Weekly Newsletter        |        September 13, 2016
In This Issue
Message from the BALIF Board 


With Bisexuality Day coming up on September 23, please join me in celebrating the B's in our community.

For those who identify as bisexual* (and their partners), please join us on Sunday October 16 at 11:00am in Tilden Park for the fall installment of Bagels and Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay. More information on this free event (and a place to register) can be found here!

*The term bisexual is used as an umbrella term for people who have the potential for sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to more than one gender. This includes people who may identify as bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, and questioning.


Sincerely, 


Jessica Bogo
BALIF Co-Chair
BALIF Law Student Meet and Greet
THIS SUNDAY!
Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom will be hosting a gathering at Dolores Park Sunday, September 18th for all Bay Area Law Students. Come meet, mingle, and learn more about BALIF, the nation's oldest and largest LGBT Bar. We will have some drinks available, but please feel free to bring your own beverages and/or refreshments. Family,Friends, and Pets encouraged!

Sunday, September 18, 2016
Dolores Park, San Francisco
2:00- 5:00 pm


BALIF's Past, Present and Future: Celebrating our History and Looking at the LGBT Civil Rights Battles Ahead

Featuring BALIF Founders, including Judge Donna Hitchens (Ret.), Carl Wolf, Fred Hertz, Nanci Clarence and others

Legal Update by NCLR's Kate Kendell 
 
Discussion, drinks and food generously hosted and sponsored by Pillsbury 
 
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
6:00- 8:30 pm

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman LLP
Four Embarcadero Center 22nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111

Bagels & Bubbly with 
Bisexuals in the Bay
For those who identify as bisexual* (and their partners), please join us on Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 11:00am in Tilden Park for the fall installment of Bagels and Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay. More information on this free event (and a place to register) can be found here!

*The term bisexual is used as an umbrella term for people who have the potential for sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to more than one gender. This includes people who may identify as bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer, and questioning.
BALIF's "Connections"
Mentorship Program
 
BALIF's mentorship program is seeking mentors and mentees for 2016-2017.  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 Ashley Pellouchoud or David Sims at:  [email protected]
 
Mentors and mentee pairs will be assigned on a rolling basis from September thru October.

Halloween Extravaganza Committee
The Social Action Committee is looking for help with this year's Halloween Extravaganza.  The Halloween Extravaganza is Social Action's main annual event where we throw a party to benefit an amazing local LGBT community organization.  In the past, our beneficiaries have included El/La Para Translatinas and LYRIC.  In you are interested in being on this year's Halloween Extravaganza Committee, please email  [email protected] .
Probate Referee Program Opportunities -
from the 
Office of the State Controller Betty Yee
State Controller Betty Yee is searching for attorneys, certified public accountants, and certified  appraisers from diverse backgrounds to serve as probate referees. Our search encompasses everyone  including people of all races, genders, and LGBT status.

Probate referees are officers of the court who are appointed by the State Controller. They provide  reliable appraisals of all estate assets including businesses, securities, real estate, and personal
properties. Probate referees are not state employees; their fees are paid by the estates (trusts)  involved. For any appraisal required by law, probate referee fees are 1/10 th of one percent of the total  assets. The minimum fee is $75 plus expenses such as mileage and photos.

Qualification criteria and application information are on the Controller's website at  www.sco.ca.gov/eo_probate.html. The next probate referee examination will be held in April 2017.
People who meet all the qualifications and pass the examination may be contacted for an interview  by a panel of judges and attorneys. Controller Yee will decide whom to appoint after considering the  panel's recommendation.

AABA Career Workshop Event
The AABA Employment Committee is hosting its annual Career Workshop Event. This is an opportunity for junior attorneys and law students to learn about developing their personal brand and how to form organic relationships with other professionals. The event will take place at Golden Gate University School of Law (6209-11) on September 13, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

After the career workshop, we are hosting an informal reception (in the same location) to give attorneys and students an additional opportunity to meet and mingle. Food and drinks will be provided.

Space is limited to the first 50 people who RSVP.

Please contact Andrea Loh for inquiries: [email protected]

Homeless Shelter Arbitration Training
The San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing announces the following free Arbitration Training to prepare attorneys to help homeless shelter single adults and families with due process when denied shelter for rule infractions. The arbitration experience provides an excellent opportunity to help the homelessness by providing pro-bono services. 

What:   Homeless Shelter Arbitration Training 
When:   Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 4:00 to 7:00 PM
Where: Duane Morris LLP 
   One Market Plaza, Spear Tower, 22nd Floor, Suite 2200      San Francisco, CA 94105

This training is approved by The State Bar of California for 2.5 MCLE credit.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Program Responsibilities:  Arbitrators agree to conduct three one-hour hearings, a total three-hour session, on either Tuesday afternoons or Thursday mornings at least once every two to three months.  Arbitrators choose dates they are available.   Arbitrators decide the hearing outcomes after listening to both sides of the denial of service from a shelter. The client is usually represented by a trained Client Advocate.  Managers of shelters present their documentation for the denials of service.  Arbitrators complete minimal paper work documenting the arbitration and decision.  Arbitration procedures are based on the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing Shelter Grievance Policy. 

Arbitration Training Application - please submit the application to register for the training by September 14, 2016 to  [email protected].

ALRP from the Heart 
33rd Annual Reception & Auction

PLEASE JOIN US on OCTOBER 19, 2016

The AIDS Legal Referral Panel, formed in the early 1980s by a group of BALIF attorneys, is holding its ALRP From the Heart 33rd Annual Reception & Auction on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 from 6:00-9:00pm in the Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange in San Francisco (465 California Street, near Montgomery Street).

ALRP's reception features gourmet catered hors d'oeuvres,
wine and beverages, a silent & live auction, and great networking.

During this special evening, we will honor those who have made a lasting difference in the lives of people with HIV/AIDS and recognize ALRP's 33 years of achievement. ALRP will be presenting its 2016 Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award to Jerome Fishkin, Esq., the ALRP 2016 Attorney of the Year Award to Okan Sengun, Esq., and the ALRP 2016 Firm of the Year Award to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Tickets start at just $100 and can be purchased by contacting Jim McBride at (415) 701-1200 ext. 301,  [email protected], or simply pay at the door on October 19th.

SPARK! Transgender Law Center's 
14th Anniversary Celebration
SPARK! 2016: A 14th Anniversary Celebration of Transgender Law Center

October 20, 2016 
6 p.m.  Reception
7 p.m.  Awards Ceremony and Program 

Julia Morgan Ballroom
465 California St
San Francisco, CA 94104

In 2016, Transgender Law Center will celebrate 14 years of igniting changes to law, policy, and attitudes so that everyone can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. For the last several years, we have held a widely popular anniversary celebration, called SPARK! This year, we anticipate over 400 of our most generous supporters, corporate partners, organizational allies, and elected officials to participate as we come together and recognize outstanding community leaders and businesses making huge strides in advancing transgender rights.
BALIF Amicus Brief Archive Now Online
For more than thirty years, BALIF has been participating as amicus - a friend of the court - in major cases raising issues of concern to the LGBT community and our allies. Check out the new archive on BALIF's website, where you can learn more about BALIF's amicus participation and read BALIF's briefs on a wide range of issues, including: the rights of same-sex parents and partners; the unconstitutionality of state sodomy statutes; the interpretation of disability civil rights laws to people with HIV/AIDS; Don't Ask, Don't Tell; the scope of Title VII and other workplace protections for LGBTs under federal and California law; the asserted First Amendment rights of organizations that explicitly exclude LGBTs; marriage equality; medical care for transgender prisoners; and more.
 
Please contact BALIF's Amicus Committee Chair, Julie Wilensky, [email protected], with any questions about or additions to the archive.
We Want Your BALIFBuzz

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 [email protected].

 

Can't wait to hear your great news!

 

Alex Touma

BALIF Membership Co-Chair

 

Job Postings Now on BALIF Website

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.

September 18 - BALIF Law Student Meet & Greet
October 4 - BALIF's Past, Present and Future
October 16- Bagels & Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay
Our 2016-2017 Sponsors
Partner Level

 
Counsel Level

A&P

Fenwick
HB Logo

 

Mofo
Sedgwick2
Seyfarth


Wilson

Advocate Level


Benefactor Level


Individual Sponsors

BALIF Board of Directors
Jessica Bogo & Peter Catalanotti
  
Julie Wilensky
Secretary & Amicus Chair

Mario Choi
Treasurer

Nick Clements
Judiciary Chair

Sarah Nicole Davis & 
John Unruh
Gala Co-Chairs  

 

Alex Touma
Shauna Madison

CCBA Chair

 
Stan Sarkisov
Communications Chair 

Jamie Dupree
Programs Chair

Ashley Pellouchoud & David Sims
Young Lawyers & Law Students Co-Chairs  

Daniel Faessler
Social Action Chair

Jennifer Orthwein
 
Lauren Pietsch
Lindsey Rosellini
Community Ambassador Chair  

Sam Potts & Stephan Ferris
Katie Carlson
BALIF Administrator 
Follow BALIF

youtube
 
BALIF Foundation


BALIF | | [email protected] | http://www.balif.org
P.O. Box 193383
San Francisco, CA 94119