1. law, govt and politics

November 2012
How to Meet a Mentor – At Monthly Luncheon November 15
and Speed Mentoring November 29
By Erika Hiramatsu
Last year, LinkedIn surveyed nearly 1,000 female professionals nationwide and found that, while 82
percent believed it is important to have a mentor, 19 percent had never had one. Among those women,
52 percent said they “never encountered someone appropriate” to be their mentor. On the flip side, 67
percent of women who had never mentored anyone said their reason was, “no one ever asked.”
This month, Lawyers Club’s Mentorship Program offers two opportunities for members to either find mentors or to be mentors
to other members.
November’s luncheon on the 15th will be entirely devoted to
mentorship questions and advice: attendees will be assigned to
tables to ensure a balanced mix of experience levels, between
veteran attorneys, newer attorneys, and law students or recent
grads. Each table will have a list of questions to help jump-start
the discussion, but to maximize the time for dialog, the formal
portion of the luncheon will be short.
On November 29, the Mentorship Program will host a free
Speed Mentoring event from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Basic, 410
10th Avenue, at 10th and J Street. Basic will offer Happy Hour
drink specials, and complimentary appetizers will be served. The
event is open to attorneys as well as law students, recent graduates, and new admittees, but all must be current Lawyers Club
members. We ask that all participants arrive on time so we can
get the program started quickly. There is a cash-only public parking structure on J Street, across the street from Basic. In order to
ensure a good balance of mentors and mentees, reservations are
required; go to www.lawyersclubsandiego.com to register.
If you are interested in being a mentor or participating in the
Mentorship Program, please contact the program’s co-chairs,
Erika Hiramatsu at [email protected], or Laura Castillo
at [email protected].
Add Erika Hiramatsu is co-chair of Lawyers Club’s mentorship program and a board member. She is an Assistant Attorney
General.
What? When? Where?
What? When? Where?
What: November Luncheon
When: November 15, 2012, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Where: The Bristol Hotel, 1055 First Avenue, downtown San Diego.
Cost: Members, $25; Non-members, $30; Students, $20; at the
door $30 (subject to availability),
Registration: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
What: Speed Mentoring
When: November 29, 2012, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Basic, 410 10th Avenue, at 10th and J Street
Cost: Free
Registration: www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
What’s Inside
Upcoming Events:
- Lawyers Without Courtrooms and
Networking Committees host a happy
hour
on November 1, See page 4
Past Events:
- The Lawyers Club Community
Outreach Committee broke ground
at the San Diego Youth Services Teen
Options site, See page 6.
- September luncheon is a sell-out, See
pages 7-9
- Egyptian Delegation comes to San
Diego, See page 10
Of Note:
- Lawyers Club endorses Jodi
Cleesattle, James Crosby, Danielle
Hickman and
Heather Riley for San Diego County
Bar Association, See pages 12-13
Lawyers Club News
2
november 2012
Lawyers Club President Sarah Boot’s Message to Members
Mayer Makes History as First Pregnant Fortune 500 CEO
Let’s use this milestone to launch a renewed push for
improved family leave benefits in this country.
By Sarah Boot
Sarah Boot
Marissa Mayer shattered glass ceilings for women everywhere when she became the first
pregnant woman hired to run a Fortune 500 company. Mayer started her tenure as CEO of
Yahoo! in July while 6 months pregnant. The significance of her rise to the top of this multimillion dollar tech company is underscored by the fact that - at age 37 - Mayer is currently the
youngest CEO in the Fortune 500.
This milestone impacts all women. As Jennifer Siebel Newsom
blogged on MissRepresentation.org, “In the not-so-distant past, companies would even use the idea of a potential pregnancy to avoid hiring
more women. . .Whether or not you ever planned on being a mother, if
you are a woman, your opportunities have expanded overnight.”
Mayer’s advance, though widely acclaimed, is not without controversy. Shortly after announcing both her new job and her pregnancy,
Mayer stated the following: “My maternity leave will be a few weeks
long and I’ll work throughout it.” The blogosphere lit up with responses,
mostly from women. Some criticized Mayer for setting women’s
progress back by taking such a short maternity leave while in such a
public role. Some questioned her dedication to her child, a son born on
September 30.
Criticisms of Mayer as a mother are unfair. If a man with a newborn
baby were hired on as Yahoo!’s new CEO, nobody would question his
dedication as a father. Mayer is in a unique role and an unprecedented
situation. Rather than criticize her specific choices to become a CEO at
this time in her life and to take a shorter maternity leave, we should be
rooting for her success as she joins the other 18 women CEOs of the
Fortune 500. Further, we should remember that Mayer has the ability to
make the choices that work for her family and she can afford them, as
she obviously has the resources to pay for around-the-clock childcare.
Most women have little choice in the length of their maternity leave
and nowhere near Mayer’s resources. The criticisms should turn away
from Mayer and toward the dire state of family leave benefits in this
country. For most professional women, a maternity leave that’s just “a
few weeks long” is not acceptable - it would not be their choice. The
problem is that many women cannot afford to take a maternity leave
that’s much longer – or to even take one at all. The United States is
the only industrialized nation that does not have a national, paid family
and medical leave program. In fact, while over 170 countries have such
programs, the United States is in the minority that does not, along with
Swaziland and Papua New Guinea.
As many of you are aware, especially the employment attorneys,the
United States merely offers unpaid leave under the Family Medical
Leave Act (“FMLA”). FMLA allots 12 weeks of unpaid time off to care
for a new child or to recover from or aid a family member in recovering
from a serious health condition, and it guarantees workers the same job
upon their return. Yet, according to a Forbes.com article titled “U.S. Maternity Leave Benefits are Still Dismal,” companies with fewer than 50
employees are exempt, and more than half of U.S. companies employ
less than 50 people. As a result, the Center for WorkLife Law explains
that “nearly 40% of all American workers are not protected by the
FMLA,” in an article titled “Caregiver Discrimination Against Low-Wage
Workers.”
Forbes.com reports that just 16% of companies with over 100 employees provide paid maternity leave. Thus, in order to get by financially,
“the norm for most women tends to be a patchwork of unused sick or
vacation days.” Yet, the Center for WorkLife Law states that “[a]lmost
70% of all lower-income workers have two weeks or less of sick and
vacation days combined.” So even if they are lucky enough to qualify for
the FMLA, many others, worlds apart financially from Marissa Mayer,
cannot afford to take an extended, unpaid leave.
But it gets worse. Many women in this country, particularly lowwage working women, do not even have access to any unpaid time
off. According to MomsRising.org, a grassroots organization with over
one million members working to advance critical issues facing women,
mothers, and families, “[n]early 80% of low wages workers and 40%
of private sector workers don’t have access to a single earned sick day
for themselves or to care for a child – even though everyone gets sick.”
According to U.S. Census data, more than 80% of women in our nation
become mothers, and MomsRising.org reports that “having a baby is
the leading cause of ‘poverty spells’ in this country.”
Luckily, here in the state of California, moms and families have some
relief. In 2002, California became the first state in the nation to provide
paid family leave insurance to nearly all of its workers with passage of
its Paid Family Leave program (“PFL”). PFL is funded through payroll
taxes on workers, and provides up to 6 weeks of partial wage replacement to workers (women and men) who need to take time off to care
for a new child or a seriously ill family member.
The Center for American Progress reports that approximately 168,000
workers per year have taken paid leave since PFL went into effect, and,
despite fierce opposition leading up to its passage, “the vast majority of
employers say the law either had no impact on their business or found
it was good for their companies.” According to the Center for American
Progress, over the past decade, the paid leave offered by PFL has demonstrated the following benefits in California: worker turnover is lower;
the median duration of breastfeeding by new mothers has doubled; lowincome families are less likely to need to rely on government assistance
programs; and new fathers are more likely to take paternity leave. The
importance of this last point cannot be overstated. As John Schmidt of
the Center for Economic and Policy Research explains in an article titled
“The Case for Paid Parental Leave” on theglasshammer.com, “when
dads aren’t offered equal amounts of parental leave as moms (if at all), it
completely reinforces the cultural expectation that women take care of
children and men continue to do work.”
PFL is not without drawbacks, as it does not provide job protection.
If workers are not in the group covered by the FMLA, even if they collect benefits under PFL, they could lose their job for taking an extended
leave. But at least it is a strong step in the right direction. So far, only
two other states have followed suit, Washington and New Jersey. Lawyers Club members should join the ranks of MomsRising.org and other
similar organizations to push for this type of legislation nationwide. In
the meantime, we need more women to join Mayer in positions of
power in both the private and public sectors, and we need both male
and female leaders to advocate for improved family leave benefits in our
country.
Lawyers Club News
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club
of San Diego
About Us - Lawyers
Club members making news
701 B Street, Suite 224,
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 595-0650 phone
(619) 595-0657 fax
[email protected]
President
Sarah Boot
Vice Presidents
Lana Plumb, Johanna Schiavoni,
Natalie Prescott,
and Rupa Singh
Hon. Judith
Haller
Bibianne Fell
Diana
Vellos Coker
Christine
De Santis
Renee Galente
Rebecca
Kanter
Secretary
Anna Romanskaya
Treasurer
Renee Galente
Directors
Deborah Dixon, Erika Hiramatsu,
Patricia Hollenbeck,
Michelle Ialeggio, Jessica Jagir,
and Tamera Weisser
North County Chapter
President: Danielle Moore
East County Chapter
President: Carolyn Brock
Editor
Michelle Ialeggio
Executive Director
Elaine Lawrence
Administrative
Coordinator
Vicky Frank
Lawyers Club News is published
monthly 11 times a year, with a
combined July/August issue.
Lawyers Club welcomes
contributions to the newsletter,
as well as your comments and
suggestions regarding Lawyers Club
News. Contact Michelle Ialeggio at
[email protected] with
your ideas for articles.
The deadline for articles is the
first day of the month prior to
the month of publication. The
advertising deadline is the eighth
day of the month prior to the month
of publication. Articles should be
submitted in Microsoft Word. For
advertising information, contact
Elaine Lawrence at (619) 595-0650.
Honored
Elected
California Fourth District Court
of Appeal Associate Justice
Judith Haller, a Lawyers Club
Sustaining Member, recently received the American Inns of Court
2012 Ninth Circuit Professionalism
Award for her integrity and dedication to the legal profession and the
rule of law.
San Diego Superior Court Judge
Margie Woods, a Lawyers Club
Sustaining Member, was honored
in August as one of the Outstanding Professionals and High Achieving Teams (TOP HATS) of 2012
by Phil Am BID, the Philippine
American Business Improvement
& Development non-profit organization. Bibianne Fell, a partner
with Fleming & Fell PC, received
a Rising Star Award from Phil Am
BID in honor of her professional
achievements and volunteerism.
Lawyers Club Sustaining
Member Diana Vellos Coker, a
partner with Larrabee Mehlman
Albi Coker LLP, announced that
her firm has been certified by
the National Women Business
Owners Corporation. The NWBOC grants certification after a
thorough review of a company’s
ownership, control and general
business practices. Certification
enables women-owned businesses to develop relationships with a
greater diversity of companies and
creates opportunities for future
partnerships.
Lawyers Club past president
Wendy Behan, a partner with
Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla
Blatt & Penfield LLP, was elected
as First Vice President of California Women Lawyers in August.
Following her term as First Vice
President in 2013, she will serve
as President-Elect and then
President. Rebecca Roberts, an
associate with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, was
elected Treasurer. Lawyers Club
past president Paula Rosenstein,
a partner with Rosenstein Wilson
& Dean PLC, was appointed to the
CWL board of governors earlier in
the year.
40 Under 40
Tamera
Weisser
Wendy Behan
Rebecca
Roberts
Paula
Rosenstein
Elizabeth
Balfour
Susan Swan
3
Five Lawyers Club members
were named to San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s 2012 “40
Under 40” list in September. The
honorees, recognized for high
achievement in business and
civic affairs, include: Christine
De Santis, a partner at Higgs
Fletcher & Mack; Renee Galente,
an owner of Galante Ganci APC,
treasurer of Lawyers Club, and
co-chair of Lawyers Club’s Annual Dinner Committee; Rebecca
Kanter, an assistant U.S. attorney
and co-chair of Lawyers Club’s
Reproductive Rights & Women’s
Advocacy Committee; and Tamera
Weisser, of counsel at Jones Day,
a Lawyers Club board member
and co-chair of Lawyers Club’s Balance Committee.
Appointed
Elizabeth Balfour, a partner
with Sheppard Mullin Richter &
Hampton LLP, has been named
to the board of directors for the
Center for Employment Opportunities, a non-profit organization that
works with formerly incarcerated
people to help them gain basic
work skills to obtain full-time, private sector jobs. The organization
is headquartered in New York and
launched a San Diego operation in
November 2011.
On the Move
Holly Amaya, co-chair of
Lawyers Club’s Balance Committee, has joined global inventory management company WIS
International as legal counsel in
September. The company, which
has 220 offices in eight countries,
uses proprietary technology to
provide physical inventory counting, merchandising, and data
collection. Earlier this summer,
Amaya successfully represented
a detained Eritrean national in
removal proceedings before the
U.S. Immigration Court on a pro
bono basis through Casa Cornelia
Law Center.
On the Speaking Circuit
Susan Swan, an attorney with
the Law Office of Joshua D. Gruenberg, appeared on the New Employment Attorneys panel at the
California Employment Lawyers
Association’s annual conference in
Costa Mesa October 6, discussing
how to oppose summary judgment motions, deal with difficult
opposing counsel, and prevent
and fix rookie mistakes. Swan represents plaintiffs in discrimination,
sexual harassment, whistleblower,
and wrongful termination cases.
4
Lawyers Club News
november 2012
SDVLP is Collecting Toiletries for the 24th Annual Women’s Resource Fair
By Leslie J. Shields
One of the biggest highlights for participants of the San Diego Volunteer
Lawyer Program’s Women’s Resource Fair is receiving a free gift bag full of
new toiletries and other personal items.
SDVLP’s Women’s Resource Fair will be collecting new travel-sized and full-sized toiletries
for women in need at upcoming Lawyers Club events, including the Lawyers Club Monthly
Luncheons on November 15 and December 13 and the Bi-Monthly Happy Hour on November
1. Examples of gift bag toiletry items include unused makeup, hotel shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste, Kleenex, feminine products, soap, lotion, hair products, shaving cream,
lip balm and other personal items. Any toiletries you donate will be greatly appreciated by
the participants of this year’s fair. If you have questions about gift bags, please contact task
force members Jamie Duitz Quient at [email protected] or Mallory Lorber at [email protected].
Along with this gift bag, homeless and low income women who attend the fair on March
9 will receive other free services including medical care, legal services, and social services
referrals. If you are interested in volunteering at the fair on March 9, please visit the Women’s Resource Fair website at http://www.wrfsandiego.org/volunteers/. Approximately 250
volunteers are needed each year. Or if you would like to contribute a monetary donation,
please contact Amy Fitzpatrick at [email protected]. Monetary donations of any size will
be accepted. For additional information about the Women’s Resource Fair, please visit the
website at www.wrfsandiego.org.
Leslie Shields is a Staff Attorney at the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. and the Publicity Chair for SDVLP’s Women’s Resource Fair.
Network and mingle with transactional
and in-house attorneys
By Jennifer Chang
On Thursday, November 1, the Lawyers Without Courtrooms Committee, in collaboration with the Networking
Events Committee, will host a happy hour geared toward
transactional and in-house attorneys, though all Lawyers
Club members are encouraged to attend. The event will
take place at the Gaslamp Speakeasy, from 5:30 to 7:30
p.m.
Please join us for this happy hour and get to know other transactional and in-house attorneys in San Diego, as we swap stories and
help each other build our practices. This is also a great opportunity to
learn about the Committee and our plans for the coming year, as well
as get involved by sharing your suggestions and ideas. The Lawyers
Without Courtrooms Committee is a newer committee of Lawyers
Club, created to address the unique needs and concerns of transactional and in-house Lawyers Club members. Gaslamp Speakeasy,
708 4th Avenue. http://gaslampspeakeasy.com/
Jennifer Chang and Kristin Wheeteven are co-chairs of Lawyers
Club’s Lawyers Without Courtrooms Committee.
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club News
5
Equal Pay Day? Not Today
Join Lawyers Club’s Equality In Action Committee to Make a Difference
By Maggie Schroedter
Women make less than men. You have likely heard this phrase before. This
phrase, this “concept,” has certainly been repeated again and again, especially
in the legal field where women are seemingly becoming more and more influential. So we ask ourselves, the numbers must be improving, right? Compensation for female attorneys must be equal to, or at least comparable with,
compensation for male attorneys at the same practice level, right?
The answer is no, and the specifics behind it, quite alarming. Not only is the pay gap between
female and male compensation significant, but it is actually widening. A partner compensation
survey in 2011by a search consultant, Major, Lindsey & Africa revealed that the “[a]verage compensation for male partners was about 30% higher than for female partners: $734,000 for male
partners vs. $497,000 for female partners.” The male compensation figure increased by 9% since
2010, yet the female compensation figure actually decreased by 3% since 2010. This is despite
the fact that “male and female partners billed nearly the same number of hours in 2012 (1,690 vs.
1,670, respectively), narrowing the gap even further from 2010 (1,666 vs. 1,622, respectively).”
(Major, Lindsey & Africa 2012 Survey Report.) Further, a report by The National Association of
Women Lawyers and The NAWL Foundation showed that “women at every stage of practice earn
less than their male counterparts, with the biggest difference at the equity partner level.”
This comes at a time when nearly 50% of law graduates are women and women’s rights are,
once again, at the forefront of American politics. So what are we going to do about it? Lawyers
Club’s Equality In Action Committee cares and is interested in looking at solutions. Consider joining this new committee to become more involved.
Maggie Schroedter is chair of Lawyers Club’s Equality and Action Committee and an attorney with Higgs, Fletcher and Mack.
Lawyer’s Club’s Annual Dinner
will be held on May 16, 2013 at the US Grant Hotel
SavetheDate
6
Lawyers Club News
november 2012
Extreme Makeover – Lawyers Club Edition
By: Stephanie M. McKnight
The Lawyers Club Community Outreach Committee (COC) broke ground on September 21st on this year’s project at
the San Diego Youth Services Teen Options site.
Teen Options supports pregnant/parenting teens and young adults;
with a focus on recovery from addictions, living independently, as well
as developing healthy lives and relationships.
and Michelle spends many of her weekends volunteering at the Rancho Cuyamacha State Park where she and her husband work on the
trail crew and pretty much anything else that needs doing in the park.
The COC is renovating the Teen Options welcoming center by putting in new flooring and furniture, painting walls, as well as providing
books, toys, and additional decorative touches throughout the facility.
Amanda Thompson stated, “We would like to recognize and thank
committee member and project force-woman, Merrianne Dean,
whose past experience as a contractor has been invaluable to the success of this and many other past COC projects!
We really appreciate all the volunteers who
came out to help with the project these first
two weekends. The work we’ve done there
has already made such a difference at Teen Options and we look forward to seeing everything
when the project is 100% completed!” There
has been impressive progress due to some
amazing volunteers, early mornings and late
nights!
Nicole Heeder and Amanda Thompson have
done an excellent job as co-leaders of the
project, working long days and evenings on the
project. Nicole Heeder stated, “We’ve been
told that for many participants in the Teen Options program any type of change is very difficult for them, but we are really hoping that our
work on this project will be a shining example
of how positive change can be sometimes.”
The committee would really like to recognize
and thank several individuals with special
expertise who took time out of their very busy
schedules to help with the project thus far:
Daniel Horan of Pacific Handymen (dvhoran@
gmail.com, 619-823-2428), who installed the
lighting sconces that have greatly improved the ambiance in the
daycare, and Michelle Hernandez of Jamul Spray-On (619-466-2350),
who patched, drywalled, and textured the walls following the electrical
work, which was much appreciated!
The COC
would like to thank
everyone who has
donated generously to
this amazing make-over,
together with all of
the volunteers and
their time!
Dan and Michelle are no strangers to volunteerism. Dan regularly
volunteers to build and fill water stations in the desert each summer,
Merrianne Dean, Community
Outreach Committee Member
The COC would like to thank everyone
who has donated generously to this amazing
make-over, together with all of the volunteers
and their time! Please spread the word of
the Lawyers Club Extreme Makeover Project
as donations are still being collected, and keep an eye out in future
Newsletters for photos of the completed renovations!
To donate, or if you have questions regarding the Teen Options renovation project, please contact Nicole Heeder or Amanda Thompson at
www.heederthompson.com.
Nicole Heeder, project Co-Chair and
Harry Heeder
Members are busy at work installing
the new floor
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club News
7
Sold-Out September Luncheon Demonstrates Balance Issues
Still a Concern for Many Lawyers Club Members
By Holly Amaya
A standing room-only crowd packed the Bristol Hotel on September 20 for the Lawyers Club Balance Committee’s
Sixth Annual Balance Symposium, entitled “Balancing It All and Having It All: 40 Years of Work-Life Balance.” The
sold-out event featured an exceptional group of prominent, trailblazing attorneys and judges who discussed the implications of the polarizing article “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” penned by former State Department Director of
Policy Planning, Anne-Marie Slaughter. The panelists disagreed with the conclusion implicit in the title of Slaughter’s
article, that working mothers cannot successfully balance career and family, and debated what changes are necessary
in the legal profession and in society to better address work-life balance issues.
Slaughter’s piece, which was featured in the July/August issue of
The Atlantic magazine, elevated the debate over the tightrope walk
that is work/life balance for women and sparked an ongoing national
debate about whether women can truly “have it all” in their personal
and professional lives. Against this context, the Balance Symposium
featured a panel discussion and small-group breakout sessions to
allow participants the opportunity to delve more deeply into Slaughter’s premise. Moderated by Heather Rosing, Shareholder and Chief
Financial Officer of Klinedinst P.C., the discussion began with remarks
of four distinguished panelists, including United States District Court
Judge Irma Gonzalez, California Court of Appeal Justice Judith McConnell, Karen Hewitt, partner-in-charge of the San Diego office of Jones
Day, and Lawyers Club President and Assistant United States Attorney, Sarah Boot.
Rosing began the discussion by noting that the title of Slaughter’s
piece implies that it’s impossible to “have it all.” When asked her
thoughts on the implication that women could not be as careeroriented as men without sacrificing family life, Karen Hewitt disagreed
sharply.
“I think it’s the wrong question, and it’s deeply insulting,” Hewitt
said. “Do men ever ask this? Why should women?” Noting that
she was “fuming” while reading Slaughter’s piece, Hewitt cautioned
women against judging themselves too harshly against an “impossible
standard.”
“To portray this issue as take it or leave it is deeply unfair,” Hewitt
said.
Justice McConnell agreed, encouraging attorneys to be realistic
about the choices inherent in balancing professional and personal commitments.
Diane Gibson
and friend
“You can do a lot, if you want to be a parent and have a successful
career,” McConnell said. “But you have to make choices. If you’re in
a law firm and you want to make partner, you have to work very hard.
Don’t fool yourself. It’s not balance; it’s juggling!”
McConnell said she frequently hears women lament a difficulty in
prioritizing; many feel they are not doing any one thing to the best of
their abilities. She responded by noting that guilt is “part of what you
have to deal with.”
“When you come home at the end of the day, you have to pull yourself together so you can focus completely on your children,” McConnell said. “This requires you to change the way you behave and really
focus. If you have to take work home and turn to it after your kids go
to bed, you do it. Ask yourself what’s the most important thing for you
to do at that very time.”
Continued on page 8
Judge Halgren
and Jamee
Patterson
8
Lawyers Club News
november 2012
September Luncheon Demonstrates Balance Issues
Continued from page 7
Judge Gonzalez addressed one of the “half-truths” outlined in
Slaughter’s piece, which Rosing characterized as clichés that accomplished women “fall back on” when asked by younger women how
to “have it all.” The ‘half-truth’ addressed by Judge Gonzalez was that
“having it all is possible if you are just committed enough.” Judge
Gonzalez cautioned that it is not that simple and stated that women
are “losing sight of what we’re committed to. It all boils down to
choices. We all need help.”
Sarah Boot addressed another “half-truth” presented in Slaughter’s
piece: that having it all is possible “if you sequence it right,” meaning
if a woman has children at the perfect time.
Teresa Beck, Sandra Hagood
Boot stated, “I’ve talked to a lot of parents about the ‘timing’ issue,
and the consensus is there’s no perfect time to have kids.” Boot
believes it to be a highly personal decision based on biological, economic, career, and many other considerations. Boot pointed out that
some women, such as Yahoo!’s new CEO, Marissa Mayer, wait until
they have reached a senior status in their profession before having
children, which can present biological risks, while other women have
children much earlier in their career, which can make the rise to the
top more challenging. According to Boot, there are challenges either
way and, as Hewitt pointed out, those challenges do not disappear
once your child is no longer an infant. Boot noted that for big-picture
progress, men need to take a greater role at home, and gave the
encouraging example of men at her office who take paternity leave at
the end of their wives’ maternity leave.
Justice McConnell and Judge Gonzalez noted that attitudes toward
“having it all” have indeed changed over time in the San Diego legal
community. McConnell, who began her career as an attorney for the
California Department of Transportation in 1969 and served as a judge
in the San Diego Municipal and Superior Courts for a total of 23 years
before joining the Court of Appeal, noted that the presence of women
at the top in the legal field has sharply increased since she began
practicing law.
Julia Barry, Michelle Wasserman, Marietta Geckos
“There have definitely been changes,” McConnell said. “There are
a lot more women in charge, at least on the public side. But it’s very
important that men are part of the conversation.”
Judge Gonzalez echoed that sentiment, noting that while law firms
are still a business, there have been changes. Like Justice McConnell, she championed the notion of men “stepping up to the plate.”
She recalled presiding over a recent twelve-week civil trial in her
courtroom in which the young female associate second-chairing the
trial asked her for access to a lactating room so she could nurse her
six-month-old infant. Judge Gonzalez was particularly impressed by
the “very accommodating” male partner accompanying the associate, as well as the associate’s husband, who had taken a leave of
absence of work to travel to San Diego from Los Angeles so his wife
could be with their child during trial.
Hewitt, who runs the San Diego office of the international law firm
Jones Day, addressed the concept of “face time” in the law firm
context, an idea which figures prominently in Slaughter’s piece. For
those questioning an implicit face time requirement in the workplace,
Hewitt recommends simply addressing the question directly.
Justice Judith McConnell and Kimberly Dimino
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club News
“Really confront the issue,” Hewitt said. “Ask, ‘Is there anything
else you need?’ If the partner says no, leave. You’re sending a message this way.”
Hewitt also said she thinks law firms are “getting the message.
This is the way to keep good lawyers.”
Judge Gonzalez agreed, and encouraged women to “infiltrate! The
more women are at the top levels of the profession, the more these
issues will be talked about.”
Small group discussions followed the panel, allowing participants
the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in greater depth. Table
leaders for the Symposium included: Teresa Beck, Partner at Lincoln,
Gustafson & Cercos, George Brewster, Chief Deputy County Counsel
at County of San Diego, Janice Brown, Founder and Senior Partner
at Brown Law Group, Jodi Cleesattle, Deputy Attorney General at
the Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Christina
Coates, Partner at Jones Day, Hon. Patricia Cowett (ret.), former
Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, Deborah Dixon, Associate at
Wingert Grebing Brubaker & Juskie LLP, Stacy Fode, Partner at Brown
Law Group, Erika Hiramatsu, Deputy Attorney General, Department
of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Patty Hollenbeck, Partner
at Duane Morris LLP, Jessica Jagir, Associate at Palomar Health, Lilys
McCoy, Director of the Solo Practice Concentration and Lawyer Incubator Program, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Jamee Patterson,
Supervising Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice,
Office of the Attorney General, Anna Romanskaya, Attorney at Star &
D’Ambrosio, LLP, and Rupa Singh, Staff Attorney at Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals.
Mikhak Ghorban, Bita Ashtari, Lillian Arias
Balance Committee Co-Chair Tamera Weisser was thrilled with the
level of participation in the sixth annual Symposium.
“The event exceeded our expectations in terms of turnout and the
dynamic discussions that took place at each table,” Weisser said.
The Balance Symposium was graciously co-sponsored by the Earl
B. Gilliam Bar Association, Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego,
Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of San Diego, North County Bar Association, San Diego
Defense Lawyers, and San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association.
Monnett De La Torre, Judge Irma Gonzalez
Holly Amaya is Legal Counsel for WIS International and is Co-Chair
of the Lawyers Club Balance Committee.
Thank you to September’s
Balance Symposium Sponsors:
Foley & Lardner LLP
San Diego Gas & Electric
Mintz Levin
Photo Credit: Jane Engelman
Packed room discusses during out-break sessions
9
10
Lawyers Club News
november 2012
Three Lawyers Club Members Reach International Audience
Without Leaving San Diego
By Rupa G. Singh, Staff Attorney, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Longtime Lawyers Club members—Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Irma
E. Gonzalez of the Southern District of California, and San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis—gave
VIP treatment to a delegation of accomplished Egyptian female prosecutors, litigators, and law professors. Visiting
the U.S. under the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, the Egyptian delegation sought a
better understanding of the U.S. judicial system, with a particular focus on how it serves to protect women’s rights.
In keeping with the theme of the delegation’s visit, “Promoting Gender Justice,” the San Diego Diplomacy Council arranged for the delegates to meet local women leaders in the law through Lawyers Club.
Egyptian Delegates gather in Judge McKeown’s chambers on September 17
During an informal breakfast meeting in her chambers on September 17, Judge McKeown discussed the role of the judiciary in the
U.S., giving the delegates an overview of the state and federal judicial
systems while also explaining the inner workings of intermediate
courts of appeals such as the Ninth Circuit. “I was impressed by the
academic and professional backgrounds of our visitors, as well as their
commitment to the rule of law,” said Judge McKeown after the delegates introduced themselves and described their work in nearly flawless English. “From PhDs to prosecutors, they represent the future of
the Egyptian legal system.”
Drawing from her extensive experience with the ABA’s Rule of Law
Initiative, including in the Middle East, Judge McKeown discussed
the legal resources on which the judiciary has come to rely, such as
elbow law clerks and online research databases, and mentioned some
key differences between the American common law system and the
Egyptian civil law system. To lighten things up, she also explained
the significance of some of the bobble head dolls of Supreme Court
Justices behind her desk, effortlessly touching upon the link between
artifacts in their hands and the landmark Supreme Court decisions
they had authored.
The delegation was particularly interested in Judge McKeown’s
thoughts regarding the successes and challenges faced by women
in the law, from the promise of record-setting enrollment of women
in law schools to the work-life balance issues facing women in the
legal profession. “Every time I participate in one of these international
visits, I am reminded of the common issues women face around
the world,” noted Judge McKeown. “And I am also humbled by the
extraordinary challenges to making judicial independence and rule of
law the norm.”
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club News
11
The next day, the delegation sat in on an hour of the last day of a
civil jury trial in Judge Gonzalez’s courtroom involving an employment
dispute. Judge Gonzalez had prepared the lawyers that there would be
some international guests in the audience, but the delegates only had
time to observe, and not interact with either Judge Gonzalez or the
lawyers. Seeing how intrigued the delegates were with the trial, Judge
Gonzalez made herself and the lawyers available for a discussion in
her courtroom outside the presence of the jury in the afternoon.
The jury trial system was also a topic of much discussion as there
are no juries in Egypt, and three-judge panels decide commercial
disputes, mostly on the papers, while criminal judges control the
investigation in criminal cases by working in cooperation with the
prosecutors.“I am fascinated with the legal systems in other countries
and a true believer in the jury system,” said Judge Gonzalez, “but visitors from other countries remind me that we can still learn from how
things are done elsewhere.” During the hour-long discussion later on in the day, Judge Gonzalez,
the delegates, and lawyers for both sides covered everything from
international politics and American verses Egyptian judicial appointments to head scarves and religious expression. “The lawyers were
absolutely fascinated with the delegation’s thoughts, especially given
everything that’s happening in Egypt currently that’s on the news,”
said Judge Gonzalez, an avid world traveler who has participated in
exchanges with Mexican judges and mediated disputes in Equador.
The delegation also went on to observe family law proceedings
through the Family Justice Center and meet with District Attorney
Bonnie Dumanis during the rest of its San Diego visit. “Hosting the
Egyptian delegation gave us a fascinating window into the challenges
faced by women working in law enforcement in that country,” said
Dumanis. “I hope it also gave them some insight into how they might
begin expanding the role women can have in the justice system as
their country begins a new chapter.”
The delegates were also particularly intrigued by the fact that
women were so prominently represented in the courtroom—plaintiff’s
counsel were a husband and wife team; the defendant’s legal team
included an older gentleman and a younger woman who had just
become a mother; and the trial judge, courtroom deputy, and court
reporter were all women. The delegates explained that while there are
a lot of female law students and a lot of women in the legal profession
in Egypt, there are fewer senior women in private practice and the
public sector, while becoming a judge is a specific professional path
that one must pursue deliberately.
“Thank you again [to Lawyers Club] for helping arrange the meetings with our visitors,” said Sarah Nugent, Program Coordinator at
the San Diego Diplomacy Council. “They left San Diego excited and
uplifted by what they learned and saw!” Lawyers Club is indebted to
Judge McKeown, Judge Gonzalez, and D.A. Dumanis for hosting the
Egyptian delegates for an intriguing, cross-cultural discussion of the
law, the judicial system, and women in the legal profession around the
world.
Rupa G. Singh, is a Lawyers Club board member and a Staff Attorney with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
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Lawyers Club News
12
november 2012
Lawyers Club Proudly Endorses Four Candidates for County Bar Board
By Justine Phillips & Marianne Barth
Lawyers Club of San Diego is honored to endorse for the San Diego County Bar Association (“SDCBA”)
Board of Directors elections the following four candidates:
Jodi Cleesattle, James Crosby, Danielle Hickman, and Heather Riley.
SDCBA is governed by a 19 member Board of Directors. Directors are elected at large by the membership and elections
are held in November of each year. Online polls are open from October 15, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. through November 9, 2012
at 5:00 p.m. All attorney members of the SDCBA who maintain active status with the State Bar of California are eligible to
vote in the 2013 election. There are four open at-large seats and one open regional (South County) seat for the 2013 Board
of Directors. Members will be voting for a total of 5 candidates out of 10 candidates running for the open seats.
Lawyers Club Endorsements Committee is comprised of the following individuals: Betty Boone, Marianne Barth, Cindy
Freeland, Kate Kowalewski, Justine Phillips and Abby Silverman-Weiss. After careful consideration of the candidates, the
Endorsements Committee unanimously agreed on four impressive attorneys who exemplify Lawyers Club’s mission “to
advance the status of women in the law and in society.” Below are links to their complete bios that demonstrate these
candidates’ commitment to our legal community. Because these individuals are an inspiration to us all, we included a statement about what inspires them.
Jodi Cleesattle
California Department of Justice, Office of
the Attorney General
Complete Bio: https://www.sdcba.org/index.
cfm?pg=2013-Board-Candidate-Page-Cleesattle
What inspires Jodi Cleesattle?
Many things in life inspire me – my daughters, my professional role models, Olympic athletes, the beauty of a sunny day in San Diego –
Jodi Cleesattle
but in the legal context, justice is what inspires
me. I am proud to be part of a legal system that works toward justice,
and I strive to help ensure access to justice and equal justice for all.
The challenges we face today inspire me to work harder for a justice
system that is open to all, is better understood by all, and provides fair
and equitable outcomes for all.
James D. Crosby
Klinedinst PC
Complete Bio: https://www.sdcba.org/index.
cfm?pg=2013-Board-Candidate-Page-Crosby
What inspires James D. Crosby?
Attorneys, judges and members of the
public who volunteer and participate in Bar,
Bar-related and professional associations,
organizations and boards working to further
James D. Crosby
the profession and promote the administration
of justice in San Diego and California. Attorneys who stand up in court
every day to represent clients in matters big and small but always of
great significance to those they represent. Litigants who bear the
significant burdens, complexities and costs of litigation but who still
have the strength and perseverance to take the stand, give testimony
and assert their rights. Every day and always, my wife and three
daughters.
Danielle Hickman
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Complete Bio: https://www.sdcba.org/index.
cfm?pg=2013-Board-Candidate-Page-Hickman
What inspires Danielle Hickman?
I am driven by the idea that everyone deserves justice and equal access to opportunity.
My legal career spans from assisting refugees
with the United Nations High Commissioner
Danielle Hickman
for Refugees, to documenting war crimes in
Kosovo with the International Crisis Group, to being a prosecutor
helping to provide a voice to victims of domestic violence, child abuse,
and all crimes, regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, economic
status, or age. It is inspirational to see firsthand that our work does
positively affect others’ lives, and helps them to be able to also pursue
their dreams and goals.
Heather S. Riley
Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis
LLP
Complete Bio: https://www.sdcba.org/index.
cfm?pg=2013-Board-Candidate-Page-Riley
What inspires Heather S. Riley?
I am inspired by the work the SDCBA is
doing in the court funding battle on behalf of
lawyers and non-lawyers. I believe this will be
Heather S. Riley
the biggest challenge our profession faces in
the future. The SDCBA’s efforts to collect and distribute information
are critical to our long-term success. With its varied membership, the
Board must continue to address this issue with one voice. We need
to work to protect the integrity of our courtrooms from additional cuts
that cannot be absorbed into the system.
Justine Phillips is an attorney at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, and is co-chair of Lawyers Club Endorsements and Nominations Committee.
Marianne Barth is a principal at Marianne Barth, Esq. APC, and is co-chair of the Endorsements and Nominations Committee.
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club News
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Lawyers Club News
14
november 2012
Legislative Updates from the Reproductive Rights
and Women’s Advocacy Committee
By: Amanda A. Allen
In an effort to help make Lawyers Club members aware of the evolving issue of reproductive rights and other women’s issues, the Reproductive Rights and Women’s Advocacy Committee will profile significant events each month.
Bills Signed By Governor Jerry Brown
in September 2012
• AB 1674 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) –
Adopts new rules and guidelines regarding professionally trained
supervisors for child custody and visitation.
• AB 2386 by Assemblymember Michael Allen (D-Santa
Rosa) – amending definition
of “sex” in FEHA to include
breastfeeding in order to prohibit workplace discrimination
based on breastfeeding
November Ballot Highlight:
Prop 35
“Californians Against Sexual Exploitation Act” Initiative. If it is approved by the state’s voters, Proposition 35 (CASE ACT) will:
• Increase prison terms for human traffickers.
• Require convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders.
• Require all registered sex offenders to disclose their internet accounts.
• Require criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for
services to help victims.
• Mandate law enforcement training on human trafficking.
Amanda A. Allen, is Co-Chair, of Lawyers Club’s Reproductive Rights
and Women’s Advocacy Committee.
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www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
15
Balance Brainstorm
You Win the Lottery! Now What?
By Lea Fields-Bernard
The question for this month’s column required us to daydream a bit. Balance Brainstorm asked members
to imagine winning the lottery such that working was no longer a requirement. Would they continue to work?
If so, why, and if not, what would they do with the winnings? The answers provided gave insight into the
varied interests of some of our members.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
I Do Truly Love What I Do
“I would definitely slow down on the professional front, and devote more time to my personal life: get 3 kids through college (and
visit them a lot), deck out a super cool airstream and travel with my
boyfriend’s band all over the country, eat good food and drink good
wine at every stop, walk through lots of towns and get in many good
workouts”
“If I won the lottery, I wouldn’t quit my job because I do truly love
what I do. But, I would spend more time travelling the world and I
would also create a foundation to support my philanthropic endeavors.”
Laura M. Padilla
Associate Dean for Administration, Professor of Law
California Western School of Law
Generous Souls
“I would split the bounty with my family members, church, and
favorite charities, but after that I am not sure I would change anything.
I don’t have any experience with “free time” so wouldn’t know how to
plan any. (this is a serious answer!)”
Why Travel Around the World When you Live in San
Diego?
“If I won the lottery “big,” I would definitely quit my law practice,
take cooking classes, volunteer at an animal shelter or create a Yorkie
rescue group, and exercise every day! I probably would still teach law
school courses and mentor new lawyers. I suspect that many will
say, “Travel around the world,” but why leave San Diego? It’s paradise!”
Judi Sanzo
Attorney/Adjunct Professor
Sanzo Law
Wendy L. Patrick
Deputy District Attorney
I Would Not Quit My Job
“If I won the lottery, I would not quit my job. I love my work! I
might take more expensive vacations but what I’d really love to do is
buy coastal property and donate it to land conservancies to set aside
as access and open space for future generations.”
Jamee Patterson
Deputy Attorney General
Udoka Nwanna
Civil Practice, Adjunct Professor
Lea Fields-Bernard serves as the city council committee consultant
to the City of San Diego’s Committee on Rules, Open Government
and Intergovernmental Relations. She is also an adjunct faculty
member for Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She may be reached at
[email protected].
Balance Brainstorm Question of the Month
Imagine that you have just completed a two-month trial, closed a significant deal or brought in a big, big client. You
are exhausted, tired of the same routine and really need to re-energize. After conferring with your family, friends and
colleagues you decide to take a one-year sabbatical. This month Balance Brainstorm wants to know:
What would you do with a one-year sabbatical?
Responses will be included in the January issue of Lawyers Club News. Please send your response, along with
your full name, job title and employer name, to Lea Fields-Bernard at [email protected]. Answers may be edited
for space. Members are also invited to submit questions relating to balance issues that they would like answered by
other Lawyers Club members.
Lawyers Club News
16
november 2012
New Member Profile:
Michelle Maisto
By Genevieve A. Suzuki
Employment: Michelle Maisto is a
3L at California Western School of Law.
Education: She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at San
Diego State University.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Michelle Maisto
Years lived in San Diego: Maisto
moved away from America’s Finest
City for a short while after college, but
eventually returned to her hometown.
“I missed the quality of life I had in
San Diego,” she said. “I really missed
hiking and spending time outdoors and
by the beach.”
Why she went to law school: She worked in the health field, including pharmaceuticals and biotech. Despite being in an intellectually
demanding environment, she decided she wanted more in a career. “I
got to a point where I wanted a greater challenge for myself,” she said.
Why she belongs to Lawyers Club: “A friend of mine recommended that I join,” Maisto said. “I continue to be a Lawyers Club member
because it provides a venue where I can meet and make friends with
some of the most incredible, kind and smart women I have ever met.”
On maintaining a work/life balance: As a 3L, Maisto’s life is
focused on finishing school, preparing for the bar exam and spending
time with her family. In an effort to spend more time with her family
on the weekends, she tries to finish her assignments early during the
week.
San Diego lawyer or judge she admires most: “I can’t choose
just one attorney,” said Maisto. “A few attorneys that come to mind are
Janine Sarti, Bonnie Dumanis and Erika Hiramatsu. These women are
gracious and strong. I really admire that.”
Non-law interests: Maisto loves to travel, practice sculpt yoga and
scuba dive.
Other memberships: Maisto is a busy law student. Her school
organizations include Moot Court Honors Board Negotiation Team,
Business Law Society and Health Law Society. She is also involved in
organizations outside of school: San Diego Venture Group and Korean
American Bar Association.
Welcome New Lawyers Club Members
Ms. Emily Allen
Ms. Noel Heard
Ms. Margie Palmer
Ms. Jamie Altman
Ms. Shanly Hopkins
Ms. Marisol Pineda
Ms. Claudine Alvstrale
Ms. Danielle Humphries
Ms. Christina Schultz
Ms. Julia Barry
Ms. Angela Jae
Ghazal Sharif
Mr. James Bogan
M. Arezoo Jamshidi
Ms. Pantea Sharifi
Ms. Melissa Brayman
Ms. Casey Jenkins
Ms. Sanna Singer
Janelle Burch
Ms. Sarah Jones
Ms. Katie Smith
Ms. Gabriela Burns
Ms. Sasha Kamfiroozie
Ms. Cynthia Speegle
Ms. Deva Carlson
Ms. Pamela Krueger
Ms. Rachelle Tejada
Ms. Sophie Chen
Mr. Nang Lam
Ms. Allison Tolins
Ms. Monnett De La Torre
Dr. Aerie Lin
Ms. Rachel Weckhorst Espejo
Ms. Jesica De Limon
Mrs. Laura Lindsey
Ms. Lynda West
Ms. Rachel Ehsan
Ms. Amy Louttit
Ms. Shannon Wicks
Ms. Khouloud Elmasri
Ms. Maureen MacManus
Mr. James Wilkens
Ms. Rupa Gadani
Ms. Rhonda Mallory
Mr. Noah Woods
Ms. Milda Goeriz
Mrs. Michelle Mance
Mr. Julian Zegelman
Ms. Cayce Greiner
Ms. Kathleen Mara
Ms. Becky Zhang
Ms. Jobi Halper
Ms. Tamera Moretti
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club News
17
Leadership Opportunities
Boards and Commissions
By Samantha M. Everett
The Lawyers Club Leadership Development Committee encourages Lawyers Club members to apply for positions on the many city, county and non-profit boards and commissions serving San Diego
County. The committee advises members to contact the individuals listed to confirm any openings
prior to applying, as some openings may have been filled. If you have information about committee
openings or leadership positions that may be of interest to Lawyers Club members, please contact
Samantha Everett at [email protected].
The County of San Diego’s Community Action Partnership
Administering Board has openings for electors of Districts 4 and 5.
The Board establishes processes for planning, allocation, and public
hearings relating to the use of community action funds; reviews policies relating to the programs of the Community Action Partnership,
and recommends policies to the Board of Supervisors; supervises the
administration of all funding source policies and standards; participates
in the development and implementation of all programs and projects
designed to serve economically disadvantage or low-income areas to
assure maximum participation of residents; and provides a forum for
the economically disadvantaged and concerned residents to secure
broad community involvement in the programs. For more information
contact Maria Sanders, Health & Human Services, at 619-338-2865.
nate the practice of discrimination and prejudice on the basis of sex
within the County. The Commission studies and advises the San Diego
County Board of Supervisors on areas of concern to women’s lives
and needs in San Diego County, including domestic violence, sexual
harassment, legislative issues, elder care and fraud, welfare and social
services, criminal justice, employment and business opportunities, and
the Sexual Assault and Response Team (SART) program. Members are
nominated by their District’s representative on the Board of Supervisors and confirmed by Board of Supervisors. The Commission meets
monthly, and members serve a term concurrent with their nominating
Supervisor. For more information contact Miezelle Espinoza at miezelle.
[email protected] or (858)505-6510, or visit the Commission’s
website at http://www.statusofwomen.org/new/index.html.
The County of San Diego is seeking lawyers for its Assessment
Appeals Boards. The Assessment Appeals Boards conduct hearings
on property assessment disputes. Acting on the basis of relevant
evidence submitted at the hearing, each Board makes a fair, impartial
decision on all property assessment disputes appealed, between taxpayers and the Assessor. The Assessment Appeals Boards are separate
and independent from the Assessor’s Office. The Assessment Appeals
Boards are quasi-judicial bodies composed of three members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. For more information contact Marvice
Mazyck, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, at 619-531-4870.
The County has an ongoing need for Hearing Officers. Hearing
Officers conduct hearings into disputes involving County agencies and
application of the County Code. As part of the process, Hearing Officers are empowered to issue subpoenas, receive evidence, administer
oaths, and rule on the admissibility of evidence and upon questions
of law. The hearing officer renders a written decision following each
hearing, including any findings or conclusions required for the decision.
In order to qualify you must be an attorney at law admitted to practice
before the courts of the State of California for at least five years prior to
the appointment. Members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors
to the pool of Hearing Officers. Officers serve a term concurrent with
their nominating Supervisor. For more information contact Marvice
Mazyck, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, at 619-531-4870.
The County’s Civil Service Commission has an opening for an
elector of District One. The Commission is responsible for protecting
the merit basis of the personnel system through its appellant authority,
investigative powers, and review of Civil Service Rules. The Commission conducts disciplinary hearings, selection process appeals, discrimination complaints, compulsory leave hearings, Rule XI investigations,
classification reviews, and CLERB appeals. Members are appointed
by the Board of Supervisors to six-year terms. For more information
see the Commission’s website at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/civilservice or
contact the Commission at (619) 531-5751.
The County’s Mental Health Board has open seats. Among other
duties, the Board reviews and evaluates the community’s mental
health needs, services, facilities, and special problems; advises the
Board of Supervisors and the County’s mental health director as to any
aspect of the local mental health program; and submits an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the
county’s mental health system. Members are appointed by the Board
of Supervisors and serve three-year terms. For more information contact Marianne Wedemeyer, Mental Health Services, at 619-563-2737
The San Diego Commission on the Status of Women has open
seats for electors of County Districts Two and Five. The Commission’s
mission is to take action to identify needs and problems of women in
the County that are affected by public policy decisions and to elimi-
The Committee for Persons with Disabilities currently has an
opening for a resident of District Four. This Committee studies and evaluates County Charter provisions, Ordinances, policies and proposed
policies, to determine their implication for persons with disabilities,
studies areas of concern as they pertain to the lives and needs of persons with disabilities, including coordination of client support systems,
health, education, employment, housing, and legal matters, prepares
and disseminates information of matters related to discrimination and
prejudice, formulate programs and legislation to promote and insure
independence, equal rights and opportunities for all persons with disabilities, and acts as liaison to County or citizen groups interested in
the problems facing persons with disabilities. Members are appointed
by their respective District Supervisor to a term concurrent with that
Supervisor. For more information contact Susan Eldridge, DHR- Risk
Management at 619-578-5787.
Samantha M. Everett is a freelance attorney affiliated with Montage
Legal Group (www.montagelegal.com) and a member of the Lawyers
Club Leadership Development Committee.
Lawyers Club News
18
Lawyers Club Supporters
november 2012
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Benefactor Sponsors
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Mr. Harvey Berger
Hon. Laura Birkmeyer
Ms. Sharon Blanchet
Ms. Gayle Blatt
Ms. Barbara Brown
Ms. Meredith Brown
Mr. Martin Buchanan
Ms. Jill Burkhardt
Mr. Guillermo Cabrera
Ms. Andria Catalano
Redcrow
Ms. Lesa Christenson
Ms. Jodi Cleesattle
Ms. Diana Coker
Ms. Judith Copeland
Hon. Crystal Crawford
Hon. Cindy Davis
Ms. Darragh Davis
Mr. Ken Dillingham
Hon. Bonnie Dumanis
Ms. K. Elizabeth Dunn
Ms. Ann Durham
Ms. Christina Dyer
Ms. Amber Eck
Ms. Elizabeth Eldridge
Ms. Hildy Fentin
Ms. Heather Forward
Hon. Lisa Foster
Ms. Miranda Franks
Hon. Carol Frausto
Mr. Brian Funk
Hon. Patricia Garcia
Ms. Julia Garwood
Hon. William Gentry
Ms. Jenny Goodman
Ms. P. Camille Guerra
Hon. Judith Haller
Ms. Cassandra Hearn
Ms. Maria Heredia
Ms. Karen Hewitt
Ms. Erika Hiramatsu
Hon. Marshall Hockett
Ms. Patricia Hollenbeck
Ms. Karen Holmes
Mr. Lawrence Huerta
Mr. Peter Hughes
Mr. Richard Huver
Mrs. Michelle Ialeggio
Hon. Joan Irion
Ms. Angela Jae
Ms. Jessica Jagir
Mr. Jay Jeffcoat
Hon. Anthony Joseph
Ms. Kathleen Juniper
Ms. Sharon Kalemkiarian
Hon. Julia Kelety
Ms. Jessica Klarer Pride
Mr. Garrison Klueck
Mr. Gregory Knoll
Mr. Jim Koerber
Ms. Catherine Kowalewski
Ms. Catharine
Kroger-Diamond
Mr. Peter Lynch
Ms. Michele Macosky
Hon. Barbara Major
Hon. Margaret Mann
Ms. Denise McGuire
Mr. Monty McIntyre
Hon. M. Margaret
McKeown
Hon. Pennie McLaughlin
Ms. Julie Mebane
Ms. Lori Mendez
Ms. Rebecca Michael
Ms. Michelle Mierzwa
Ms. Kathryn Anne Millerick
Ms. Danielle Moore
Ms. Sandra Morris
Ms. Janice Mulligan
Ms. Andrea Musicant
Mr. Ron Oberndorfer
Hon. Christine Pate
Ms. Patti Perez
Ms. Anne Perry
Ms. Heather Riley
Hon. Charles Rogers
Ms. Tracy Rogers
Ms. Paula Rosenstein
Hon. Janis Sammartino
Ms. Judi Sanzo
Ms. Elizabeth Schulman
Mr. Edward Silverman
Ms. Jacquelyn Slotkin
Ms. Beatrice Snider
Hon. Stephanie Sontag
Ms. Kimberly Stewart
Hon. Nita Stormes
Hon. Ronald Styn
Mr. Victor Manuel Torres
Ms. Vickie Turner
Hon. Theodore Weathers
Hon. Joan Weber
Tamera Weisser
Ms. Claudette Wilson
Hon. Joel Wohlfeil
Hon. Margie G. Woods
Ms. Patricia Zlaket
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers
Club Calendar
of Events
Lawyers
Club News
19
Information for your calendar. All dates subject to change. For latest information, contact Lawyers Club
at (619) 595-0650 or visit our website at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com.
November 2012
Thursday, 11/1/12
Lawyers Without Courtrooms Committee & Networking Events
Committee Happy Hour
Gaslamp SpeakEasy, 708 4th Avenue, San Diego, 92101
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
All are welcome to attend, especially those in transactional roles as
we are looking to grow the Lawyers Without Courtrooms Committee.
Free.
Thursday, 11/15/12
Lawyers Club Monthly Luncheon
The Bristol Hotel, 1055 First Avenue, 9th Floor, San Diego, 92101
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Luncheon will feature a mentorship roundtable. More details to be
announced. Members, $25; Non-members, $30; Students, $20; At the
door if space is available, $30. Register online at www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Thursday, 11/8/12
SDCBA’s Ethnic Relations & Diversity Committee’s Holidays
Around the World Mixer
Mintz Levin, 3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300, San Diego, CA
92130
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Co-sponsored by Lawyers Club of San Diego. Save the date for this
fun annual event. Details to be announced.
Thursday, 11/29/12
Lawyers Club’s Mentorship Committee’s Speed Mentoring Event
Basic, 410 10th Avenue, San Diego, 92101
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The event is open to attorneys as well as law students, recent graduates, and new admittees who are Lawyers Club members. We ask
that all participants arrive on time so we can get the program started
quickly. In order to ensure a good balance of mentors and mentees,
RSVPs are required. There is no cost to attend. Basic will offer Happy
Hour drink specials, and complimentary appetizers will be served.
There is a cash-only public parking structure on J Street, across the
street from Basic. Registration open to Lawyers Club members only.
Register here.
Tuesday, 12/4/12
Lawyers Club Balance Committee’s First Tuesday Balance Lunch
Meeting - Downtown
Kramm & Associates Discovery Conference Center, 401 West A Street,
Suite 750, San Diego, 92101
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Balance from the Non-Firm Lawyer Perspective: Government and
Solo Practice. Featuring an interactive panel of attorneys discussing
whether more flexibility and greater opportunities for work-life balance
exist outside law firms. Panelists will include Sarah Boot, Asst. U.S.
Attorney; Katherine Mangan, Solo Practitioner at Mayer Mangan; and
Puja Sachdev, Solo Practitioner at Law Office of Puja A. Sachdev; and
the discussion will be moderated by Balance Committee member,
Danielle Moore, Associate at Fisher & Phillips LLP. Register online at
www.lawyersclubsandiego.com
Thursday - Friday, 12/6/12-12/7/12
Women in Law Leadership Academy
The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA
Thursday: 7:30 a.m. registration; 8:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. workshops;
Friday: 7:30 a.m. registration; 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. networking breakfast and workshops
Sponsored by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and
the Young Lawyers Division. Leadership in business development,
your organization, and your community are the keys to a successful
career in the legal profession. This conference is designed to identify
the skills that will allow you to be successful in each of these areas of
leadership so that you can take your career to the next level. You will
obtain concrete advice and guidance on what it takes to be a leader
and learn best practices from prominent general counsel, judges, and
practitioners. The WILL Academy features interactive and highly informative programs of importance to every woman lawyer and provides
a great opportunity to network with leading lawyers and judges from
around the country. Registration closes November 9, 2012. For more
information go to http://www.americanbar.org/groups/women/events_
cle/2012_will.html
Thursday, 12/13/12
Lawyers Club Annual Holiday Luncheon
The Westin San Diego, 400 West Broadway, San Diego, 92101
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Program to be announced.
December 2012
Tuesday, 12/4/12
Lawyers Club Balance Committee’s First Tuesday Balance Lunch
Meeting - Carmel Valley
Jones Day, 12265 El Camino Real, 3rd Floor Conference Room, San
Diego, 92130
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Work-Life Balance for Newer Lawyers. Featuring an interactive panel
of attorneys discussing improving work-life balance, while navigating the waters, networking, and building your practice. Panelists will
include Su Barry, Partner at BarryFiske LLP; Farzeen Essa, Associate at
Booz Allen Hamilton, Samantha Everett, freelance attorney at Montage
Legal Group; Eric Ganci and Renee Galente, Partners at Galente Ganci
APC; and Jessica Klarer Pride, associate at Casey Gerry. The discussion will be moderated by Balance Committee member, Holly Amaya,
Associate at Green Bryant & French LLP. Register online at www.
lawyersclubsandiego.com
Lawyers Club of San Diego is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider.
20
november 2012
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