One Million Dollars in Food from the Bar

$1,000,000? That’s right! Next year, our Food from the Bar goal is to cross the one million dollar mark.

In 2013, our competitive food & fund drive benefiting the Contra Costa and Solano Food Bank will be in its 22nd year. Since its inception, we have raised over $950,000 to help the Food Bank provide nutritious meals to the nearly 150,000 people the organization serves each month in our counties.

Election Protection: Lawyers and Law Students Protecting the Right to Vote

Election Day is fast approaching. With less than three months to go, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is mobilizing legal volunteers nationwide to lead Election Protection, the country’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition. Election Protection was formed in 2001 to ensure that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy. Through the dedication of attorneys, law students, and paralegals around the country Election Protection is able to provide voters with comprehensive and immediate assistance on Election Day. This service has been instrumental in helping Americans all over the country to exercise their right to vote for the past decade.

Civil Fast Track Settlement Mentor Conferences

Most attorneys who practice in Contra Costa County are generally familiar with the Court’s several Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs.  There are specific requirements which all ADR panel members must meet …

ADR in Family Law

Family Law Litigants in Contra Costa County get Meaningful Alternative Dispute Resolution Opportunity Through the Double Pro Per Settlement Conference Calendar

Pro Bono Spotlight: Katzen & Schuricht aim to preserve important bankruptcy law principle

In Wolfe v. Jacobson (In re Jacobson), 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 8103 (9th Cir. Apr. 23, 2012), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that bankruptcy debtors who successfully asserted a homestead exemption nevertheless lost the protected layer of value (here, $150,000), because a judgment creditor forced a postpetition execution sale of the house, and the debtors failed to reinvest their share of the proceeds in a new dwelling within six months. The court effectively reasoned that whenever a California exemption is allowed in a bankruptcy case, the debtor’s right to postpetition proceeds from the exempt value is subject to California’s time-limited protection of proceeds.

Thank You for Your Support of the Elder Law Center and the Law Center’s Pro Bono Efforts!

The Law Center (“TLC”), and the Elder Law Center (“ELC”), along with its Board of Directors would like to gratefully thank all the Members of the

The Color of Justice: Judges, Attorneys Encourage Students to Consider Legal Career

On November 4, 2011, judges and attorneys, including Richmond’s own Christopher Darden, hosted an informal, interactive program aimed at encouraging students to become the new face of justice. As part of the program, students met and talked with legal assistants, attorneys and judges of color in an informal setting where they learned about their backgrounds and how they succeeded.

Giving Back – Lawyer Style: Elva Harding

My Amigos experience started when a friend made a presentation to my high school Spanish class about her summer living with a family in Mexico. One thing led to another, and I spent the summer of 1984 living with a family and building latrines in rural Dominican Republic.

Giving Back – Lawyer Style: Ruth Noelani Buzzard

Whenever I hear the name Salvation Army, I envision events like Hurricane Katrina or Joplin, Missouri: disaster relief of monumental proportions. Many people don’t realize that the …

Giving Back – Lawyer Style: Margaret Grover

Giving back enriches my life and helps me realize that I am truly privileged. I try to find ways to give back that encourage or empower others to volunteer as well. One of my favorite activities is Team in Training, which trains endurance athletes who raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Giving Back – Lawyer Style: CCCBA Juvenile Section

The members of the Contra Costa County Bar Juvenile law Section work with families with children who have been abused or neglected. Many of the children in these cases have to be removed from their homes while their parent(s) work on a plan to cure the problems which resulted in the removal of their children and led them into the court system.

Free Legal Workshop All-Stars

Those of you who have been around CCCBA awhile will remember ACE nights (for the newbies, ACE stands for Attorney Counseling Evening) where many attorneys provided guidance to hundreds of local residents one night a month. Those large ACE nights have evolved into ongoing, smaller monthly topic-specific free legal workshops. Over the years, there have been volunteers who have given their time month after month, often for many years, at these workshops. I would like to highlight a few for you:

Interview with Gordon Erspamer – Part II

Gordon “Gordy” Erspamer, Senior Counsel with Morrison Foerster, has been fighting tirelessly for veterans’ rights. Gordy’s most recent victory, in front of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year, provides hope to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Describing problems at the VA as “egregious”, the court ordered the VA to overhaul its mental health system.

Volunteering for the Busy Attorney

Got an hour? Speak to a local middle or high school class about the legal profession. Inform Seniors about the importance of Jury Duty and ‘When You Become 18’, the responsibilities they have once they become adults. Talk about the nature of law and the US Constitution. Discuss the myths and misinformation about the legal system.

Interview with Gordon P. Erspamer

Gordon “Gordy” Erspamer, Senior Counsel with Morrison Foerster, has been fighting tirelessly for veterans’ rights. Gordy’s most recent victory, in front of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year, provides hope to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Describing problems at the VA as “egregious”, the court ordered the VA to overhaul its mental health system.
Prior to this, Gordy defended ‘atomic veterans’ (veterans suffering the consequences of radiation exposure during nuclear testing in the 1950s) and veterans subjected to secret government tests that occurred until the 1970s.

“Crime after Crime” – Film Review

“If only he had left me alone.” He didn’t and, as a result, it took 26 years, a dedicated team of pro bono attorneys, a documentary film team, a grassroots media campaign, not to mention the ‘Governator’, to free Deborah “Debbie” Peagler.

Scott Jenny: Court Tour Guide Extraordinaire

Interview with Scott Jenny

Can you tell us a little bit about your practice and practice areas? How long have you been practicing law in Martinez?

I have been practicing eminent domain law in Martinez …

Arlene Segal: Living Life to the Fullest

This month, we are delighted to spotlight Arlene Segal. Our readers know Arlene as one of the County’s eminent elder law attorneys, whose volunteer efforts include many years on the Contra Costa Lawyer editorial board …

Gil Berkeley: A Career With Purpose

This month, we spotlight Gil Berkeley. Our readers are likely to know Gil as one of this county’s eminent business attorneys, whose practice focuses on counseling privately-held companies on real estate …

Nevin, Ramos & Steele: Pro Bono Champions Provide a Home for the Elder Law Center

This year’s rescue of the Elder Law Center (ELC) was quite a feat, requiring the dedication of many organizations and even more individual members of the Contra Costa legal community.

Originally known as the Elder Law …