-School BBQ and Kickball!
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Please join the BALIF Law Student Representatives for a BBQ and game of kickball! Sunday, September 20, 2015 12:00-3:00 p.m. Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park 860 John F. Kennedy Dr. San Francisco, CA 94121
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Volunteer at the Castro Street Fair
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Sunday, October 4, 2015
Come out and Volunteer at Castro Street Fair on behalf of ALRP
Shift 1: 10am - 2pm
Shift 2: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Volunteer for one or both shifts collecting donations at the gates. All donations and proceeds go directly to charitable causes important to the Castro community. This is a family-friendly event, so feel free to bring friends, coworkers, classmates, children, significant others, and pets!
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Save the Date for BALIF's Social Action Fundraiser
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Save the Date for BALIF's Social Action Fundraiser
On Thursday, October 29, 2015
Lookout Bar (3600 16th St. in SF)
This event will be a Fundraiser with proceeds going to El/La Para Translatinas. In addition to fundraising, there will also be food, drinks, and of course, fun!
Details to Follow...
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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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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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September 18 - BALIF Mentor / Mentee Kick-off & Back-to-School Mixer
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Partner Level
Counsel Level

   

Advocate Level
A.L. Nella & Company, CPAs
AT&T
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Jones Day
Latham & Watkins LLP
Morgen Lewis & Bockius LLP
MUFG Union Bank
O'Melveny & Meyers LLP
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Pacific Gas & Electric
Perkins Coie LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Sanford Heisler Kimpel, LLP
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Benefactor Level
Callaway & Wolf
Carroll, Burdick & McDonough LLP
Clarence, Dyer & Cohen LLP / Swanson & McNamara LLP
Cooley LLP
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier LLP
Golden Gate University, School of Law
Jackson Lewis LLP
JAMS
Lewis, Feinberg, Lee & Jackson, P.C.
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski LLP
Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Novak Druce Connolly Bove + Quigg LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Pritzker Levine LLP
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
Individual Sponsors
Dave Arellano, Altep, Inc.
Michael Colantuono, Colantuono Highsmith & Whatley, PC
David Fermino, Sideman & Bancroft LLP
David Helbraun, Helbraun Law
Frederick Hertz, Law and Mediation Office of Frederick Hertz
John Hill, Law Offices of John E. Hill, P.C.
Hon. Stuart Hing & Rhoda Hing, Alameda County Superior Court
James Kealohi, Pathways Personnel
David Monroe, Able & Monroe P.C.
Todd Norris, Bullivant Houser Bailey
Debra R. Schoenberg, Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C.
Cheryl Sena, Sena Family Law
Hon. James L. Warren (Ret.), JAMS
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Jessica Bogo & John Robert Unruh
Jamie Dupree Dmitri Pikman
Joseph Deignan, Alex Lemberg & Sam Potts
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