News

Do you want to help shape California 's laws? Join BALIF's California Conference of Bar Associations (CCBA) Committee. Each year, BALIF sends a delegation to the California Conference of Bar Associations, a group of attorneys from local, specialty, and minority bar associations across the state that are focused on improving California's laws. BALIF's CCBA Committee reviews and determines BALIF's position on resolutions that are debated at the Conference. This year, the Conference will be in San Jose from October 11-13, 2013.

BALIF's representation and participation at the Conference are crucial to ensure visibility of the LGBT legal community at the statewide level and to bring LGBT issues before the Conference. Last year, BALIF sponsored resolutions to ensure that transgender people in jails and prisons receive appropriate medical treatment.

If you want to weigh in on this year's proposed resolutions and/or join BALIF's delegation to the Conference, please email Julie Wilensky at ccba@balif.org by August 23, 2013.

Thank you for all that came out to the super awesome kickball event this weekend. We had a blast and we hope to do another one in the near future!

I hope that all of you are getting pumped about Lavender Law which is being held here in beautiful San Francisco August 22-24! We are seeking last minute donations from firms or attorneys so if you want to give please contact balif@balif.org or lawstudentrep@balif.org for more information. For those firms and attorneys who have donated - Thank you!!! Your generosity is greatly appreciated. BALIF wants to send as many law students as possible to take advantage of the great opportunities Lavender Law has to offer.

Finally, BALIF is seeking mentors and mentees for our annual BALIF "Connections" Mentorship program. We are looking for attorneys willing to volunteer their time to become a mentor for law students and baby attorneys looking to find their way through the legal profession. Going through the mentorship program myself, I found the experience incredibly meaningful professionally and personally. If you are interested in being a mentor or a mentee, please contact Mario Choi (my illustrious mentor) at younglawyers@balif.org.

I hope you all have a fantastic week. And a warm welcome back to our law students!

Dustin Helmer
BALIF Law Student Representative

I don’t know about you but I can’t believe how quickly this summer has passed me by (perhaps it’s because it is overcast, cold and windy in San Francisco while the rest of the country is burning up?). With all that is upcoming in August though, I doubt things will seem to slow down any time soon. Two major events for LGBT lawyers will be taking place in San Francisco in the next three weeks - the ABA litigators conference on August 9-11 and the 25th annual Lavender Law conference on August 22-24. In conjunction with the ABA conference, on August 9, 2013 Navigant Consulting is sponsoring an LGBT Reception at Bisou French Bistro, 2367 Market Street, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. BALIF is also co-hosting a Lavender Law welcome reception with Seyfarth Shaw LLP on August 22, 2013 at 111 Minna Gallery at 8:00 p.m. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. All BALIF members are welcome to join both events.

Not to be left out, there are activities and opportunities in August for law students and young lawyers as well. For law students seeking cost assistance with Lavender Law registrations fees, please reach out to Law Student Representatives Dustin Helmer and Midori Hirai for more information (or if you’re an established lawyer and would like to sponsor a law student’s registration fees, likewise reach out to the Law School Representatives). Additionally, on August 10 from 1-3 p.m., Law Students are invited to play in a Law Student kick ball game at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center in San Francisco. Drink specials to follow the game at Hi Tops in the Castro. Contact Dustin Helmer for more information.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!


Nick Clements
BALIF Social Committee Chair

The Barristers Club Board of Directors is accepting applications for 2014. Directors determine the club's mission and set policy and procedures to fulfill the club's mission.

Directors supervise and facilitate Barristers Club activities by serving as liaisons to Barristers Sections and Committees, and participating on ad hoc committees in connection with major events (e.g., the Judges Reception). Directors represent the Barristers to the legal community and the public.

Candidates must be BASF members who were admitted to the bar on January 1, 2004 or later. The Barristers Club and its board encourage diverse eligible members of BASF to apply for the Barristers board.

To be considered for a nomination, you must submit a personal statement no later than September 3, 2013.
The statement should include your education and legal background, area of practice, your involvement with the Barristers Club, other bar associations, or community service organizations. We encourage you to include any other information that you believe will assist the committee in making an informed decision. Your statement should not exceed 350 words and should not include the names of endorsers. In addition, you may include your resume, if you like.

Submit your statement by email to barristers@sfbar.org.

As a month of wonderful programming in July comes to a close, BALIF is excited about some unique opportunities arising in August. The stars are aligned this year for LGBT Bay Area attorneys, as San Francisco is hosting both the ABA Annual Convention and Lavender Law. In conjunction with the ABA conference, on August 9, 2013 Navigant Consulting is sponsoring an LGBT Reception at Bisou French Bistro, 2367 Market Street , from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. BALIF members are invited. BALIF is also co-sponsoring a Reception with Seyfarth during the Lavender Law Conference on August 22, 2013 at 111 Minna Gallery. We hope to see you there!

In our excitement about August, we should not forget that there is still some programming to squeeze out of July. This Wednesday, July 31st, we have a panel co-sponsored with JAMS discussing important family law issues - Implications of DOMA and Prop 8 Rulings: The new frontier in same-sex family law and estate planning.

Please have a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Nick Kacprowski
BALIF Amicus Committee Chair

Each year, the National LGBT Bar Association recognizes 40 LGBT legal professionals (practicing lawyers, law professors, corporate counsel, members of the judiciary, politicians, etc.) under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their field and have demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBT equality.

BALIF would like to congratulate two of our members for being recognized this year as the Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40.

Brian McDonald
Partner
Jones Day

Scott Willoughby
Senior Corporate Counsel
Clorox

The Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40 Class of 2013 will be presented at the 25th Anniversary Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair, which will be held August 22-24, 2013 in San Francisco , California .

In the weeks following the Supreme Court's Prop 8 and DOMA decisions, BALIF and our local network of bar associations and legal organizations have been busy providing quality programs that explore the legal, political, and personal implications for the LGBT community.

We were fortunate to partner this July with the American Constitution Society and the BASF's LGBT Equality Committee, enjoying two excellent panels featuring attorneys who are on the front lines of this march for equality. And we have been inspired by the stories from Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, the plaintiffs in Hollingsworth v. Perry, about the challenges they faced along the way and their newfound, sometimes blissfully mundane, joys of being legally married.

We have even more great programming coming up this month. This Thursday, July 25, we have a seminar for those planning to walk down the aisle, Prenup is not a Dirty Word: Marrying and Registering with Heart and Smarts, and next Wednesday, July 31, we have a panel co-sponsored with JAMS discussing important family law issues,Implications of DOMA and Prop 8 Rulings: The new frontier in same-sex family law and estate planning.

Please come join us for these two timely and important CLE programs, and stay tuned for more great events in August!

Leah Nutting
BALIF Programs Committee Chair

Hey BALIF members! Did you know that almost half of BALIF membership is made up of law students? And with the National Lavender Law Conference being held in beautiful San Francisco August 22 through 24 - it is BALIF's goal this year to send as many law students to attend this exciting and invaluable event. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of registration, many law students are unable to attend. Therefore, BALIF is seeking the help of our generous members to donate a minimum of $135 (the cost of registration) to help support a law student to attend Lavender Law 2013. This year will be especially electrifying with the demise of DOMA and Prop 8 and we don't want our Bay Area law students to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

If you are interested in making a donation or want more information about how you or your firm can help sponsor a law student, please email balif@balif.org or lawstudentrep@balif.org.

Summer is always my favorite time of the year. It stays light later and there are plenty of opportunities after work for an ice cream cone with the kids or a tropical drink with friends.

This summer is particularly sweet for BALIF. I can't stop smiling after our victories in the Supreme Court. There are lots of exciting events coming up. San Francisco will be the venue for the 2013 ABA Convention on August 8-13, and the National LGBT Bar Association's Lavender Law Conference on August 22-24. Both will present opportunities for BALIF members to mingle and network with colleagues from across the country.

And there are two sweet, not-to-be missed, BALIF events this week. On Wednesday, July 17, BALIF is co-sponsoring Marriage in America: Life after Windsor and Perry with BASF's LGBT Equality Committee, to be immediately followed by BASF's annual LGBT Partners and Associates reception. On Thursday, July 18, BALIF is co-sponsoring Shattering the LGBT Judicial Glass Ceiling with AABA's LGBT Committee. For registration information, see the newsletter below.

I hope to see you both nights! And enjoy the summer.

Jamie Dupree
BALIF Co-Chair