The Official publication of the November/December 2012 San ...files.ctctcdn.com/9960663e001/e19f24a4-83b2-4ef3... · programs on gang violence and substance abuse, respec-tively.

The Official publication of theSan Joaquin County Bar Association

November/December 2012

2012Year in Review

Masters Series 2013: Everything You Need to Know About the Programs and How to Register Pg. 29

Across the

20 North Sutter Street, Suite 300 Stockton, CA 95202(209) 948-0125 Fax: (209) 948-1361 www.sjcbar.org

San Joaquin County Bar AssociationRebekah Burr-Siegel, Executive Director [email protected] Campos,LRS Coordinator.................................ecampos@sjcbar.orgMelissa Dooley, CAC [email protected] Mussat, CAC Coordinator/ Deputy [email protected] Riggs, MCLE [email protected] Vernon, Communications Coordinator........nvernon@sjcbar.orgLRS...............................................LRSRequest@sjcbar.org

San Joaquin county Bar Association Board of GovernorsJames T.C. Nuss..........................Allan Jose....................................Steven L. Brown.........................Lisa Ribeiro.................................Mary AguirreCatherine L. HustonLisa Blanco JimenezChristine KrogerKerry KruegerACROSS THE BAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Michael R. Tener....................... Editor/Chair Janette Rossell Fernanda Pereira Terry Costa Joseph FerraroMoses Zapien Rebekah Burr-SiegelNatalie Vernon

To contact us via email - [email protected]

Across the Bar is published bi-monthly by the SJCBA. Subscription rate is included in membership dues, or $50 per year for non-members.

Across the Bar welcomes letters and article suggestions from readers. The SJCBA reserves the right to edit comments or letters to the editor. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

Submissions and advertising deadline 1st of the month prior to publication. Submit your articles to [email protected].

PresidentPresident-ElectPast PresidentSecretaryMichael Mulvihill, Jr.Stephanie RoundyDavid WellenbrockMoses Zapien

The San Joaquin County Bar Association

Page 2 Across the Bar November/December 2012

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the San Joaquin County Bar Association. The informa-tion contained in this publication is not intended as legal advice and may not be relied upon as such.

November/December 2012 Across the Bar Page 3

Editor's NotesMichael R. Tener

Michael R. Tener is an attorney with Neumiller & Beardslee in Stockton practicing civil and bankruptcy litigation. Contact Michael at (209)948-8200 or [email protected].

In the last two years, the Across the Bar Committee has made some big changes to Across the Bar: going-all digital, moving to an every-two-months publication cycle. Big changes rarely take place without controversy, and we anticipated that these changes might lead to some. Thankfully, virtually none has materialized. Instead, at least from our perspective, the experiments we have made with Across the Bar have been tremendously successful. Across the Bar has gone from being a significant financial burden for the San Joaquin County Bar Association to paying for itself through advertising revenue. The less frequent publication schedule—combined with the freedom from page limitations that are inherent in a print publication—allows us to produce big, content-rich full-color issues that readers can view anywhere that they have access to the Internet. While many of these changes were originally dictated by practical considerations like the cost of print publication and the burdens of once-a-month publication on a small committee like ours, I am proud of the result. That said, the Across the Bar Committee is happy that our financial circumstances allow us to publish one issue of Across the Bar per year in print. Keeping with the precedent we set last year, the Committee selected our annual year-in-review issue for print publication. In this issue, we look back at a 2012 that was highly productive for the Bar Association—an especially successful Law Day; well-attended MCLE programs, many of which are now available for the first time for purchase online—as well as incredibly challenging for our local court, which has been forced to make deeper cuts that are having serious, tangible effects on this community. Outgoing SJCBA president James T. C. Nuss details the Bar’s many activities in an extended President’s Message on pg. 10. Photos from many of those activities appear on pages 5 to 15. Also in this issue, Terry Costa reports on the 2012 Homeless Veterans Stand Down (p. 25), Fernanda Pereira explains President Obama’s deferred action program on immigration (p. 22), Zoey Merrill and Sue Talia provide pointers on limited scope representation (p.19), Alissa Harris spotlights SJCBA member

Clarence Chan (p. 27), and Moses Zapien discusses SJCBA’s new “Lawyers in the Library” legal clinic program (p. 18). On that note (and putting political questions aside), the Across the Bar Committee is happy to congratulate one of its own, Moses Zapien, on his election to the City Council for the City of Stockton! The Across the Bar Committee looks forward to 2013 and, as always, strives to improve the quality and relevance of our publication for the members of the Bar Association. If you are interested in joining the Across the Bar Committee or contributing to Across the Bar, please contact me at [email protected] or (209) 948-8200, or contact the Bar Association’s executive director, Rebekah Burr-Siegel, at [email protected] or (209) 948-0125.


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New Lawyers ReceptionFebruary 7, 2012 at The Bank of Stockton

The Bank of Stockton hosted a reception on February 7, 2012 honoring the newest members of the San Joaquin County legal profession. Ten attorneys who had passed the California State Bar Exam gathered with more than 100 community members, family, veteran lawyers and judges in the expansive Bank of Stockton headquarters on Miner Avenue in Stockton.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Jose M. Hernandez.

New Lawyers from top left: Phillip Krueger, Andrea R. Fatone, Tri-sha K. Hilder, Alicia B. Hernandez, Elizabeth Mowry Hull, Romina Otoya, Sulma G. Alfaro, Jose M. Hernandez (keynote speaker), Jason E. Chong, Megan E. Galarneau and Stephanie Feilzer.

Photos from top left: Hon. David P. Warner; Dean Patrick Piggott and Stephanie Feilzer; Hon. Brett Morgan, Hon. Barbara Kronlund, Hon. Linda Lofthus, Hon. Robin Appel and Michael Mulvihill, Jr. Photos from top right: Jose M. Hernanez; Moses Zapien, Erin Guy Castillo and Michael Tener.


Law Day LuncheonApril 18, 2012 at The Stockton Golf & Country Club

The 2012 Law Day Luncheon was held on April 18th at the Stockton Golf and Country Club. The Law Day Award Recipi-ent, Terry Costa (Senior Judicial Secretary), was surrounded by her family of four generations. Presiding Judge David Warner gave a wonderful introduction of Terry who followed with a gracious and heartfelt description of the educational programs closest to her heart. In order to show their support of Terry, every judicial officer in San Joaquin County was present at the luncheon which meant a lot to her. The keynote speaker was California State Controller, John Chiang, who talked about the changes he has implemented, how the expected revenues are not coming in as expected and the reasons why.

Photos from top left: Law Day Award Recipient, Terry Costa; keynote speaker, John Chiang; SJCBA President, James T. C. Nuss; Terry Costa and Hon. David P. Warner; Norah C. Lamond and Catherine Huston; the audience at the luncheon.


Law Day Educational ProgramApril 26, 2012 at The San Joaquin County Office of Education

The 2012 Law Day Educational Program was held on April 26th at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. Over 800 eighth grade students from Stockton Unified School District and Lodi Unified School District attended to learn about the harsh reality of life within a gang, consequences of participation in criminal activity, and prison life. Homicide/Gang Unit Deputy District Attorney Tori Verber and the Honorable Richard Vlavianos delivered a powerful programs on gang violence and substance abuse, respec-tively. Students listened in disbelief to personal stories from inmates at Chowchilla Women's Prison and Folsom Prison via a live feed. The feed enabled the kids to ask questions directly to the inmates whose message was very clear: "Don't make the same mistakes we did. Prison life is not fun and glamorous. Nobody cares about you once you're behind bars, at least not all your homies." Through communication, honesty and even some tears, the truth about choices and consequences was made very clear and hopefully struck a chord with everyone present.

Clockwise from top right: District Attorney Tori Verber addresses the eighth-graders; the students; Valerie Frasier; live feed to Folsom Prison (prison view); live feed of prisoners at Folsom (student view).


Women Lawyers Section Roundtable Presents Unique Opportunity to Learn About the Path to the JudiciaryAugust 23, 2012 at the Knowlton Art Gallery


Superior Court Judges from top left: Hon. Linda L. Lofthus, Hon. Barbara A. Kronlund, Hon. Robin Appel, Comm. Sheryle Sparks, Hon. Xapuri Villapudua. Photos from bottom left: Hon. Lauren Thomasson, Comm. Cheyrl McCann and Hon. Consuelo Callahan.

In August the SJCBA’s Women Lawyers’ Section hosted a roundtable event: “How To Become a Judge” at the Knowlton Art Gallery in downtown Lodi. The panel featured the Honorable Consuelo M. Callahan, Honorable Linda Lofthus, Honorable Barbara Kronlund, Honorable Lauren Thomasson, Honorable Elizabeth Humphreys, Honorable Robin Appel, Honorable Xapuri Villapudua, and Commissioner Sheryle Sparks. Each panelist offered their own story about their path to the judiciary; each jurist had something different to offer. The panel also discussed the difference between practicing law and being a judicial officer. The event concluded with an overview of the judicial canons and a question and answer session.

It was a wonderful opportunity to spend an evening with our local bench and other attorneys. The Women Lawyers’ Section was proud to host this event and hopes to offer similar events in 2013.


During this live, two-hour telebriefing, Tom Abendroth, partner with Schiff Hardin LLP and Skip Fox, partner with McGuireWoods LLP will examine various developments over the year

with respect to the current tax law, gift tax, marital deductions, family limited partnerships and their effect on fiduciaries, trust beneficiaries clients and customers.

This briefing has been approved for 2.5 CTFA (1.25 TAX; 1.25 FID), 2.5 CISP and 2.0 CPE for CPA credit hours in the Taxes field of studyThe Certified Financial Planners Board has granted 2.0 CFP credits for this program.

The topics discussed will help the trust professional recognize new areas of opportunities and reinforce the use of both common and unique estate planning techniques.

Topics to be discussed include:• Legislative developments • Marital deduction • Gifts • Valuation • Partnerships and LLCs • Generation-skipping tax issues • Charitable gifts • Asset protection planning • Insurance • Tax return and audit issues

Presents ABA TelebriefingRecent Developments in Estate and Trust Administration

Thursday, December 6, 201210:00 am - 12:00 pm

Bank of Stockton Trust & Investment Group240 N. San Joaquin Street

Stockton CA 95202

To Register: Contact Arian Crites (209) 929-1521 or [email protected] no later than Monday, December 3, 2012.

Bank of Stockton does not charge to attend the telebriefing. However, there is a nominal cost for your credits: $20 for SJCBA Members and $25 for Non-Members.

This activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of two (2) participatory hours, of which two (2) hours credit will apply to the General MCLE Requirement. The SJCBA certifies that this activity

conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education.

President's MessageJames T. C. Nuss


As my year of presidential tenure rapidly draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to summarize significant activities of our Bar Association that have occurred this year. I also want to recognize the sections and committees that are so vital to the function of the Bar; they are essentially our life-blood. We’ve been busy, so bear with me on the length of this article. First, some definitions. Sections are practice-area and special-interest groups of the Bar Association that are each operationally governed by an executive committee for that section, and ultimately by the Board of Governors. Bar Association committees are branches of the Board of Governors created to assist the Governors in administrative functions of the Bar.

Sections. Our Sections have been very busy this year: We created a new Criminal Law Section. The section was an immediate success with an initial two-hour CLE program, AB109 – Realignment (four judges spoke, two each day), and its promotion of roundtable sessions at the Bar Association offices and at Garlic Brothers’ Restaurant. We revamped the Civil Litigation Section (formerly the Business Litigation Section). The Civ Lit Section partnered with the Barristers for the March 14 brown bag program on courtroom decorum with all five civil judges held at the Stockton courthouse. We now have a new Probate, Trust, and Estate Planning Section, created primarily to further the knowledge of the members of the Section in all matters relating to probate, trust, and estate planning and to encourage collegial gatherings of the section members through the implementation of programs, forums, and other activities. The section was also created to coordinate with the Judicial Liaison Committee to establish and maintain good and effective communications with the Probate Department of the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Bar members interested in joining the section should contact Rebekah Burr-Siegel by e-mail.

Women Lawyers Section: Among other things, the Women Lawyers Section this year sponsored a roundtable presentation on “How to Become a Judge,” presented at the Knowlton Gallery in Lodi. Family Law Section. This section held a very successful MCLE program in October co-sponsored with the Sacramento County Family Law Section. Participants qualified for up to five Family Law Specialization MCLE credits from the State Bar. Barristers Section. Designed for Bar members who have been admitted to the State Bar for ten years or less, the Barristers Section provides networking and social opportunities to the section and to the rest of the Bar Association through their mixers and various annual activities. Many of our associate members also join the section. For details and locations, see their events on the events calendar on our website home page or in Across the Bar. The Law Practice Management and Technology Section consists of member attorneys and other legal professionals with interests in law technology and office management. The section promotes the education and training of our members in the areas of law practice management and technology. Additionally, the executive committee of the LPM&T Section oversees the Bar Association’s website and makes recommendations to the Board of Governors for the website’s operations and structure. The section periodically sponsors brown-bag lunches and MCLE events, and members of the section receive discounts to those events. Paralegal Section. The Paralegal Section is open to all SJCBA members with interest in paralegal employment and training in the operation of law practices. The section periodically sponsors MCLE courses on legal, office management, and other similar issues.

New Committees. We have two new Committees this year: Judicial Evaluation Committee. The Judicial Evaluation Committee is now organizing at the request of Governor Jerry Brown to assist in the evaluation of applicants for appointment to the San Joaquin County Superior Court.



Fair Court Funding Committee. The Fair Court Funding Committee is an ad hoc committee formed in response to the crisis caused by cuts in judicial funding and for the purpose of supporting the financial needs of our San Joaquin County Superior Court, as well as the statewide Open Courts Coalition. Members have been active in lobbying, letter-writing, and speaking to the California Judicial Council during the open comments period. They are coordinating with our court in these efforts.

Existing Committees. Program Committee: The Program Committee is in charge of all general membership events and is responsible for the following programs each year:• New Lawyers Reception • Law Day - Award Luncheon• Law Day - Educational Program• The Annual Membership Meeting From time to time they may also sponsor other social events and oversee special general membership meetings, including the new “Lawyers in the Library” Public Legal Clinic. This program started in August and is held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m. at the San Joaquin County Law Library located at 20 N. Sutter Street in Stockton. The next legal clinic will be held on November 28, 2012 (the week after Thanksgiving). The Bar Association is looking for volunteer attorneys to participate. It is only a two-hour commitment, and attorneys can participate as few or as many times a year as they like. The clinic typically serves between 40-50 individuals each month. The Bar Association hopes to expand the program to Tracy and Lodi in 2013. MCLE Committee: The MCLE Committee is responsible for overseeing the Minimum Continuing Legal Education Program. All MCLE events and self-study courses are approved by the Committee. The San Joaquin County Bar Association is a State Bar approved MCLE provider. This year, the MCLE Committee Recorded nine CLE programs from the 2012 Masters Series and we are offering them for CLE credit. The Committee has continued to

recorded CLE programs throughout the year and for the first time this year we have several courses available for purchase on the Bar Association’s website at http://mcle.sjcbar.org. LRS Committee: The Lawyer Referral Service Committee oversees the operation of the Lawyer Referral Service (“LRS”), which makes legal services available to the general public by providing referrals to an experienced member of LRS consistent with the needs of the client. Our LRS is a State Bar Certified Lawyer Referral Service as well as an American Bar Association certified service. An important component of the LRS is its’ Court-Assigned Counsel Sub-Committee. The purpose of the court-assigned counsel program is to provide competent counsel to represent indigent criminal defendants where there is a conflict with the Public Defender’s Office. This year, the members of the court-assigned counsel group, working with our executive director and staff, secured a new three-year contract with the County of San Joaquin for indigent defense services. This contract is a critical component for the Bar Association’s financial success, and I congratulate them on a job well done! Emeritus Committee: The Of Counsel/Emeritus committee meets semi-annually, or on an “as-needed” basis, to ward off potential problems when member attorneys have their law practices compromised by death, illness, disability or other events. The Emeritus Committee tries to help before problems demand a solution by the State Bar of California. Family members of an injured, disabled, or deceased attorney whose practice wasn’t appropriately closed can work with the committee to arrange for a proper and legal transfer of files or closing of the firm. The committee is presently assisting on a matter for a deceased member of the Bar Association. Across the Bar Committee: The Across the Bar Committee publishes Across the Bar, the official publication of the San Joaquin County Bar. This is a hard-working group that produces an excellent product. As you know, we have transitioned to a mostly digital format, and Across the Bar is a place for members to publish legal articles and to stay



informed on all events in our legal community. The digital transition has added to our financial bottom line and makes it possible to produce even more articles in an innovative fashion. Judicial/Professional Liaison Committee. The Judicial/Professional Liaison Committee holds regular meetings with representatives from the bench and court administrators to discuss topics of mutual concern relating to the administration of the justice system in San Joaquin County. They are a vital link between the bench and the Bar. Participation in committees continued to be vibrant in 2012, but there are always opportunities for service on the many Bar Association section executive leadership teams and Bar Association committees. Contact our Executive Director, Rebekah Burr-Siegel, at [email protected] for more information.

Special Programs and Events. Mentoring Program: Recognizing the need among new lawyers to develop their professional skills and to build a network of professional colleagues in the local legal community, the San Joaquin County Bar Association implemented a new Lawyer Mentoring Program in order to assist newer attorneys in their continued professional development in San Joaquin County. The effort was promoted by both the Barristers’ and the Women Lawyers’ Sections and now has nearly 30 participants. The mentoring program contributes to a sense of integrity in the legal profession, promotes collegial relationships among legal professionals and involvement in the organized bar, improves professionalism, and encourages the use of best practices and highest ideals in the practice of law. Please watch for Mentor openings for 2013. Applications will be distributed via In Brief and will be available on the website. New Lawyers Reception: On February 7, 2012, former astronaut Jose Hernandez spoke to the new lawyers at the Bank of Stockton headquarters on Miner Avnue in Stockton. Each of the new lawyers was assigned a buddy for the evening. As always, the event had a good turnout and the Bank of

Stockton was a fantastic host for the event. Please consider attending this year in February.2012 Law Day Luncheon: This year the Law Day Luncheon was again our most popular event. Our speaker was John Chiang, California’s Controller, who made timely comments regarding his duties in these hard economic times. The presentation and acceptance of our Law Day Award to the 2012 recipient, Terry Costa, the Senior Judicial Secretary for the San Joaquin County Superior Court, was a wonderful, heart-felt event. Educational program: I feel this is one of the most important events supported by our Bar Association. This year more than 800 eighth-graders from Stockton Unified School District and 800 more eighth-graders from Lodi Unified School District attended a program designed to inform and impress the students on the dangers of gang involvement and activity. The key element of the program includes direct question-and-answer sessions with incarcerated male and female prisoners via live video feed. That experience had a profound effect on those attending; I personally was deeply moved by the messages conveyed to the students and their candid responses. I believe that this program saves lives. Bar Association Operational Survey by the American Bar Association. This year our Bar Association sought out and participated in a full Bar Association Operational Survey conducted by the American Bar Association. A Bar Association Operational Survey (BAOS) is a confidential evaluation of all or part of a bar association’s operations. The survey evaluates organizational performance and makes constructive recommendations for change. The evaluation is a three-pronged process: a review of relevant documents such as bylaws, governing body minutes, financial statements, policy manuals and member communications; telephone conferences and individual interviews with the staff and volunteers of the association; and two days of on-site interviews. The on-site portion of the survey was conducted in September. Bar staff and members of the Board of Governors and other significant Bar volunteers spent


James T.C. Nuss is a principal with Neumiller & Beardslee practicing banking and commercial law and is the 2012 president of the SJCBA. Contact Mr. Nuss at (209) 948-8200 or [email protected].


many hours in advance of the on-site visit gathering information to assist the ABA team. Although we haven’t yet received our final report, I am pleased to report that the exit interviews and comments from the ABA team were very complimentary. Our plan is to consider the recommendations and comments of the report when it is finalized so we can structure and focus our Association in ways that will hopefully make it even more successful in accomplishing its goals and mission for the Bar membership. Kress Legal Center: The lease for the Bar Association’s current Kress Building premises has been extended until April 30, 2013. As part of our due diligence efforts on behalf of the Bar, your executive director, Rebekah Burr-Siegel, has coordinated with me and with the Board of Governors in actively reviewing all options for a headquarters location, including staying where we are now or leasing or acquiring other space or property. We’ve entered into a representation agreement with Kevin Doherty of First Commercial Real Estate & Advisory Services to assist us in those efforts. Bar Foundation: The San Joaquin Bar County Foundation is a separate charitable corporation with a Board of Director membership that is the same as the Board of Governors. The Foundation carries out the charitable activities of the Bar Association through law related and community public service projects. Among their projects and recipients:• The Hugh Wright Award recognizes two high

school students with financial awards for writings promoting the law.

• The Foundation funds the cost of transportation for Law Day students to the educational program.

• The Foundation also funds the cost of bus trips to the Superior Court Youth Academy.

• Additionally, the Foundation funds the cost of transportation for Youth Leadership Program.

Staff. The Bar Association offices are fully staffed and is looking forward to tackling 2013. Our Executive Director, Rebekah Burr- Siegel, is

involved in all elements of the Bar’s operations and works closely with the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee of the Board. She also attends nearly all committee meetings and section executive committee meetings. She is also very active in the legal community, being, among other things, a member of the Bench-Bar Coalition and at-large delegate to the Executives of California Lawyers’ Associations. We are also fortunate to have a fine staff to handle the fundamental operations of the Bar: Linda Mussat, Melissa Dooley, Eva Campos, Jennifer Riggs, and Natalie Vernon. Finally, and as always, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the dedication of our hard working executive director and the members of the Bar Association staff. Huge thanks also to the many, many volunteers who selflessly devote their time to our organization. As your president, I have the unique opportunity to see our many committees and sections in action. The work of our members is very impressive. Please know that we are strong because of their efforts. In parting, I just want to say that the office of President of the San Joaquin County Bar Association is a privilege to hold and very rewarding. It is a job that you should want, and I encourage our members to strive for Bar leadership positions, both locally and statewide. You won’t regret it.

Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2012 at University Plaza Waterfront Hotel


Annual MeetingContinued


Photos, page 22 (clockwise): Table setting; Arthur Parish, Erin Guy Castillo, Catherine Huston, and Kyle Hampton; Presiding Judge David P. Warner; audience. Photos, page 23 (clockwise): SCJBA President James T. C. Nuss; San Joaquin County District Attorney and 2013 Law Day Award recipient James P. Willett; James Willett being congratulated by Superior Court judges Carter P. Holly and Ronald A. Northup; James Nuss and SCJBA President-elect Michael J. Mulvihill, Jr.

SJCBA MCLE Programs Available OnlineJanette Rossell


Members of the San Joaquin County Bar Association with last names that fall within the Group A-G will soon be scrambling to make sure they have attained the required minimum number of MCLE hours to satisfy their reporting requirement (their deadline is January 31, 2013). Along with our Masters Series of MCLE programs in January each year, the Bar Association’s various sections provide ongoing opportunities to obtain local, reasonably priced, participatory credits all year long. The SJCBA offered thirteen programs this past year and has begun recording them, whenever possible, to make them available online for those who may have been unable to attend personally. Five of the programs that were presented this year can be accessed online by visiting the SJCBA website (http://sjcbar.org), selecting “Resource Links” in the menu bar, and then selecting “Online MCLE.” The programs listed below are currently available on line for purchase at special member prices: Probate: Medi-Cal Eligibility in Long Term Care: A presentation on Medi-Cal eligibility in skilled nursing facility, pending changes under Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) and application of the Spousal Impoverishment Protection Act (MCCA). The program was presented on March 7, 2012 by Randall W. Rosā. AB 109 Jail Realignment in Practice: A discussion concerning the real-time impact of AB 109 Implementation, addressing what to expect as San Joaquin County moves forward with the implementation of this legislation. The program was presented on April 24 and 25, 2012 by Superior Court Judges Guiliani, Johnson, Stephenson, and Vlavianos. The Stories Told by Financial Statements: This program was presented on May 22 and 24, 2012 by a team of certified public accountants from the Kemper CPA Group. The program included two segments. The first, “Interpreting the Accountant’s Secret Language,” provided a nuts-and-bolts discussion of the most important types of financial statements, such as balance sheets, cash flow and income statements. The second, “How to Paint a

Picture with Numbers,” digs deeper into analysis of financial statements, recognition of fraud and manipulation, and conducting discovery into, and on the basis of, financial statements. Sample financial statements were provided. Independent Contractor v. Employee: This presentation examined the various tests used under California and federal law for determining how to properly categorize individuals as either employees or independent contractors. The program was presented on June 6, 2012, by Stacey L. Henderson, an employment law practitioner and partner with the Law Office of Thomas H. Terpstra. Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun: This two-hour program provided an hour of substance abuse MCLE credit and an hour of ethics MCLE credit. The first hour contains a presentation about the dangers of substance abuse. The second hour focused on the importance of being an ethical attorney. The program was presented on July 25, 2012 by Gary Steele, a former member of the State Bar’s standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct. Non-SJBCA-members may also purchase these programs online at a slightly higher price. Programs from the January 2012 Master Series are also available online.

Janette Rossell is an attorney with the Rossell Law Office in Stockton handling juvenile delinquency (defense) and minor's counsel (guardianships). Contact Janette at (209) 473-1811.


When a marriage dissolves some children do fine, and some fall apart. What are the risk fac-tors and how can lawyers and the courts help steer the family in the right direction? And family law practitioners know the most difficult cases when a child resists being with one parent following a fam-ily breakup. What is causing the problem? Is it the parent that the child is aligned with? Is it the parent that the child is repelling? Or is it a combination of factors? More importantly, what is to be done? And how can the legal system help? What are we doing right and what are we doing wrong? On October 5th, 2012, the San Joaquin County Bar Association, in association with the Sacramento County Bar Association and Sierra Vista Child and Family Services presented renowned researcher, author and leader in the field of child adjustment to dissolutions of marriage, Joan Kelly, PhD to speak on "Challenges for Children and Parents Following Separation and Divorce: Research Updates on Chil-dren's Adjustment and The Alienated Child". The well-attended event was held on a gorgeous day at

Family Law MCLE OnlineMichael Norton

the beautiful Wine And Roses Hotel and Spa in Lodi. Ms. Kelly received her PhD from Yale Univer-sity. For 40 years her research, practice, teaching and publications have focused on research in children's adjustment to divorce, custody an access issues, divorce and custody mediation, applications of child development research to custody and access deci-sions and Parenting Coordination. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, has received the Distinguished Mediator Award from the Academy of Family Mediators, the Distinguished Research Award and the Meyer Elkin Award from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She is the Past-President of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Family Mediators and the Founder and Executive Director for 19 years of the Northern California Mediation Center. Many who could not attend have expressed an in-terest in viewing the recorded seminar and having ac-cess to the valuable materials provided. The San Joa-quin County Bar Association has arranged to present this seminar online through its website: www.sjcbar.org. The cost is $195.00 for the seminar and pdf materials. Please visit http://mcle.sjcbar.org/compo-nent/guru/guruPrograms/3-2012-mcle-courses/14-challenges-for-children-and-parents-following-separation-and-divorce/view/113.html?task=view to purchase.

Michael Norton is a family law litigator, mediator and collab-orative practitioner and a Certified Family Law Specialist. Contact Michael at (209) 474-7788 or [email protected].

Giving Back Through Lawyers in the Library Free Legal ClinicMoses Zapien

Moses Zapien is an associate with the Law Office of James Morris in Stockton practicing civil litigation. Contact Moses at (209) 474-7872 or [email protected].


Attorneys from left to right: Alicia B. Hernandez, Stephanie Feilzer, Moses Zapien, Alissa K. Harris and Elizabeth Mowry Hull

Legal professionals are encouraged by the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and by the State Bar of California to provide a level of legal services to the community without expectation of payment. The San Joaquin County Bar Association’s new Lawyers in the Library free legal clinic embodies that principle. There is a serious need in our community right now for basic, affordable legal advice. Many resources that were once provided by the San Joaquin County Superior Court to help self-represented individuals have been eliminated because of budget cuts. Added to that are the long-term effects that our area is feeling because of the national recession and the foreclosure crisis, resulting in a community that is in great need of legal assistance but that lacks affordable access to that service. The Lawyers in the Library clinic was developed to help fill that void in our community by providing free access to basic legal advice from attorneys. Once a month, about five volunteer attorneys set up shop in the Kress Law Library downtown for two hours to dispense advice on a variety of topics, depending on the volunteer attorney’s area of practice. On average, the clinic serves about 45 to 50 people an evening, with some lining up hours in advance. While most cases simply cannot be resolved in the brief time period of the free consultation, a volunteer attorney can still expect to provide someone looking for legal advice with a better understanding of the legal process and that person’s options going forward. Most people visiting the legal clinic usually do not know what his or her legal issue is and whether he or she even has a case. As a business law litigation attorney, I often encounter individuals at the clinic in the very early stages of a lawsuit. Litigation can sometimes be complex, even for attorneys, let alone laypeople. As a volunteer attorney, I see my role as both teacher and counselor. First, I educate the person or persons sitting in front of me about the legal issues in the case and process in which they are now involved. Second, I help provide them with a picture of

what he or she can expect as the process continues to unfold and whether they should seek legal representation. More often than not, I advise them to call the San Joaquin County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service in order to follow up with an attorney who can thoroughly review their case. If you are looking for a way to give back to your community, Lawyers in the Library is a great opportunity. Not only will you be living up to our profession’s highest principles, but you can be certain that you will be providing assistance that truly makes a difference to those in need.

M. Sue Talia is a Certified Family Law Specialist and private family law judge in Danville, CA. Contact Sue at (925) 838-2660 or [email protected].

Got Clients?M. Sue Talia

If you have all the clients you want, you love ev-ery blessed one of them, and you have zero accounts receivable, you don’t need to read further. However, if any one of those conditions in missing from your practice, I’ve got news for you. It doesn’t need to be that way. Limited scope representation, sometimes called unbundling, is a way for you to offer quality legal services to clients in an affordable and satisfying way. In limited scope, you perform some, but not all of the services traditionally associated with full service representation. You may ghostwrite plead-ings, give procedural and strategic advice, prepare exhibits, map out strategy, or other discrete tasks, while coaching the client to self-represent on oth-ers. It isn’t for every client, issue or case, but where appropriate, it works beautifully. I’ve been teaching limited scope throughout the US and Canada since 1996 and have taught literally thousands of lawyers how to do limited scope safely, ethically and not least important, profitably. Vast numbers of pro per litigants are currently clogging the courts, flailing as they try to make their way through the legal system. They can’t afford full service, but still have legal problems, and can afford to buy a few hours of a lawyer’s time to point them in the right direction. Increasingly, do-it-yourselfers who could afford full service are insisting on retain-ing more control over their legal matters. These are currently nobody’s clients, but could be yours if you are willing to expand your practice to include limited scope. Done correctly, limited scope is a profit center. It is always pay as you go, so you never have accounts receivable. (How good is that?) Limited scope lends itself best to family law (where it started and where the demand is still the greatest), as well as consumer law, administrative proceedings, small business assistance, insurance coverage issues, small claims assistance, and any-where else where the individual litigant interacts with the legal system. The recession has been particularly hard on the middle class, and the lawyers who serve them have felt the pinch. I’ve heard from many lawyers in the

last 18 months who have told me that but for limited scope, they’re not sure they would have been able to keep their doors open during the worst of 2009 and 2010. And these will be your most satisfied clients. Most clients are distrustful of the billable hour and think it incentivizes inefficiency. With limited scope, they know exactly what they are getting for each dol-lar they pay you. And, having tried to do some of it themselves, they have an increased appreciation for how hard it is to do what we do well. Finally, limited scope is a great sales tool. A client who thinks he can’t afford full service may retain you to do ghostwriting or for some other limited purpose. After going to court by himself, he real-izes how hard it is, and often comes back for more services. The scope of representation changes all the time, and the change is virtually always to request more services from you than he originally thought he needed. Think of it as a loss leader, except that you aren’t suffering a loss: you’re getting paid for every-thing you do. It is important to be trained on the ins and outs of limited scope before doing it. Fortunately, that is easy. A free three hour training, including an hour of ethics MCLE credit, is available at Practising Law Institute at http://www.pli.edu/Content/OnDemand/Expanding_Your_Practice_Using_Limited_Scope/_/N-4nZ1z12uzg?fromsearch=false&ID=153434.


2010 Law Day Award Recipient: Honorable Barbara KronlundLimited Scope Representation: Redefining Legal ServicesZoey Merrill and Stephanie Feilzer


Many potential clients are in need of legal services but cannot afford traditional fees for representation. Rather than turning these individuals away, consider assisting them with limited-scope representation. Limited-scope representation can ensure quality legal representation to the client and a paying client to the lawyer. With limited scope representation, the client only pays for the specific services that require attorney expertise; this allows them to afford some, if not all, of your services. If you are considering providing limited-scope representation to clients in your area of legal expertise, consider the following best practices. Choose your Limited-Scope Clients Wisely. Limited-scope representation is not appropriate for everyone. In limited-scope representation, the attorney provides specific services and “coaches” the client. This does not allow an attorney to hand-hold. Therefore, clients who are difficult or who have unrealistic expectations may need traditional representation. In particular, be cautious of prospective clients that have had multiple prior attorneys or who believe that they have an understanding of the law based on the Internet or television. These individuals may not be suited to represent themselves, even with your assistance. Make Sure the Limited Scope of Your Services is Reasonable. This is a two-fold consideration: Reasonable case: The limitations on your scope of representation must be reasonable. For example, if a client comes to you and needs to respond to a motion that includes a complex legal issue, it would be unreasonable for you to draft a response with the expectation that the client would appear in court on that response. Reasonable client: Limited-scope representation requires each client to be a

member of their litigation team. In cases where clients have limited capacity or a language barrier, special issues may arise and limited-scope representation may be difficult and unreasonable. Use a Detailed Limited Scope Fee Agreement. Use an agreement that is separate and unique from your traditional fee agreements. A limited-scope agreement should identify, very specifically, what tasks you are and are not agreeing to perform. Each agreement should be tailored to the client and his or her specific case. Provide Clients with Informative Handouts. Give clients prepared handouts that answer frequently asked questions that arise in limited-scope representation or that may arise in their case. These handouts do not contain legal practice points or specific law, but instead may provide guidance about the limited-scope attorney-client relationship. Make Use of Checklists for You and Your Client. In a limited-scope relationship, you are working in conjunction with your client. Simple checklists after each meeting or phase of the case may be helpful to keep track of upcoming tasks or deadlines and to clarify who is responsible for them—you or the client. Document Any Changes in the Scope of Representation. It is advisable to try to stay within the scope of the original agreement. However, unforeseen legal issues or events will arise that may change the nature of your attorney-client relationship. If you choose to represent the client in these events, be sure to document the expanded scope of representation. This can be done by a confirming letter that the client signs and returns, or through a signed addendum to the original agreement. Ending the Relationship. In traditional representation, the end of a case is usually clear, and ending the relationship is often as


Limited Scope Representation: Redefining Legal ServicesContinued

Zayante (Zoey) P. Merrill is a partner at Merrill & Feilzer, Attorneys at Law. She practices bankruptcy and family law and provides contract legal services. Contact Ms. Merril at (209) 565-1665 or [email protected].

Stephanie P. Feilzer is a partner at Merrill & Feilzer, Attorneys at Law. She practices bankruptcy and family law and provides legal contract services. Contact Ms. Feilzer at (209) 565-1665 or [email protected].

simple as returning the file. In limited-scope representation, the relationship—or your involvement—ends when you have completed the agreed-upon tasks. When you believe you have completed your role, send out a notice to the client, and if you have made an appearance as a part of your services, enclose a substitution of attorney for your client’s signature. Above all, remember that your ethical and professional obligations to your client are the same whether you are representing your client “traditionally” or in limited-scope representation: you have a duty to represent each client competently and zealously. This information is based on training and materials provided by M. Sue Talia, Certified Family Law Specialist and Private Family Law Judge.


Deferred Action for Childhood ArrivalsFernanda Pereira

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, issued a memorandum to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announcing how prosecutorial discretion should be applied to individuals who entered the United States at a young age. The policy was designated Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (also known as “DACA” or “Deferred Action”). Specifically, the memorandum directs that young people who do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and who meet specified criteria, will be eligible to receive deferred action for two years, subject to renewal, and to apply for work authorization. Deferred Action does not grant legal status or a visa and is simply a decision by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to not remove or deport a person that meets the memorandum’s criteria. The policy can change at any time, without warning. Deferred action cannot be used to establish eligibility for an immigration benefit that requires maintenance of lawful status; however, it may allow the grantees to qualify for certain state benefits, such as driver’s licenses. In California, Governor Brown has recently signed legislation authorizing DACA recipients to apply for driver’s licenses. The purpose of this policy is to ameliorate the harsh immigration consequences of the immigration laws upon young people who came to the United States before reaching their sixteenth birthday and who are attending school or have graduated high school. Many of these individuals have no path to legal status due to unlawful presence, illegal entry or other immigration violations, and although DACA does not provide them with legal status, it may allow them to work and have a valid driver’s license. The policy is modeled after the DREAM Act, which remains stalled in Congress, and would open a path to legal status for young unauthorized immigrants

who pursue college degrees or serve in the military. Its goal is to help ambitious youths who were brought here as children.

Applicant’s Criteria In order to request consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, individuals must meet the following criteria:

1. Be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;2. Have entered the United States before

reaching their 16th birthday;3. Have continuously resided in the United

States since at least June 15, 2007 up to the present time;

4. Have been physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making their application for deferred action;

5. Be in unlawful status as of June 15, 2012;6. Be currently in school, have graduated or

obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or be an honorably-discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and

7. Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more non-significant misdemeanors, and not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

All determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, and all applicants are be subject to background checks as part of the review of their requests for Deferred Action.

Criminal convictions and DACA The federal criminal classification scheme governs whether an offense is considered a felony or misdemeanor for purposes of DACA. A “felony” is an offense punishable by a potential sentence of more than one year, while a “misdemeanor” is an offense punishable by more than five days, but less than a year. The label each State attaches to a particular offense is not relevant; thus, some offenses that


Deferred Action for Childhood ArrivalsContinued

California labels as a misdemeanor but that include a potential sentence of more than one year will be considered a felony for purposes of DACA. A “significant misdemeanor” includes any misdemeanor, regardless of the sentence imposed, involving burglary, domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, driving under the influence, or drug distribution or trafficking. A “significant misdemeanor” may also include any other misdemeanor for which a requester was sentenced to more than 90 days imprisonment, not including suspended sentences, pretrial detention or time held pursuant to an immigration detainer. Violations that carry a sentence of five days or less, such as municipal violations, will not be counted as a misdemeanor, but may nonetheless be taken into consideration under the “totality of the circumstances” test. However, on an esoteric note, federal tickets can be counted as a misdemeanor if issued under the Assimilated Crimes Act1. One of the biggest issues with DACA is the lack of specific guidance with regards to some of the requirements. For example, individuals are not eligible for Deferred Action if they have been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more non-significant misdemeanors (not including minor traffic offenses) unless DHS determines that there are exceptional circumstances. However, no guidance exists with regards to what could constitute an exceptional circumstance.

Critics and Supporters Many critics argue that by offering Deferred Action to immigrants who would have benefited from passage of the DREAM Act, the President

1 The Assimilative Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. § 13, makes state law applicable to conduct occurring on lands reserved or acquired by the Federal government as provided in 18 U.S.C. § 7(3), when the act or omission is not made punishable by an enactment of Congress. Prosecutions instituted under this statute are not to enforce the laws of the state, but to enforce Federal law, the details of which, instead of being recited, are adopted by reference. In addition to minor violations, the statute has been invoked to cover a number of serious criminal offenses defined by state law such as burglary and embezzlement.

has abandoned his constitutional responsibility to enforce the laws, and that DACA is such a broad application of prosecutorial discretion that is incompatible with the constitutional requirement that the President “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” On August 23, 2012, Kris Kobach, the Kansas Secretary of State and author of Arizona’s SB 1070, filed a complaint in federal court on behalf of ten ICE agents who oppose the policy (Crane, et al., v. Napolitano, et al., No. 3:12-cv-03247-O, N.D. TX, Dallas Div., filed 08/23/2012). The ten ICE agents state that in not pursuing removal proceedings under DACA, they have to disobey immigration law and their oaths to uphold it and cite fears that the Department of Homeland Security will punish them if they refuse to follow the new program. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the exercise of prosecutorial discretion and the granting of Deferred Action are not a new development and that, as long as Congress has placed limits on who may enter or remain in the United States, the authorities possess discretion to prioritize the removal of some immigrants over others. They also point out that the Supreme Court has repeatedly confirmed that the decision to grant deferred action neither requires approval from Congress nor is subject to challenge in federal courts, and is well within the powers of the President.

Amnesty? DHS spokesman Matt Chandler says that the deferral program allows DHS to focus on serious offenders like convicted criminals, repeat immigration law violators, and more recent border crossers. He said it is a temporary measure applied to a pernicious problem that ultimately has to be fixed by congress. Deferred Action is distinct from “amnesty.” Recipients of Deferred Action are neither placed on a path to citizenship nor given any formal immigration status. Even though the government has temporarily pledged not to deport them, and they are treated as if they are lawfully present once Deferred Action is granted, they have no legal “right” to remain in the country.

Deferred Action for Childhood ArrivalsContinued

Fernanda M. Pereira is a partner at Meath & Pereira, and practices exclusively in the field of immigration law. She can be contacted via E-mail at [email protected] or at (209) 942-3300.

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The Numbers As of October 10, 2012, the USCIS has approved 4,591 DACA applications. Another 179,794 applications have been submitted and accepted for processing, 158,408 biometrics appointments for DACA applicants have been scheduled, and 6,416 DACA applications are currently being processed. According to some statistics, as many as 1.8 million individuals could be eligible for Deferred Action. The reduced number of actual applicants is an indication of the uncertainty and nervousness surrounding this policy—and uncertainty over the results of the 2012 election.

DACA in the Balance At the time this article is being written, the continued existence of this policy and consequences for the applicants that are not granted Deferred Action before January 20, 2013, is tied to the results of the presidential election. Mitt Romney has stated that he disagrees with the policy and, if elected, will allow the individuals that have been granted

Deferred Action prior to taking office to remain in the country, but would deny all other pending cases. If Mr. Romney is elected, the consequences for the denied cases, and what happens at the end of the two-year statutory period to the individuals that have already been granted Deferred Action, remains to be seen. It is expected that if President Obama wins reelection, the Deferred Action policy will remain in effect. The program is considered to be part of the movement towards the DREAM Act, which would provide qualifying youth with a path to U.S. citizenship, which he has indicated he would try to pass within the first year of his second term. Mr. Romney has said that he may support the DREAM Act for individuals with advanced degrees, but not in other instances.

2012 Homeless Veterans Stand DownJason LeBeouf and Terry Costa


The fourth San Joaquin County Homeless Veteran Stand Down was held on September 28, 2012. The military term “stand down” refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help homeless veterans “combat” life on the streets. There is a growing population of men and women who have served our country, fighting to keep us all safe and protect our free society, that are returning from combat with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and other psychological ills. Many of these veterans do not seek the professional help they need but instead turn to “self-medication.” Sadly, many of these veterans develop substance abuse problems that ultimately lead to the deterioration of their mental and physical health and often result in homelessness. The Stand Down committee of volunteers came together with a common belief that there is just something fundamentally wrong with the concept of “homeless veterans.” The Committee wanted to give back, even if just a tiny bit of honor and appreciation, to let these veterans know that we care and that we still remember the service and sacrifices that they have made for our country to keep us safe, secure, and free. We wanted to express our thanks and gratitude for all that our veterans have done for us. This year’s Stand Down was held at San Joaquin County WorkNet in Stockton, with a number of services being offered nearby at the Stockton Shelter for the Homeless property and the adjoining St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services. Booths were set up at the two locations for the 30-plus service providers. The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization posted the colors, and local attorney and aspiring singer Jennifer Coenenberg gave an amazing a capella performance of the National Anthem. The event culminated in a 3:00-5:00 p.m. standing-room only session of the Homeless Court, a special program of the San Joaquin County Superior Court that provides an opportunity for homeless individuals to clear failure-to-appear citations and warrants and to resolve certain kinds of cases through

community service in lieu of incarceration. The patriotic opening ceremony set the tone of respect and appreciation for our country’s homeless veterans who were about to enter the Stand Down. Over 150 volunteers participated in this year’s Stand Down, including Sheriff’s STARS and Stockton Police VIPS who provided transportation. Over 209 homeless veterans attended the Stand Down. Those in attendance received services that ranged from employment referrals, housing assistance, health services, legal services, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, Veterans’ Affairs benefits counseling, Department of Motor Vehicles services, hot meals, and more. Additionally, many veterans were given vaccinations, received medical check-ups and examinations, had dental work performed, showered, and received clean clothing. Each of the veterans was provided a heavy-duty backpack stuffed with useful items and toiletries, as well as bedrolls and sleeping bags. Chuck Keen coordinated legal services for the veterans, who received legal advice in all areas of the law. That afternoon 124 people were added to the Homeless Court calendar. The real beauty of our Stand Down is that it represents a truly collaborative community effort. Once again, participating agencies included the San Joaquin County Bar Association, San Joaquin General County Hospital, Stockton Shelter for the Homeless, St. Mary’s Interfaith Community Services, Veterans Administration, San Joaquin County Public Defender’s Office, San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, University of the Pacific, San Joaquin County Superior Court, Behavioral Mental Health, San Joaquin County Office of Substance Abuse, Child Support Services, San Joaquin County Human Services Agency, Social Security Administration, Employment Development Department, Department of Aging, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department, Stockton Police Department, Manteca Police Department, and many more agencies. A major goal of the Stand Down was to provide services to homeless veterans that will connect

them with continuing services beyond the one-day event and will assist them in breaking the cycle of homelessness. We aim to encourage reintegration of the veterans into mainstream society with volunteer organizations continuing to offer follow-up services to this population as necessary. It’s hard to tell who got the most out of the Stand Down—the homeless veterans or the multitude of volunteers and participating agencies. The veterans were very appreciative of all our efforts, services and donations. For the volunteers and participating agencies, the reward was the knowledge that they had made a difference in the lives of a highly-deserving group in need. For us, it was an honor and a rewarding experience to serve at the Stand Down. The Stand Down Committee thanks all of the volunteers for their dedication and service to assist our veterans who have fallen on hard times.

2012 Homeless Veterans Stand DownContinued

Terry Costa is the Senior Judicial Secretary, Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin. She can be reached at (209) 468-8121 or [email protected].


Jason LeBeouf is the Vice President of Employee Benefits at USI Insurance Services. He can be reached at (209) 954-3920 or [email protected].

Member Spotlight ~ Clarence ChanAlissa Harris


Clarence Chan, the only active Chinese-speaking attorney in San Joaquin County, epitomizes the American Dream. Clarence came to the United States as a child, not knowing one word of English. Now an attorney, politician and family man, he is a valuable resource for the local Chinese community. When Clarence was a child, his family decided to move from Hong Kong to the United States. “Everyone wants to come to the U.S. to make a better life for themselves if they can,” he says. The Chan family ended up in Stockton because Clarence’s father, a pastor, got a job at a local church. Clarence started kindergarten at Hoover Elementary School and at the age of six learned his first English word: apple. In 1988, Clarence graduated from Stagg and went on to attend Yale University, where he double-majored in Political Science and East Asian Studies. “If you can’t be good in one major, be mediocre in two,” he likes to joke. While he flourished in school, his family wanted to make sure that Clarence kept up on his Chinese. Clarence grudgingly attended Chinese school at a Stockton church one day per week from the age of six to age 17. In addition, Clarence’s parents forced him to speak Chinese at home under threat of withholding food. By the time he graduated from college, Clarence had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He took (and passed) the foreign-service exam, but on the day of his scheduled face-to-face interview, he didn’t go. Instead, Clarence decided to go to Florida for some spring break fun. At the same time, Clarence applied and was accepted to UC Hastings. However, when the first day of law school came around, Clarence didn’t attend: he happened to be working on the political campaigns of Mike Machado and Patti Garamendi at the time. Both candidates lost the election, but Clarence’s life was changed on Election Night 1992 when Senator Patrick Johnston called and asked Clarence to come and work for him. As a field representative for Johnston for two years, Clarence found his passion in politics. “This is something I could do,” he thought, “but I need a second career also.” So Clarence once again applied

to Hastings and started law school in August 1994. After graduating from Hastings in 1997, Clarence returned to Stockton as he always knew he would, and began his legal career as an associate at Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson. Not only was his family in Stockton, but Clarence felt a responsibility and desire to be involved in local politics in the community he grew up in. In 2000, Clarence decided to run for a seat on the Stockton Unified School District Board. He believed that Stockton Unified schools were a mess and that the District could benefit from a younger, fresher perspective. With the help of his loyal campaign manager, fellow attorney and Stagg High graduate Rob Waters, Clarence personally knocked on the doors of over 3,000 Stockton houses. Because Clarence looked so young, Patrick Johnston suggested to him that he wear a tie during his campaign. So from April to October, Clarence wore a long-sleeve shirt and tie every single day as he tirelessly walked precincts, even in 100-degree heat. Clarence’s hard work paid off and he was elected to the School Board for a four-year term. During this time, Clarence decided to leave Kroloff and go out on his own in 2002. He began doing insurance subrogation work and general litigation. At the same time, Clarence began reaching out to the Chinese-speaking people of Stockton, as he saw a need for legal representation in the small but distinct community. “The Chinese are still one of the groups that immigrates,” says Clarence, “and there is therefore still a need for someone to be a bridge to that community.” As the only active Chinese-speaking attorney in San Joaquin County, Clarence is now grateful to his parents for forcing him to speak Chinese at home as a child, because not only has his language proficiency given him a competitive advantage, but it also has provided him with the ability to serve the Chinese community of Stockton. In 2004, Clarence met and became engaged to his wife, and at the same time ran for re-election on the School Board. Although he lost the election, Clarence was happy to temporarily bow out of campaigning to focus on his new family. Clarence

Member Spotlight ~ Clarence ChanContinued

Alissa K. Harris represents debtors in bankruptcy, specializing in cases under Chapters 7 and 13. Contact Alissa at (209) 957-4265 or [email protected].


and his wife went on to have two boys, now ages three and five. But Clarence is still involved in politics as the vice-president of the Harry S. Truman Club, a group dedicated to supporting Democratic candidates for local office. “If good people don’t run for office, we have no one to blame for ourselves if bad people win elections,” he says. In addition, for the past five years, Clarence has been the Master of Ceremonies at Stockton’s annual Chinese New Year Parade. This year he has taken over as organizer of the Parade, which is scheduled to take place in March 2013. When the previous organizer left, no one stepped up to take over the planning. Rather than cancel the parade, Clarence volunteered to organize the festivities. Although he loves the United States and the opportunities this country has provided him, Clarence doesn’t want to see himself or others in the Stockton community lose touch with their Chinese cultural heritage. Clarence now sends his own sons to Chinese School once a week. Though the five-year-old attends class as grudgingly as Clarence did in his youth, Clarence knows that someday his son will appreciate having the skill to serve his community, just like his father.

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SJCBA’s 2013 MCLE Masters Series Compliance Group 1 (A-G)

All programs are held at the SJBCA office: 20 N. Sutter St., Ste. 300, Stockton Doors open at 11:45 am – all programs are from 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

Lunch is provided for pre-registrants

DATE SPEAKER(S) PROGRAM TITLE CREDIT TYPE

Monday, January 7

Gregory Meath, Attorney, Meath & Pereira

Think Before you Tweet: The Dark Side of Social Media

General Requirement

Tuesday, January 8 Richard Barnes, CPA Damages: The Effect of the Current

Economy on Damage Calculations General Requirement

Wednesday, January 9

Arthur Small, Principal and

Erin Guy Castillo, Associate, Parish & Small

Collecting Your Client’s Judgment: From Abstracts to UCCs

General Requirement

Thursday, January 10

Christopher Engh, Partner, Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson and

Julie Watts, Probate Examiner for San Joaquin County Superior Court

What You’re Dying to Know About Probate News

General Requirement

Monday, January 14

Bonnie Hough, Managing Attorney, Center for Families, Children & the Courts

It’s Good Business: Providing Affordable, Quality Legal Services Through Limited Scope Representation

General Requirement

Tuesday, January 15

Judge Michael Coughlan, and Judge Linda Lofthus, San Joaquin County Superior Court

The Views From Departments 33 and 41

General Requirement

Thursday, January 17

Robert Hawley, Deputy Executive Director, State Bar of California

Small Firms, Big Risks – Legal Ethics for Small Firm and Solo Practitioners

Ethics

Tuesday, January 22

Albert Ellis, Partner, Hakeem, Ellis & Marengo and

Stewart Tabak, Attorney at Law Tips From the Deposition Trenches General Requirement

Wednesday, January 23

Jonathan Arons, Partner, Law Office of Jonathan I. Arons

On the Rocks – Alcoholism’s Toll on Firms and Careers

Substance Abuse

Thursday,

January 24 Judge Brett Morgan, San Joaquin County Superior Court

Legal Technology: How to Ethically and Responsibly Use Technology in Your Practice

Ethics

Tuesday, January 29 Gurjit Singh Srai, Attorney at Law Cultural Cues – Working Effectively

with the Sikh Community Bias

To register: e-mail the registration form to the SJCBA Fax the registration form to (209) 948-1361 or go to www.sjcbar.or Only those who register in advance are guaranteed a lunch

These activities have been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of one (1) participatory hour each, of which one (1) hour credit will apply to the credit areas indicated. The San Joaquin County Bar Association certifies that these activities conform to the standards for approved

education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education.


SJCBA’s 2013 MCLE Masters Series Registration Form

All pre-registered seminars prices include lunch with a sandwich, chips, and soda or water Please note: Only those who register in advance are guaranteed a lunch

SJCBA Members* Individual Program $30 Mini-Passport (Any Six) $135 All Eleven Passport $250 *In order to receive the Member price, you must have paid your 2013 SJCBA dues.

Non-SJCBA Members Individual Program $40 Mini-Passport (Any 6) $260* All Eleven Passport $350* * Includes 2013 SJCBA membership dues up to a $147 value (for new members only).

Total Enclosed: ________

□ Individual Program □ Mini-Passport (any 6 programs) □ Passport (all 11 programs)

Name:_________________________ Phone:_________________ Email:____________________

Three easy ways to register:

• Register online at: www.sjcbar.org

• Write a check payable to the: San Joaquin County Bar Association

• Use a credit card: Circle One: Visa MasterCard American Express Discover

Name on Card: ___________________________________________

Card__________________________ Exp. Date_________________

For individual or mini-passport only: List the programs you wish to attend:

1._________________________________________________________________________________

2._________________________________________________________________________________

3._________________________________________________________________________________

4._________________________________________________________________________________

5._________________________________________________________________________________

6._________________________________________________________________________________

* For non-members, both passport prices includes the cost of MCLE programs and 2013 SJCBA membership dues up to a $147 value (for new members only).

48 hour cancellation notice is required for a refund

Passports are non-transferable

2013 Masters SeriesThink Before You Tweet: The Dark Side of Social Media

Monday, January 7, 2013

About the Program: From “tweets” to Facebook status updates, social media has taken over how we communicate with the outside world. It has also become a large part of our legal system. Social media is now considered key evidence in both criminal cases and civil lawsuits. Mr. Meath will examine the surge in social media-based evidence and claims in litigation, as well as the importance of educating attorneys on the ins and outs of social media. Mr. Meath will discuss recent cases involving social media including defamation, privacy, cyber-bullying, the use of social media posts as evidence. About the Speaker: Gregory Meath is a partner in the law firm of Meath & Pereira in Stockton. He attended Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctorate as well as a Masters Degree in Transnational Business Law. Mr. Meath is a frequent speaker on topics of interest to business people including: assessing liability and risk for the small business; protecting yourself from identity theft; franchise laws; corporations and limited liability companies; trademarks, copyrights, domain names and patents for businesses; NAFTA and international trade agreements; and many other topics. He is an adjunct professor of law at Pacific McGeorge School of Law where he teaches Computer & Internet Law.

Gregory Meath

Damages: The Effect of the Current Economy on Damage Calculations

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Richard S. Barnes About the Program: Richard S. Barnes will discuss how the current economy is affecting, and will continue to affect economic damage calculations for individuals and businesses. Mr. Barnes will also discuss economic factors and forecasts, including historically low U.S. Treasury investment rates, and will explain how these economic trends are, and are forecasted to continue to, influence valuations of damages in individual damages cases (personal injury, wrongful death, and employment). You will receive helpful information for use in strategizing and arguing economic damages and will obtain insight and knowledge to help you follow current economic trends, to benefit you and your clients. About the Speaker: Richard S. Barnes has been a licensed CPA since 1976. He has experience as an expert witness throughout California, a CFO in private industry, and a manager with Price Waterhouse. He is on the faculty for instructed course for The National Judicial College, California CPA Education Foundation, The Federal Judicial Center, Judicial Council of California - Administrative Office of the Courts, AICPA, Texas Center for the Judiciary, Price Waterhouse, Hastings College of the Law, and College of Advocay. He has spoken extensively on economic damages and business valuation.


2013 Masters Series

Collecting Your Client's Judgement: From Abstracts to UCCsWednesday, January 9, 2013

What You're Dying to Know About Probate NewsThursday, January 10, 2013

Arthur A. Small, IIErin Guy Castillo About the Program: So, your client now has a judgment. Now what? Is voluntary payment likely? If not, how are you going to bring home the bacon? Art Small and Erin Guy Castillo will address critical enforcement of judgment issues, focusing on key mechanisms, including “must do” liens, levies, garnishments, and charging orders. They will share approaches used to overcome obstacles that often complicate enforcement. Whether you are interested in collecting on your judgment or resisting collection efforts, you will not want to miss this substantive nuts-and-bolts presentation. About the Speakers: Arthur A. Small, II has been a principal of Parish & Small since 2000. Mr. Small has practiced as a civil litigator for more than 19 years. Mr. Small’s practice focuses on civil litigation and appellate matters involving creditors’ rights, commercial and business litigation, bankruptcy, construction defects and real property matters. Erin Guy Castillo is an associate with Parish & Small. Ms. Guy Castillo’s practice focuses on civil litigation and appellate matters, involving commercial and business matters and creditors’ rights. She has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including acting as lead trial counsel in several civil jury trials.

About the Program: Attorney Christopher Engh of Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson and Julie Watts, Probate Examiner for the San Joaquin County Superior Court, will present a follow-up to their 2011 Master Series program “Probate Update,” with a presentation designed for trust and estate practitioners. The program will explore recent legislation, local practices, and case law concerning practice in Probate Court. Mr. Engh will review California legislation taking effect in 2013 as well as cases decided in 2012 and how they will affect California’s trust and estate practitioners and their clients. Ms. Watts will provide tips on local practices aimed at assuring your filings get processed efficiently. About the Speakers: Christopher Engh received his law degree in 1980 and began working with the law firm of Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson following his graduation and became a partner with that firm in 1984. Since the mid-1980s, his practice focuses on estate planning and taxation, estate and trust administration and disputes, and business planning. He is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law. Julie Watts joined the San Joaquin Superior Court Probate Department as the Probate Examiner in June, 2007. As the Probate Examiner she assists the Probate Judge in establishing new procedures to assist attorneys and the public by providing them with information regarding their matters prior to the date of hearing on the Court’s website, in the form of Probate Notes. Additionally Ms. Watts reviews probate files for procedural deficiencies; advises attorneys of any deficiencies; analyzes probate filings, provides recommendations to the Probate Judge, and conducts basic legal research as requested.

Julie WattsChristopher Engh


2013 Masters Series

The Views From Departments 33 and 41Tuesday, January 15, 2013

It's Good Business: Providing Affordable, Quality Legal Services Through Limited Scope Representation

Monday, January 14, 2013

Hon. Michael D. Coughlan Hon. Linda L. Lofthus About the Program: A must-attend for civil practitioners. How do civil judges with daunting calendars view the legal work they see every day in their courtrooms? What do they expect from attorneys appearing before them in law and motion and at trial? What recurring mistakes do they see in briefs and oral arguments? What would they like to get from attorneys that they are not getting now? Flawed briefing strategies, self-defeating oral arguments, ineffective closing arguments, and misguided cross-examinations - these judges have seen it all in Departments 33 and 41. They have also seen lawyering at its best. Their insights can help pratitioners avoid costly mistakes and alert them to possibilities they may not have considered. About the Speakers: Judge Michael Coughlan was appointed to the bench in 2005 and was assigned to Juvenile Delinquency prior to becoming one of San Joaquin County Superior Court’s five dedicated civil judges in 2011. Before his appointment to the bench, he practiced in Stockton for many years, primarily in general civil litigation, including insurance defense and mediation. Judge Linda Loftus, appointed to the bench in 2003, is one of San Joaquin County Superior Court’s five dedicated civil judges. Prior to her current assignment, she served as a criminal trial judge. Having presided over almost 80 jury trials, her experience also encompasses the family, juvenile, and drug courts. She practiced for over 20 years in San Joaquin County, both in civil and criminal law.

Bonnie R. Hough

About the Program: You are in need of paying clients. Clients are in need of legal services, but they can’t afford a large retainer or huge legal fees. In limited scope representation, the client pays only for the specific services that require attorney expertise, enabling them to afford some, if not all, of your services. It is ethical, state bar approved, and your competitors are probably already offering it. Learn about how you can use limited scope representation, or “unbundled” services, to get paying clients and continue to provide quality legal services. About the Speaker: Bonnie R. Hough is the Managing Attorney for the Center for Families, Children and the Courts (CFCC). She joined the AOC in 1997 as a Senior Attorney with the AB 1058 child support program, promoted to Supervising Attorney in 2001 for Equal Access Projects, and, in 2009 to Managing Attorney for CFCC. She has received several awards and accolades for her work as an attorney and is a Fellow with Harvard Law School's Bellow-Sacks project, which is designed to reconsider the system of providing civil legal services in the United States.


2013 Masters Series

Tips From the Deposition TrenchesTuesday, January 22, 2013

Small Firms, Big Risks - Legal Ethics for Small Firm and Solo Practitioners

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Stewart Tabak

Robert A. Hawley About the Program: Whether one practices in a mega-firm or with a smartphone at a Starbucks table, the same ethics govern the practice of law. However, the day-to-day situations faced by solo and small-firm practitioners pose special risks and challenges for those who wish to avoid ethical violations and disciplinary proceedings. Whether the issue is preserving client confidences in the age of ubiquitous technology and social media, marketing legal services ethically, avoiding conflicts of interest, or delivering legal services competently in a rapidly changing environment, Mr. Hawley brings unsurpassed expertise and energy to the topic, as well as an engaging sense of humor. About the Speaker: Robert A. Hawley is an expert on professional responsibility law, and his areas of oversight include numerous functions related to the development of California’s Rules of Professional Conduct. He also is the State Bar’s Employee Relations Officer and oversees all labor and employment functions. In addition to being Deputy Executive Director of the State Bar, he is also an Adjunct Professor at UOP McGeorge School of Law.

About the Program: Veterans of countless deposition wars, Stewart Tabak and Al Ellis have tales to tell and points to make. Among the lessons they’ve learned along the way: how to maintain focus on the objective even when the target keeps moving; how to handle hostile or dishonest witnesses and lawyers; how to coordinate your deposition with other forms of discovery to achieve maximum efficiency; how best to plan and retain control of the deposition; how best to prepare your witness when you are defending; and how to create a usable record for discovery disputes. Whether you are a “newbie” or a grizzled warrior, whether you are taking or defending, whether your approach is direct or oblique – you should benefit from the candid insights and tips these veterans bring to the topic. About the Speakers: Stewart Tabak has been a trial lawyer since 1979, specializing in wrongful death and other catastrophic personal injury cases, including serious truck and auto collisions, medical negligence, elder abuse, recreation/sports-related injuries and product liability, among others. Respected throughout California as an advocate and litigator, he has distinguished himself by serving on the Board of Governors for the Consumer Attorneys of California for many years, and, for four years, as Editor in Chief of its monthly legal journal, Forum. Albert M. Ellis graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1975 and graduated from Pepperdine Law Scool in 1977. He first came to Stockton to work as a Deputy Public Defender in 1978 and began the private practice of law as an associate with the firm of Freeman, Rishwain & Hall in 1981. He has been a partner in the firm of Hakeem, Ellis & Marengo since 1983. His practice emphasis is in the area of family law, criminal law and civil litigation.

Albert M. Ellis


2013 Masters SeriesOn the Rocks - Alcoholism's Toll on Firms and Careers

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Jonathan I. Arons

Hon. Brett Morgan

About the Program: Do you know someone in the legal profession who is on the rocks? Substance abuse is a pervasive problem in the legal profession. Learn about the sobering consequences of substance abuse for the lawyer as well as the firm. Learn about how to recognize the lawyer who is on the rocks and what resources are available to help. About the Speaker: Jonathan I. Arons graduated from Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio in 1973 and graduated from the San Francisco Law School evening program in 1983. He had a solo practice in San Francisco until 2011. Currently, he is partner in the Law Office of Jonathan I. Arons in San Francisco. His practice emphasis is in the area of state bar disciplinary defense and professional license defense. Mr. Arons has extensive experience as a consultant for legal ethics issues and as an expert witness in the area of legal malpractice.

Legal Technology: How to Ethically and Responsibly Use Technology in Your Practice

Thursday, January 24, 2013

About the Program: Do you use your smart phone to check work emails? Do you log into your office network from home? Do you review confidential legal documents on your tablet? Learn how to effectively use technology to make your law practice more efficient without compromising your ethical and professional responsibilities. About the Speaker: Judge Brett Morgan is a San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge. Before he was appointed to the bench, he was the Chief of Staff for the California Department of Corrections and, prior to that, he was the Chief Deputy Inspector General for the Office of Inspector General. Judge Morgan was also a District Attorney for Sacramento County and a Deputy Attorney General.


2013 Masters SeriesCultural Cues: Working Effectively with the Sikh Community

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Grjit Singh Srai About the Program: You can’t do your best work if you overlook cultural issues and behaviors that will have an effect on your presentation of your client’s case. Avoid these missteps and provide your clients with the best possible representation. Mr. Srai will provide real-world examples of cultural issues arising in legal cases and how awareness makes advocacy effective About the Speaker: Gurjit Singh Srai is a sole practitioner at the Srai Law Office, located in Stockton and Fresno. His principal practice areas as Criminal Law, Bankruptcy Law and Family Law. A graduate of Chapman University School of Law, Mr. Srai was admitted to the California State Bar in 2009. In addition to membership with the San Joaquin County Bar Association, Mr. Srai is a member of the National Consumer Bankruptcy Association and California Public Defender’s Association. Mr. Srai is fluent in Punjabi, believed to be the 10th most widely spoken language in the world.


Bar Calendar & Member Announcements

Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings start at 12 noon and are held at the SJCBA office.


ABA Telebriefing: Recent Developments in Estate and Trust AdministrationThe Bank of Stockton Trust & Investment Group is hosting an ABA Telebriefing at 240 N. San Joaquin Street on Thursday, December 6, 2012. The program will cover the following topics:

• Legislative Developments• Marital Deduction• Gifts• Valuation• Partnerships and LLCs• If you would like to attend this program and receive credit, the cost is $20.00 for SJCBA Members and $25.00 for Non-Members. Please contact the Bank of Stockton for more information (209) 929-1521.

• Generation-skipping Tax Issues• Charitable Gifts• Asset Protection Planning• Insurance• Tax Return and Audit Issues

December 2012

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

3 4 5

10 11 12 13

6 7

17 18 19 20

14

21

24 25 26 27 28

31

Probate Comm

MCLE Comm

LRS Comm Criminal Law Round Table

Women Lawyers Holiday Party

at Centrale

Family Law Ex Comm w/ Court Mediators At Family Law Court

House

Criminal Law Ex Comm

CAC Comm Paralegal Ex Comm Board of Governors Program Comm

Board of Governors Ex Comm

Civil Lit Ex Comm

LPMT Ex Comm

Paralegal Round Table

Judicial Liaison

ATB Comm

Christmas Holiday SJCBA and Courts

Closed

ABA Televbriefing

Barristers Annual Meeting Holiday Party

SJCBA and LRS Close Early

Bar Calendar & Member Announcements

Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings start at 12 noon and are held at the SJCBA office.


New SJCBA Members:• Marion M. Jensen• Brian E. Lafferty• Ryan M. Daugherty

2013 Masters SeriesThe SJCBA is planning for another great Masters Series. There are eleven programs offered. Please refer to pages 29-30 for registration information. A brief description of each program and its speaker(s) are available on pages 31-36. If you have any questions or would like to register, please contact the SJCBA at (209) 948-0125 or go to: www.sjcbar.org.

2013 New Lawyers ReceptionThe Bank of Stockton is hosting the New Lawyers Reception on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 from 5-7 pm at the Bank of Stockton Headquarters Office, 301 E. Miner Avenue in Stockton. The speaker is Dean Francis J. Mootz III of Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Please join us as we welcome these new California State Bar admittees into our legal community.

January 2013

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

31 1 2

7 8 9 10

3 4

14 15 16 17

11

18

21 22 23 24 25

28 29 30 31 1

New Year’s Day Holiday SJCBA and

Courts Closed

Board of Governors

MLK Day Holiday SJCBA and

Courts Closed

Think Before You Tweet: The Dark Side of Social

Media

Damages: The Effect of the Current Economy on

Damage Calculations

SJCBA and LRS Close Early LPM&T

Women Lawyers Ex Comm

Family Law Ex Comm

Board of Governors Ex Comm

Paralegals Program

Board of Governors

ATB

Collecting You r Client’s Judgement: From

Abstracts to UCCs

What You’re Dying to Know About Probate News

It’s Good Business: Providing Affordable,

Quality Legal Services Through Limited Scope

Representation

The Views From Departments 33 and 41

Small Firms, Big Risks: Legal Ethics for Small

Firm and Solo Practitioners

Tips from the Deposition Trenches

On the Rocks: Alcoholism’s Toll on

Firms and Careers

Legal Technology: How to Ethically and

Responsibly Use Technology in Your Practice

Cultural Cues: Working Effectively with the Sikh

Community

Classified

Cort Tower Office Space Available343 E. Main Street, Stockton, CA 95202• 10 story classic office tower• National Historic Landmark with all modern amenities• Rental Rate: $.95 psf (+PG&E)• Two high-speed elevators• Secure code access entry• Free use of Executive Conference Room for tenants• Free exercise room / mini gym for tenantsFor More Information Please Contact

Mahala Burns, Broker (209) [email protected] • www.cortco.com

Ruhl Building - Reduced Price523 East Main Street, Stockton, CA 95202• Three excellent ground floor suites available with

new building facade• Property Type: Office or Retail• Rental Rate: $0.75 psf negotiable (+PG&E)• Suites 521 - 2,432 sf• Suites 523 & 527 - 2,000 sf• Directly across from the San Joaquin Superior Court Family Law CourthouseFor More Information Please Contact

Mahala Burns, Broker (209) [email protected] • www.cortco.com


Elks Building 42 N. Sutter Street, Stockton, CA 95202• Office space available• Single office to full floor • Newly renovated offices• Lease Rate: starting at $.50 psf • Tenant pays PG&E and janitorial • Professional tenant mix • Located in the Central Parking District • Walking distance to business/government offices

and restaurants For More Information Please Contact

Mahala Burns, Broker (209) 235-5231 [email protected] • www.cortco.com

Office Suite AvailableKress Legal Center20 N. Sutter Street, Stockton, CA 95202• 952 s.f. suite with three offices• Tenant pays PG&E and janitorial• Located in the Central Parking District• Walking distance to business/government offices,

restaurants, and courthouse

For More Information Please Contact

Mahala Burns, Broker (209) 235-5231 [email protected] • www.cortco.com

San Joaquin County Bar Association20 North Sutter Street, Suite 300, Stockton, CA 95202

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2012Year in Review

The Official publication of the November/December 2012 San ...files.ctctcdn.com/9960663e001/e19f24a4-83b2-4ef3... · programs on gang violence and substance abuse, respec-tively.

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