Weekly Newsletter        |        September 26, 2017
In This Issue
Message from the BALIF Board 


BALIF is only as strong and impactful as our members, and we have two upcoming ways you can builder a stronger community.  Every year BALIF picks a non-profit organization as the recipient of our  Halloween Fundraiser (10/25) .  This year all proceeds benefit  California Rural Legal Assistance .  All you have to do to help is stop by (get a ticket) and have a drink/snack.
 
Our  "Connections" Mentorship Program is another way to get involved.  We are currently seeking mentors/mentees for the 2017-2018 year.  For me BALIF has always been about professional development.  BALIF attorneys continue to be my role models, and this is a great opportunity to build each other up.  Whether you are a law student, young attorney, or a seasoned veteran--we need you involved!
 
If you are not ready to donate or commit to mentoring, join us for brunch and champagne on  10/01/2017!   In a belated celebration of  National Bisexual Day, join BALIF  next Sunday for  Bagels and Bubble with Bisexuals.

  
Sincerely,


Stan Sarkisov
BALIF Communication Chair

2017 University of San Francisco School of Law Diversity Reception (TONIGHT)
Come learn from and network with USF School of Law students and alumni from diverse student groups and diverse bar associations (including BALIF)! Food and drinks will be served. 
 
WHEN:  Tuesday, September 26, 2017, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Nixon Peabody, One Embarcadero Center, Suite 1800, San Francisco, CA 94111-3600
MORE INFO: For more information, please contact Associate Director of Alumni Relations, Keya Koul, at  [email protected] 

BALIF's "Connections" 
Mentorship Program
BALIF's mentorship program is seeking mentors and mentees for 2017-2018.  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 Lauren Pietsch [email protected] .  
Mentors and mentee pairs will be assigned on a rolling basis throughout the year. 

September Name/Gender Change Workshop

Send your client referrals to the Berkeley School of Law  Name and Gender Change Workshop , a free clinic directly serving the LGBTQ community, during their September 2017 workshop. The Workshop helps pro-bono legal service recipients in drafting, reviewing, and filing necessary documents for a court-ordered name and/or gender marker change to their government-issued identity documents.   
 
Workshop Focus: Legal name and gender changes (with future workshops in October and November).

About: Please send any client referrals to the workshop.  The Workshop has enough attorney support, but asks that you help spread the word about this helpful opportunity.  Please invite folks who pay be in need of free legal assistance in changing the name/gender on their ID documents. 

When: September 27, 2017 (Wed), 6-8:00 p.m. 

Where: East bay Community Law Center (2921 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA)

Contact: More information, or to sign up, email [email protected], or call 510-560-4213 (signing up encouraged).

Bagels and Bubbly with 
Bisexuals in the Bay

What:  Bagels and Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay

Who:  Legal Professionals and their partners who identify as bisexual* 

(*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.)

When:  Sunday, October 1st, 11am - 2pm

Where:  Sydney Walton Square, San Francisco ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/sydney-g-walton-square-san-francisco

Details:  An opportunity for discussion and activities focused on bi-visibility and community within the bi-community.

Legal Specialist Examination
Register for the 2017 legal specialist examination by October 2  to take advan tage of reduced exam fees available for this year's exam only. Registration is only $350, and the laptop software fee, normally $153, is being waived.
 
This one-day examination takes place on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 in either Oakland or Pasadena, and will not be offered again until 2019. You are eligible to register if you've been practicing in one of the certified areas since at least January 2016, so why wait to earn your board certification?

LGBT Asian American / South Asian Lawyers Reception

LGBT Asian American/South Asian Attorney Networking Reception
We are celebrating the great diversity within our profession and supporting LGBT Asian American and South Asian attorneys in corporate, commercial, government, and public interest practice through networking receptions in four cities. These annual receptions are co-sponsored by several local and national specialty bar associations.

SAN FRANCISCO
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
235 Montgomery Street, 17th floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

CLICK HERE to RSVP

The receptions are free and open to all, but all proceeds will support NQAPIA legal referral program for LGBT AAPI undocumented immigrants, young people, and organizations. All donations are fully tax-deductible.

ALRP Event Announcement

The AIDS Legal Referral Panel (ALRP) is holding its  ALRP  From the Heart 34th Annual Reception & Auction on  Wednesday, October 18, 2017 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 34 years of achievement. ALRP will be presenting its 2017 Clint Hockenberry Leadership Award to John Rosenzweig, Esq.the ALRP 2017 Attorney of the Year Award to Sharon Dulberg, Esq., and the ALRP 2017 Firm of the Year Award to Jones Day.

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 18th.

BALIF's 2017 Halloween Fundraiser

Halloween Fundraiser to benefit CRLA!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017
6:00PM to 8:00PM
 
SomaR Bar & Lounge
1727 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94612
b/t 18th St & 17th St 

On Wednesday, October 25th join BALIF & CRLA  for a night of costumes, cocktails & revelry at the SomaR Bar (1727 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA), from 6:00-8:00pm Tickets are $20 and all proceeds benefit the CRLA. 

BALIF Member a Super Model for 
Making Out Women Visible

Laura Machten
BALIF member Laura Maetchlen has always been a role model for us.  Her dedication to the community as partner at Seyfarth Shaw, and co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Action Team and co-chair of the Labor & Employment Department, were recently noted by the Huntington Post.  Check out the " The New Supermodels 2.0" article to see her feature, and meet other super models who are making strides as LGBT+ women in business. 
BALIF Member Authors Article in 
BASF Magazine
BALIF Board member Stan Sarkisov's article on cohabitation is featured in this quarter's issue of San Francisco Attorney Magazine (a publication of the Bar Association of San Francisco).  "The Risky Business of Living Outside the Marriage Box" was co-authored with Erin Levine (Levine Family Law Group) and is available online  here

Giving to the BALIF Foundation
 

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the BALIF Foundation.  The Foundation recently launched and is working to assist BALIF in bringing LGBT judges to the bench and supporting scholarships, stipends and fellowships for law students and attorneys working in the LGBTQ community.  You can donate here.  In the four years ahead, we believe the Foundation's work will be critical in helping to protect our community.

And the Foundation is looking for Founding Circle members through the end of 2017 - pledge and pay as little as $1,000 to always be listed as a Founding Circle member of the BALIF Foundation.

For more information about the BALIF Foundation or how to get involved, contact Jamie Dupree [email protected].  
BALIF & The BALIF Foundation

BALIF is the Bay Area's LGBT Bar Association, which is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, which can engage in political activity.  Its Board members are elected by the BALIF membership and chair various committees of the BALIF bar association.
 
The BALIF Foundation is BALIF's charitable arm.  Donations to the BALIF Foundation are tax deductible because it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.  The BALIF Foundation is dedicated to increasing the number of LGBT judges on the bench through educational programming, supporting LGBT community organizations, and providing scholarships, summer stipends, and fellowships for LGBT  law students and young attorneys seeking to help the LGBT community through legal work.  It gave its inaugural summer fellowship for the summer of 2017.

Job Postings Now on BALIF Website
Looking for a job or a law school internship?  As a BALIF member you get access to all job postings.  Click here to see the opportunities, or log into the   BALIF website with your membership ID and password, and select JOBS on the menu on the left.
September 26 - 2017 University of San Francisco School of Law Diversity Reception (TONIGHT)
October 1 - Bagels and Bubbly with Bisexuals in the Bay
October 18LGBT Asian American/ South Asian Lawyers Reception
October 25 - BALIF Annual Halloween Fundraiser Extravaganza
Our 2017-2018 Sponsors
Partner Level


 
Counsel Level



Fenwick


  
Mofo



Sedgwick2
Seyfarth


Advocate Level

A.L. Nella & Co., CPA
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Jones Day
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Pacific Gas & Electric
Sanford Heisler, LLP
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Sidley Austin LLP
Uber
Weaver, Austin, Villeneuve & Sampson LLP
Wells Fargo Legal Specialty Private Bank
White & Case LLP
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Benefactor Level


Individual Sponsors


BALIF Board of Directors
Nyla Moujaes & Peter Catalanotti
  
Jennifer Orthwein
Secretary &

Felicia Medina
Mario Choi
Treasurer

Annick Persinger
Judiciary Chair

Sarah Nicole Davis & 
George Tran
Gala Co-Chairs  

Alex Touma
Meaghan Zore
 
Stan Sarkisov
Communications Chair 

Jamie Dupree
 
Stephan Ferris
Ashley Pellouchoud
Community Ambassador Chair  

Jaclyn Gross & Kevin Jones
Follow BALIF

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BALIF Foundation


BALIF Foundation
 Board of Directors
Jamie Dupree, Chair
  
Shay Gilmore

Chelsea HaleyNelson, Secretary

Laura Maechtlen

Nina Paul

Linda Scaparotti

David Tsai

John Unruh, Treasurer

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