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HISPANIC BAR ASSOCIATION

ORANGE COUNTY


News

  • 02 Feb 2017 8:16 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Contact: Laura Ernde             

    415-538-2283         

    barcomm@calbar.ca.gov


    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1, 2017
     – In response to a recent increase in attorneys seeking to do pro bono work, State Bar President James Fox and Executive Director Elizabeth Parker said today:

    “We applaud the recent wave of attorneys throughout California looking to provide pro bono legal services around immigration and other legal concerns. The State Bar of California strongly supports access to legal services as a core part of our public protection mission. We support the promise of justice for all, including for low-income people who too often have no choice but to navigate the legal system alone. 

    We encourage attorneys licensed in California to provide pro bono support to help bridge the gap in access to justice. While upholding ethical standards for attorneys and regulating the legal profession is a core focus of the State Bar’s work, it’s equally critical to ensure that all of California’s residents have access to high-quality attorneys when the need arises.

    In addition to the donation of time, a donation of financial assistance can make a huge positive impact, especially with a shifting political landscape. Please consider making a donation to the State Bar’s Justice Gap Fund or directly to your local legal aid provider to help make sure individuals and families who need legal assistance can get help when they need it.”

    Information about providing pro bono legal services in California

    Attorneys who wish to provide pro bono legal service in California must have active State Bar status. Status can be switched from inactive to active via the State Bar website.

    The fee for active status is waived for attorneys who participate in the State Bar of California’s Pro Bono Practice Program.

    The Pro Bono Practice Program allows California attorneys who are currently inactive or retired to have active status for the sole purpose of doing pro bono work. Attorneys who are accepted to the Pro Bono Practice Program must work with a qualified legal services provider, certified lawyer referral service, or court-based self-help center. In addition to a waiver of the active status fee, attorneys who qualify for this program have access to free MCLE.

    More information about pro bono opportunities is available on the State Bar website. One Justice also houses a pro bono rapid response network for attorneys.

    In addition to promoting pro bono service, the State Bar also provides approximately $30 million in grants annually to legal aid organizations throughout California. These grants support groups that address immigration needs, prevent homelessness, keep kids in school, protect elders from fraud and abuse and connect veterans to services, among other critical legal assistance. 

    Legal aid organizations provide direct services throughout the state. (The statewide list of legal aid providers is available.).

    Attorneys who would like to provide additional support for access to justice can donate to the Justice Gap Fund when they pay their annual State Bar of California fees.

    Resources for Californians on finding an attorney

    The State Bar also provides resources for Californians who need help finding an attorney as well as ways to avoid fraud.

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Find Legal Help

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Finding the Right Lawyer / Como Encontrar el Abogado Apropiado

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Avoiding Fraud by Immigration Consultants

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Información Legal en Español

    People who think they have been a victim of misconduct by an attorney or someone posing as an attorney should file a complaint with the State Bar.

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Filing a complaint against an attorney about misconduct

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Filing a complaint against a notario or someone posing as an attorney

    [if !supportLists]·         [endif]Client Security Fund application, to recover money lost due to attorney misconduct

    ###

    The State Bar of California is an administrative arm of the California Supreme Court, protecting the public and seeking to improve the justice system since 1927. All lawyers practicing law in California must be admitted to the State Bar.


  • 17 Jan 2017 9:13 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    California Bar Foundation 3L Diversity Scholarship Application is now open!  Any diverse 3L who plans to practice public interest law in California, and who plans to take the July 2016 California Bar Exam, is eligible.  Scholarship recipients receive a free BARBRI prep course along with a living stipend.  Deadline is Tuesday, February 14 at 5 PM PST.  The application can be found here:   http://www.calbarfoundation.org/3l-diversity-scholarship.html

    Please forward this opportunity to any diverse 3Ls that you know! 

    California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system with fewer barriers and more opportunities for all Californians.  For more information email Bianca Sierra Wolff, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at bwolff@calbarfoundation.org.


  • 28 Dec 2016 1:16 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Comments sought:
     
    Six (6) new proposals to amend the California Rules of Court and Judicial Council forms have been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm. If approved, the amendments would be effective September 1, 2017.
     
    The deadline for comment is 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2017.
     
    Additionally, in 2016 the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) initiated a workstream to update the Tactical Plan for Technology 2014-2016. After analyzing branch business drivers, evaluating existing initiatives, and incorporating new initiatives, the workstream now requests input on the initial draft of the updated Tactical Plan for Technology 2017-2018.

    Deadline for comments on the proposed plan is Wednesday, January 18, 2017.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact Camilla Kieliger, at camilla.kieliger@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7681.

  • 28 Dec 2016 1:15 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Revision #16 to the 2008 Edition of the Local Rules – Superior Court of California, County of Orange will be effective as of January 1, 2017.  An electronic copy of the rules is available on the Court’s website at www.occourts.org or you may view them by clicking here.
     
    If you would like a hard copy mailed to you or if you have any questions, please contact:

    Sheri A. Bull
    Program Coordinator / Specialist
    Judicial Assistance Group (JAG)
     
    Orange County Superior Court
    700 Civic Center Drive West
    P.O. Box 1994
    Santa Ana, CA  92702-1994
     
    P: 657-622-7872
    E: sbull@occourts.org

  • 12 Dec 2016 11:45 AM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    The Public Law Center, Orange County's non-profit pro bono law firm, is committed to providing access to justice for low-income residents. Now in its 35th year of service, PLC's staff of 30 works with more than 1,400 volunteer lawyers, paralegals and law students to provide free civil legal services, including counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy to challenge societal injustices.
     
    We are looking for a few great attorneys and advocates to join our team. Check out the positions below to see if one is right for you!

    Director of Litigation, Training & Advocacy
    An experienced litigator will work closely with PLC's Executive Director, senior staff and community partners to develop policy advocacy and impact litigation to benefit Orange County's low-income residents. Will also serve as an internal leader and mentor to PLC's program staff.

    Directing Attorney - Health Unit
    The leader of PLC's Health Unit will develop and implement the goals of a dynamic unit that includes our AIDS Legal Assistance Project and several Medical-Legal Partnership Clinics.

    Staff Attorney - Family Law Unit
    An attorney with experience in family law will handle cases referred by several community partners and organize domestic violence and guardianship clinics at local courthouses.

    Staff Attorney - Family Law Unit & Immigration Unit

    An attorney with experience in family law or immigration will assist victims of crime and help staff domestic violence and guardianship clinics.

    Project Coordinator - Victims of Crime Project

    An experienced advocate will coordinate and assist in the delivery of legal service to low-income crime victims.

    Administrative Assistant - Housing Unit
    A self-motivated team player will work with the lawyers in our Housing Unit to protect low income tenants and those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

    All positions are full-time and come with competitive salaries and benefits. We hope you will consider joining our amazing team of lawyers and advocates working to make Orange County a better place.

  • 07 Dec 2016 10:50 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Comments sought:
     
    Two proposals have been published for comment at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm.
     
    CALCRIM 2016-02: Criminal Jury Instructions (CALCRIM) - Revisions

    The Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions is seeking comment on new and revised instructions reflecting developments in the law. The deadline for comment is Friday, January 6, 2017.
     
     
    SP16-13: Appellate Procedure: Expedited Review of Certain Orders Denying Motions to Compel Arbitration
    Recent legislation requires the Court of Appeal to issue its decision in cases involving the review of certain orders denying motions to compel arbitration no later than 100 days after the notice of appeal is filed. The legislation also requires the Judicial Council to adopt rules to implement this requirement and to establish a shortened notice of appeal period in these cases. These proposed rules are intended to fulfill this legislative obligation. The deadline for comment is Wednesday, January 11, 2017.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact Camilla Kieliger, at camilla.kieliger@jud.ca.gov, or at 415-865-7681.

  • 21 Nov 2016 7:31 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Earn Your Legal Interpretation & Translation Certificate
    Our Legal Interpretation & Translation (English/Spanish) program returns in spring and registration is now open.
     
    If you are fluent in Spanish and English and have a desire to help others; legal interpretation and translation could be the career for you.
     
    Many Spanish speakers live in California, but many are without interpreters to help in their legal transactions. It is estimated that by 2020, the need for interpreters and translators will increase by 42%.
     
    This comprehensive program cycles through discussions, role-plays and hands-on practice. You will have access to our state-of-the-art language laboratory and will receive instruction from industry renowned interpreters and translators. The program also helps you better prepare for the California Court Interpreter Certification Exam.
     
    If you're ready to start in this exciting field, you'll need to take the Bilingual Proficiency Test first just to be sure your Spanish and English skills are up to speed. Once you pass the test, you will be invited to a special orientation where you will have the chance to meet other interpreters and get a firsthand look at the job.
     
    Please view our Program Guide for a closer look at this program and course details.
     
    Registration is Now Open.
     
    Register Online
    Have Questions?
    We would love to hear from you. Please contact our program coordinator; Veronica Martinez at (657) 278-3123 or vmartinez@fullerton.edu.

  • 21 Nov 2016 7:22 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (November 21, 2016) – The Orange County Bar Association will present attorney Dean J. Zipser with the Franklin G. West Award at its 2017 Judges’ Night & Annual Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa in Huntington Beach, Calif.
    First established in 1971 in honor of the late Judge Franklin G. West, the Franklin G. West Award represents the highest honor awarded by the OCBA.

    Widely regarded as a leader in the Orange County legal community, Mr. Zipser is a founding partner of Umberg/Zipser LLP, headquartered in Irvine, Calif. He has been practicing law for more than 36 years, and continues to serve the Orange County bench and bar as well as the greater legal community through his work, mentoring, and community service.

    “The Orange County legal community is fortunate to have attorneys of Dean’s caliber,” said OCBA President Todd Friedland. “His selfless efforts have made a positive impact on countless OCBA members.”

    In 2005, Mr. Zipser served as President of the OCBA, for which he founded and currently co-chairs the association’s Mentoring Committee. In years past, he served as a President of the OCBA Charitable Fund, and Chair of the OCBA Masters Division that includes members who have practiced law for 25 years or longer. Additionally, he is a founding member and Secretary of the Federal Bar Association, Orange County, and was a former President of the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Both at and beyond the OCBA, his service to the legal community has and continues to be a humbling example of service and leadership.
    “Dean has always been a quiet leader, one who so clearly puts the interests of the legal community before his own,” shares U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton about her experience working with Mr. Zipser. “He is both reflective and inclusive in his decision making process. Because he puts others before himself, the members of the organizations he leads know they are in capable hands.”

    He is currently one of two vice chairs for the California State Bar’s Second Commission on the Revision of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and previously served as a member of the Pro Bono Panel for the Central District of California as well as a lawyer representative for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

    Just as dedicated to the underserved and underrepresented communities in Orange County, Mr. Zipser is Vice President of the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, and works extensively with Orange County Bar Foundation and Public Law Center. In 2003, he received the Jurisprudence Award from the Anti-Defamation League, which annually recognizes an individual who exemplifies the highest ideals of the legal profession and demonstrates committed service to the community.
    Earlier this year, Mr. Zipser was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Orange County Intellectual Property Litigation by Best Lawyers, which recognized him as “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Orange County Bet-the-Company Litigation in 2014.

    Moreover, he has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers for the areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation since 2008, and as a “Super Lawyer” for the Southern California region since 2005.

    Prior to establishing Umberg/Zipser LLP, Mr. Zipser was managing partner at Morrison & Foerster LLP until joining Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP, where he was a partner since May 2008.

    Mr. Zipser holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. He earned his J.D. from Stanford University Law School in 1980, and served as a member of the Stanford Law Review.

    About the Orange County Bar Association
    Established in 1901, the Orange County Bar Association, with over 8,000 members, is one of the largest voluntary bars in California. The mission of the Orange County Bar Association is to enhance the system of justice, to support the lawyers who serve it and to assist the community served by it.

    About the Franklin G. West Award
    Established in 1971 in memory of the late Judge Franklin G. West, a highly respected jurist who served on the bench from January 1939 to March 1965, the West Award is bestowed upon an outstanding attorney or judge who has made significant contributions to advance and elevate justice and law. Judge West’s 26 years and two months on the bench constituted the longest term ever served by a judge in California.

    Contact
    Jane Kim, (949) 440-6700, ext. 123
    jkim@ocbar.org

  • 16 Nov 2016 9:43 AM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Please click on the link below to access the Notice from the Clerk re Changes to the District Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule Effective December 1, 2016.

    https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/news/changes-district-court-miscellaneous-fee-schedule

  • 15 Nov 2016 9:22 PM | OCHBA Administrator (Administrator)

    Effective January 3, 2017, the Superior Court of Orange County will implement the following change to traffic calendar scheduling:

    • Traffic Court Trials will be heard daily starting at 1:30 p.m.
      • Unless otherwise specified below, only the time of the hearing is changing; the existing court trial setting guidelines designating law enforcement agencies for specific days of the week will remain.
      • Court trials that have already been set for 8:30 a.m. will remain as set.
    • Traffic Arraignments and Hearings will be heard at 8:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday, every week of the month.
    • There will be no changes made to the current Night Court or Collections Court Calendar Model.
    • As part of this new traffic calendar model, the following agencies calendar schedule will be modified as follows:
      • Garden Grove Police Department: Photo Enforcement Court Trials will remain on Tuesdays, but will expand to every week of the month.  All other Court Trials will also be heard on Tuesdays.
      • Los Alamitos Police Department: Photo Enforcement Court Trials will be changed to Thursdays, every week of the month.  All other Court Trials will continue to be heard on Fridays.

    The Court Notice is posted online here:
    http://bit.ly/2fuZERq

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