Tuesday, September 26, 2023
In Person ONLY our doors open at 11:45am to promptly start the event from 12:00pm – 1:00pm.

Please arrive at 11:45am to the location: San Mateo County Superior Court – Southern Branch 
400 County Center
Courtroom 2M
Redwood City, CA  94063

In Person Event ONLY

If you attended the Implicit Bias in the Courts webinar in May, we encourage you to attend Part 2 of that presentation but with all new content and in-person! If you weren’t able to attend, you won’t want to miss this well-rated presenter!

Our speaker, Lisa Wachtell is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) practitioner and consultant. Lisa partners with organizations to develop and integrate effective DEIB principles and strategies into their business practices and company cultures. Lisa has successfully designed and launched practical DEIB strategies, executed actionable implementation plans, and learning/training programs that focus on “meeting organizations where they’re at” and moving the needle to motivate sustainable organizational and behavioral change.

Lisa holds her M.B.A. from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion for Human Resources from Cornell University, and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Lisa is a Course Facilitator and Coach for Stanford’s Graduate School of Business LEAD leadership certificate program.

CLE Testimonials:

Michele R. Stafford, Esq.
Partner, Tucker Arensberg, LLP
“Ms. Wachtell shares a thorough overview of the everyday biases and microaggressions that occur and are often missed both in and out of the courtroom. Ms. Wachtell’s presentation on recognizing and understanding common types of biases that exist, why and how they transpire, and how to mitigate them should be mandatory education for the entire legal community.”

April Glatt
Partner, Chauvel & Glatt
Chair, Labor & Employment Section SMCBA
“Ms. Wachtell doesn’t just teach, but she educates her audience on the implicit biases that occur in the legal community, and the subconscious biased actions and behaviors that take place, even by individuals with the best of intentions. Ms. Wachtell fosters a solid understanding of the foundational knowledge and tools to better our interactions, which go well beyond our professional lives into everyday life as well. The thought-provoking takeaways not only are essential for how we work, but also are a reminder that as individuals we can always improve ourselves and have more compassion for others.”

When:  Tuesday, September 26, 2023, our doors open at 11:45am to promptly start the event from 12:00pm – 1:00pm.

LAST DAY TO REGISTER September 22, 2023.

Cost: $15 for Members and $25 for Non-Members, cost includes Lunch and 1.0 hour of Implicit Bias MCLE credit.

Where: San Mateo County Superior Court – Southern Branch
400 County Center
Courtroom 2M
Redwood City, CA  94063

For in person cancellations, the cancellation must be received ONE WEEK BEFOREthe event. If you do not cancel within one week prior to the event or do not show up to the event, you will be charged the full amount.

Contact Info for this Event: For questions about this event, please email events@smcba.org.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
In-Person ONLY 5:00pm-7:00pm
Held at the San Mateo County Historical Courthouse
2200 Broadway Street, Redwood City CA 94063

The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee is proud to present its award-winning 15^th Annual Speakers Series. Our speaker this year will be Justice Kelli M. Evans an Associate of the California Supreme Court on Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 5:00pm to 7:30pm.

Speaker: Justice Kelli M. Evans serves as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Before joining the Supreme Court, Justice Evans served as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court, presiding over both criminal and civil matters.

Prior to her appointment to the Alameda County bench, Justice Evans served as Chief Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary in the Office of Governor Newsom, where she advised the Governor and executive agencies on a variety of legal, policy, and legislative issues.

Justice Evans previously served as Special Assistant to the Attorney General at the California Department of Justice with a focus in criminal justice, public safety, and civil rights law and policy.

Justice Evans has had a career of public service. Before joining the California Department of Justice, she served as Senior Director for the Administration of Justice at the California State Bar. Prior to joining the State Bar, she was Associate Director of the ACLU of Northern California and served as a Senior Trial Attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and as an Assistant Public Defender at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office. Justice Evans also has served as a member of federal court-appointed monitoring teams for the Oakland and Cleveland Police Departments.

Justice Evans has sat on the governing boards of a number of non-profit organizations and currently serves on the California Commission on Access to Justice. She has received numerous awards and recognition including the King Hall Distinguished Alumna Award, the Stanford Trailblazer Award, Judge of the Year Award, Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, State Bar President’s Award, and a Medal of Achievement from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.    

Justice Evans received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her law degree from the University of California at Davis, where she was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Public Service.

The following recognitions will be made at the event:

Les Williams Award
The Diversity Award Recognizes an individual or organization who has demonstrated a meaningful and consistent commitment to increasing and maintaining diversity in San Mateo County at all levels of the legal profession.

Nancy de Ita Scholarship
The Scholarship is given to an incoming/current law student, or recent graduate who has not passed the bar exam to encourage and support their commitment to the legal profession and diversity in our community.

1 Hour of Elimination of Bias MCLE will be provided upon request. 

Cost: This event is FREE for SMCBA Members, for Non-SMCBA members, the cost of attendance is $50 (in-person). 1 hour of Elimination of Bias MCLE will be provided upon request for an additional $15.

Become a Sponsor for next year’s 2024 scholarship winner(s):

Bronze- $250
Silver- $500
Gold- $1000

Sponsors will receive an SMCBA gift, recognition in event announcements, and visual recognition (Firm Logo) at the event. For more information or to sign up as a sponsor, please see the attached sponsorship form HERE.

For questions or information email us at events@smcba.org. 

Thursday, November 30, 2023
Via Zoom ONLY at 12:00pm

Speaker: Felicia A. Smith, MLIS., is the inaugural Racial Justice and Social Equity Librarian, at Stanford Libraries. As an African American Librarian, Felicia is charged with the awesome responsibility of being a keeper of the light and a protector of our shared memories. Felicia was the visionary for the libraries’ popular exhibit titled, Say Their Names – No More Names, which has been translated into Chinese, Spanish and German. To access the translations, simply click the drop-down menu under “English” in the header. Felicia hopes that this allows people in more communities to read these stories. This is Stanford Libraries’ most translated exhibit. 

Event Info: TBD

Cost: Free for SMCBA members, $15 for non-members. Cost includes 1.0 hour of Recognition and Elimination of Bias MCLE credit.

Registration and Information: Please click on the button below to register for this event. If you wish to pay by check, please still register online first and send your check payable to SMCBA, to: 333 Bradford St., Ste. 150, Redwood City, CA 94063. Attn: Events. *Please note for which event you are paying and the name of the attendee.

Logistics: Your Zoom credentials will automatically be emailed to you shortly after you register online, as well as the day and hour before the event. Please note that you’ll need to be logged into a Zoom account to join the webinar. The written materials for the webinar will be emailed to attendees the morning of the event. 

Contact Info for this Event: For questions about this event, please email events@smcba.org.

Cancellations must be received at least 48 hours prior to the event for a full refund of the registration fee. If you do not cancel within 48 hours or do not show up to the event, you will be charged the full amount.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Via Zoom ONLY at 12:00pm

Please join Chuck Amital, Gretchen Wallace and Karen Sparks for an informative session on the Collaborative Divorce process, an alternative to traditional adversarial divorce procedures.

This presentation is a guideline to help you better understand your divorce process options This material is general information and applies only to California law. It is not a comprehensive review of family law or a workshop on how to get a divorce in California. Consult with the appropriate professional for individualized mental health, financial, or legal information. 

Cost: Free for SMCBA members, $15 for non-members. Cost includes 1.0 hour of General Law MCLE credit.

Registration and Information: Please click on the button below to register for this event. If you wish to pay by check, please still register online first and send your check payable to SMCBA, to: 333 Bradford St., Ste. 150, Redwood City, CA 94063. Attn: Events. *Please note for which event you are paying and the name of the attendee.

Logistics: Your Zoom credentials will automatically be emailed to you shortly after you register online, as well as the day and hour before the event. Please note that you’ll need to be logged into a Zoom account to join the webinar. The written materials for the webinar will be emailed to attendees the morning of the event. 

Contact Info for this Event: For questions about this event, please email events@smcba.org 

Cancellations must be received at least 48 hours prior to the event for a full refund of the registration fee. If you do not cancel within 48 hours or do not show up to the event, you will be charged the full amount.

Thursday, September 28, 2023
Via Zoom ONLY at 12:00pm

What: The Current State of PAGA in California

Our speaker, Brett Greving will provide insight on the current state of PAGA in California. He will discuss the impact of the California Supreme Court’s Decision in Adolph v.  Uber Technologies, Inc.  and how this decision impacts the PAGA landscape moving forward.  

Who: Brett has more than 10 years of employment law experience, providing practical legal solutions for businesses in a heavily regulated employment environment and provides stout defense to employment lawsuits. Brett represents employers of all sizes in state and federal court litigation, handling class actions and individual matters with a particular focus on wage and hour class actions, Private Attorney General Act and Fair Labor Standards Act Collective actions, and trade secret lawsuits. He has experience handling hearings and proceedings before administrative agencies, including the California Labor Commissioner, FINRA, the EEOC, and the DFEH.

When: Thursday, September 28^th from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.

**Please start to log in to Zoom about five minutes before the start time **

If you want to pay by check, still, please register online first and send your check payable to SMCBA and note your name and this event. Please note that if you RSVP but do not “show up,” or cancel 48 hours in advance, you will still be charged the full amount for attending the event.  Note: MCLE certificates will be emailed to you once your presence is verified at the event.

Where: Your Computer via Zoom! All registrants will be provided with the link and meeting code one day prior to the event date.

Cost: $20 for Labor & Employment Section Members and $35 for non-section members. Cost includes 1.0-hour General Law MCLE credit.

Contact Info for this Event: For questions about this event, please email events@smcba.org.

Cancellations must be received at least 48 hours prior to the event for a full refund of the registration fee. If you do not cancel within 48 hours or do not show up to the event, you will be charged the full amount.

Friday, October 13, 2023
Via Zoom ONLY at 12:00pm

Description: In this session, presenters will give an overview of domestic violence issues in family law cases (including legal updates), tips on crafting enforceable custody orders and why it matters and explain how domestic violence criminal cases are handled by law enforcement and the district attorney’s office. 

1. Overview
   1. Review of domestic violence laws (including legal updates)
   2. Domestic violence issue spotting
   3. Tips on being a trauma informed attorney
2. Criminal Cases
   1. DVRO vs CPO: declarations, timing, hierarchy of orders
   2. How the district attorney decides whether to prosecute/plead/misdemeanor/felony
   3. How to advocate for victim witness
3. Unsafe/unenforceable custody provision
   1. Enforcement challenges
   2. How to make orders safe/enforceable

Speakers: Tulin D. Acikalin & Paula Vielman-Reeves

Cost: Cost is $35 per person for members of the SMCBA Family Law Section and $50 for Non-Section Members. Cost includes 1.0 hour of General Law MCLE.

Registration and Information: Please click on the button above to register for this event. If you wish to pay by check, please still register online first and send your check payable to SMCBA, to 333 Bradford St., Ste. 150, Redwood City, CA 94063. Attn: Events. *Please note for which event you are paying and the name of the attendee.

Logistics: Your Zoom credentials will automatically be emailed to you shortly after you register online, as well as the day and hour before the event. Please note that you’ll need to be logged into a Zoom account to join the webinar. The written materials for the webinar will be emailed to attendees the morning of the event. 

Contact Info for this Event: For questions about this event, please email events@smcba.org.

Cancellations must be received at least 48 hours prior to the event for a full refund of the registration fee. If you do not cancel within 48 hours or do not show up to the event, you will be charged the full amount.

Thursday, October 26, 2023
Via Zoom ONLY at 12:00pm

What: Legal Malpractice Post-COVID Primer for Lawyers

Our speaker, Jason E. Fellner, a Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice Law and founding partner of Millstein Fellner, LLP, will discuss the ways in which lawyers and law firms can protect themselves against legal malpractice claims.  The program will begin with an overview of legal malpractice claims, how they differ from breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud claims routinely raised against lawyers, and the best ways lawyers and law firms can institute procedures that not only comply with the California Rules of Professional Conduct, but also exceed the professional standard of care that should eliminate the viability of any potential claim.  The program will end with a Q&A session.

Who: Jason Fellner is a founding partner of Millstein Fellner, LLP. Mr. Fellner is a top-rated trial lawyer who represents individual and corporate clients throughout California with a focus on complex civil litigation. Mr. Fellner has successfully represented clients in all phases of dispute resolution from pre-litigation mediation and arbitration all the way through trial. He also serves as general counsel to companies and law firms. A hallmark of his practice, Mr. Fellner works collaboratively with his clients in providing them with recommendations on how best to address the legal, financial, and the emotional aspects of each case. He is recognized by the California State Bar as a Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice Law and is a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He speaks regularly and often to lawyers on legal ethics and also serves as an expert witness on legal malpractice and ethics.

When: Thursday, October 26^th from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.

**Please start to log in to Zoom about five minutes before the start time **

If you want to pay by check, still, please register online first and send your check payable to SMCBA and note your name and this event. Please note that if you RSVP but do not “show up,” or cancel 48 hours in advance, you will still be charged the full amount for attending the event.  Note: MCLE certificates will be emailed to you once your presence is verified at the event.

Where: Your Computer via Zoom! All registrants will be provided with the link and meeting code one day prior to the event date.

Cost: $20 for Labor & Employment Section Members and $35 for non-section members. Cost includes 1.0-hour Ethics MCLE credit.

Contact Info for this Event: For questions about this event, please email events@smcba.org.

Cancellations must be received at least 48 hours prior to the event for a full refund of the registration fee. If you do not cancel within 48 hours or do not show up to the event, you will be charged the full amount.

Friday, January 26, 2024
In Person ONLY from 8:00am-5:00pm
Location: TBD

The Funky Credit Day Program is held each year for members of the State Bar of California who are actively practicing law. Attorneys are required to complete a total of 25 hours of approved credit every three years, which include credits on legal ethics as well as competence issues, such as substance abuse and mental health, and elimination of bias, which includes implicit bias.

Although everyone is welcome to attend this program, we would like to remind you that the MCLE Group 2 (H-M) has a deadline of 2/1/2024 to report their MCLE to the State Bar. MCLE Group 1 (A-G) must report their MCLE credits to the State Bar by 2/1/2025, and MCLE Group 3 (N-Z) must report their credits by 2/1/26.

This Special MCLE Program will feature a total of 8 hours:
4 hours of Legal Ethics
1 hour of Recognition & Elimination of Bias
1 hour of Implicit Bias
1 hour of General Law
1 hour of Competence Issues

Cost:
$260* Early Bird Special: Payment must be received by 10/31/23
$290* Pre-Registration: Payment must be received by 12/31/23
$399* Registration received after 1/1/2024
* Additional $100 for Non-SMCBA Members.

It’s never too early to meet your MCLE requirement!

Registration:
Please register online or complete the registration form and email to events@smcba.org. If you wish to pay by check, please send your check payable to SMCBA, to: 333 Bradford St., Ste. 150, Redwood City, CA 94063, Attn: Funky Credit Day.

Cancellations must be received no later than 01/13/2024 for a refund of registration.