Professional Benefits
The Agricultural Law Section was formed in recognition of Fresno County’s
status as the premiere agricultural region of the United States. The Section’s
goal is to inform local attorneys (and other interested persons) about current
issues affecting agribusiness. Therefore, speakers and topics sometimes
have more of an industry focus than a pure legal focus. Topics covered in
2005-2006 included updates on water quality issues (such as the ag waiver
discharge), the Farm Program, agricultural land values, farm labor, marketing
orders, the Williamson Act and the San Joaquin River Litigation. Breakfast
meetings at the Ramada Inn are generally held on the 4th Wednesday of each
month at 7 a.m. All section meetings qualify for one hour of MCLE credit.
All attorneys who are members in good standing with the Fresno County Bar
Association are welcome to participate in this committee’s activities. The
goals of the committee are to educate and promote to the Bar Association,
Courts, and community at large alternative dispute resolution processes
of all types, including mediation, arbitration, and others. The committee,
which was formed in 1991, meets on a periodic basis. Currently, the committee
is studying ways to implement the California State Bar Association, and
working with the Fresno County Superior Court to study possible local ADR
Rules of Court.
The Appellate Section of the Fresno County Bar Association, newly formed
this year, is open to all attorneys, justices, judges and staff. The
purpose of the Appellate Section is to provide education on appellate practice
and procedure, to serve as a clearinghouse for pertinent developments, and
to facilitate communication among and between the Court of Appeal and appellate
practitioners and staff.
The Steering Committee for the newly-formed Appellate Section are:
Phillip Tavlian, Kathleen Meehan, Kathleen DeSantis, Todd Baxter, Michelle
Guardado and Margaret Fainer. For more information, contact either Phillip
Tavlian or Kathleen Meehan.
The Steering Committee plans to meet the second Monday of each month at
noon. The Section will sponsor one program this year and, thereafter,
at least two programs per year.
Members of the Fresno County Bar Association have a special intercom system
of their own consisting of a monthly publication entitled The Bar Bulletin.
It circulates the latest word to and about local attorneys, bar organizations
and the judiciary. It carries profiles of and interviews with leaders of
the legal profession and the judiciary. Carried also are reports and reviews
of recent significant court decisions. Humorous incidents that have fired
the editor’s imagination are sprinkled throughout, as are reprints of timely
commentaries and editorials of interest to attorneys. Since its first issue
in 1978, The Bar Bulletin has grown from a single sheet to a twelve to sixteen
page periodical.
Bench Bar & Media is a local group of persons who strive to promote a better
understanding among attorneys, courts and media. BBM does not require membership
dues or maintain a membership roster. This group formed approximately 30
years ago, initially holding informal dinner meetings at which attorneys,
judges and media representatives discussed matters of common interest “off
the record.” As the years passed, the number of attendees grew and speakers
were invited to address the group and field questions. Since the meetings
are open to the public and the media is welcome to report on them, the meetings
are no longer "off the record." Today, a Steering Committee, comprised of
lawyers, judges and media representatives, schedule lunch meetings five
times a year (September, October, January, March and May) on the third Wednesday
of each month. The luncheons typically feature a guest speaker or speakers,
candidate debates or a general discussion among the attendees of important
issues of the day.
The Business Law Section of the Fresno County Bar Association was formed
in December, 1988. The purpose of this section is to promote a high level
of competence and ethics among members practicing business law. Regular
meetings are held to provide an opportunity for business law practitioners
to meet and exchange ideas on topics of interest, including recent developments
in the law, “how to” instructions for various business transactions, and
ethical considerations in business transactions. Generally an experienced
and knowledgeable business law practitioner serves as a guest speaker and
discussion leader. All members of the Fresno County Bar Association are
welcome to join sections. This section offers MCLE credits.
The Construction Law Section is open to all attorneys, judges and staff
who represent clients in all facets of construction law, from traditional
construction litigation (mechanic’s liens, stop notice, bond claims, and
bid protests), to transactional and development work, and construction defect
litigation as well, for those practicing in both the private and public
sector. The section meets evenings (generally 5:30 p.m.) in alternating
months (September, December, February, April and June), with a hiatus during
the summer months. During each meeting, a summary of recent case law is
discussed and a speaker is presented. All meetings qualify for MCLE. Meeting
locations vary.
The Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) Committee sponsors and hosts all
of the CEB programs held in Fresno and Yosemite which are provided by the
University of California Extension, Continuing Education of the Bar. The
committee actively attempts to bring specialized courses to Fresno which
are normally held only in the larger metropolitan areas.
This committee and its respective subcommittees meet as necessary with
the representatives of the courts to discuss and attempt to resolve issues
facing the courts and the attorneys in their respective relationships. This
committee supports the courts in their relationships with the media and
with other interested bodies whenever requested and whenever possible. When
matters of concern are expressed by the bench or bar regarding a particular
attorney or a particular judge, those matters are discussed and resolved.
This committee also works in the areas of voluntary pro bono service, arbitration,
and in obtaining pro tempore judges for the courts.
The committee meets on a regular basis and confers with the jurists of the
respective courts to discuss compliance with local rules, and to conduct
an ongoing study for modifications of existing local rules to meet changing
needs and times.
The subcommittees of this Committee each have separate chairpersons and
are (1) the Federal District Court Liaison and Rules Subcommittee, (2) the
Fifth District Court of Appeal Liaison Committee, (3) the Superior Court
Liaison and Rules Subcommittee.
Each chairperson is charged with responsibility of meeting with the presiding
justice or judges of the respective courts on an as-needed basis.
Members of the Fresno County Bar Association are invited to raise issues,
make suggestions, and provide input to the committee chairpersons regarding
matters to be brought to the attention of the courts.
This section is open to all attorneys, judges and staff who are interested
in the practice of criminal law. The section was reconstituted in July,
2000. Currently the section has about 20 paid members but is actively recruiting
from both the defense and prosecution bars. The section will be focusing
on education germane to the practice of criminal law and the socialization
of attorneys practicing in this area. The section tries to meet at least
two (2) times a year (time and place to be announced) for education and
networking. MCLE credits will be offered.
This section generally meets on the first Thursday of each month. Judges,
attorneys, probate support staff, federal and state tax representatives
and other speakers discuss particulars of local practice, case law and legislative
changes, agency procedures and related topics. Members have served in CEB
programs and statewide bar association committees. The section works with
the probate court and the probate examiners and members have been active
in revising the local probate rules. This section is one of the oldest continuously
functioning sections in the Association.
Meeting the first Wednesday of each month for presentations of interest
to practitioners in this widely diverse area of law, members are kept up
to date in recent and proposed changes in family law and practice. The section
and its various subcommittees work closely with the courts, with Family
Court Services and with the Family Support Division in addressing concerns
both locally and statewide. Selected members of the committee serve from
time to time as judges pro tempore in the Family Law Department. This committee
continues to be instrumental in the modification of the local Family Law
Rules of Court and the Fresno County child support schedule.
Fresno County Young Lawyers Association (FCYLA) is composed of those
members of the Fresno County Bar Association who have been members of the
State Bar of California for five years or less or are 36 years of age or
younger. Those who meet these criteria are automatically members of FCYLA
without payment of dues. FCYLA is formally affiliated with the Fresno County
Bar Association, but has its own independently elected Board of Directors
and generally operates as an autonomous entity.
FCYLA strives to build camaraderie and provide opportunities for new
lawyers to interact in order to continue the tradition of a close-knit association
between local practitioners. To achieve this, FCYLA begins by providing
organizational support for the swearing in ceremonies for new lawyers. The
effort continues with several social gatherings during the year, which allow
lawyers to interact in informal settings.
At the same time, FCYLA continues to sponsor and organize events focused
on helping new lawyers develop in their practice. FCYLA sponsors “Wine,
War Stories and Words of Wisdom” (formerly Bridging the Gab) where judges
and seasoned attorneys address vital and practical aspects of law practice
not commonly covered in the law school curriculum. FCYLA also sponsors the
George A. Hopper Memorial Scholarship Luncheon, which awards a scholarship
to a local law student and brings a prominent member of the judiciary to
address the local bar. In addition, FCYLA sponsors the Blaine E. Pettitt
Memorial Mentor Award, recognizing the contributions of a local attorney
toward the development of new lawyers.
Motivated by increasing concern about the public image of lawyers and
the lack of understanding by non-lawyers of how the legal system operates,
FCYLA provides lawyer volunteers to help coach high school students in mock
trial competition sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation and
the California Young Lawyers Association and also provides, on a continuing
basis, Career Day speakers and classroom lawyer advisors to local elementary
and high schools.
FCYLA has received numerous awards, including the 1983 ABA national first
place award for the outstanding bar association of its size.
This committee’s function is to make recommendations to the Board of
Law Library Trustees concerning books to be added to or deleted from
the Fresno County Law Library. The committee welcomes suggestions
from members of the legal community and will be happy to consider
them at its meetings which are held on a monthly basis. .
The members of this committee actively participate in the proposing and
evaluating of resolutions presented to the annual Conference of
Delegates at the State Bar Convention. Throughout the year, members
suggest changes and modifications of existing laws and evaluate
proposals submitted by other bar associations. Prior to the annual
State Bar Convention, members attend review sessions to evaluate and
vote on proposed resolutions. In the fall of each year, the members
of this committee represent the Fresno County Bar Association at the
Conference of Delegates.
The Pro Bono Services Section supports the FCBA's Pro Bono
Resolution, which "Urges all attorneys to devote a reasonable amount of
time to provide...legal services without expectation of compensation."
The Section encourages pro bono casework, organizes
MCLE training luncheons, and publicly recognizes legal volunteers
(Liberty Bell Award, Pro Bono Attorney of the Month). There is no fee
for section membership.
Section members donate pro bono legal services through the Voluntary
Legal Services Program (VLSP) of Central California Legal Services, Inc.
(CCLS), in such areas as: simple wills, domestic violence restraining
orders, housing, consumer/employment, HIV/AIDS law, Homeless Veterans
Stand Down, eligible non-profit organizations, and other civil legal
matters. VLSP provides a variety of support services to its volunteer
attorneys, including: free MCLE training, malpractice insurance, and
staff support for pro bono cases.
Please join the efforts of the FCBA and CCLS/VLSP to provide access to
justice through the delivery of pro bono legal services
to low-income and elderly clients in Fresno County.
Members of the Fresno County Bar whose practice includes real property and
real property security issues are encouraged to attend Real
Property Section meetings. Lunch meetings at the Ramada Inn
generally are held on the third Thursday of each month, with an
occasional “odd” date due to scheduling conflicts. The Real
Property Section also has evening meetings on major topics
occasionally. All Real Property Section meetings qualify for
MCLE credit. The Section programs are of general interest to the
real property practitioner, reaching such diverse topics as
regulation of hazardous materials, anti-deficiency questions and
land use planning. Speakers are frequently members of related
professions with whom real property practitioners deal on a
regular basis, such as accountants, planners, title insurers,
escrow holders and lenders. The Real Property Section also acts
as the State Bar Real Property Roundtable, which is a subsection
of the State Bar Real Property Section. As such, section members
have access to pending legislation, law revision and other
issues before the State Bar Real Property Section.
The State Bar offers a wide variety of services to local bar associations
as well as to individual attorneys. Assistance in developing pro
bono programs, increasing local bar association membership and
group medical insurance are but a few of the services available.
The Conference of Delegates is the voice of the voluntary bar
associations and sponsors an annual conference where attorneys’
opinions on a wide variety of matters relevant to attorneys are
expressed. The conference has been given increasing
responsibility for sponsoring and advocating legislation which
is enacted by our State Legislature.
PERSONAL BENEFITS
Alcohol And Drug Abuse Committee
Members of this committee meet twice a month. Any attorney referred
to the committee is provided confidential assistance. This assistance
includes information about and referral to treatment facilities, local
support groups and State Bar consultation, as well as emotional support
and understanding.
Credit Union Membership
Members of the Fresno County Bar Association are eligible to join the
State Center Credit Union. This membership is also available to families
of Association members. Contact the Bar Association office if you wish
further information.
Insurance Committee
The objectives of this committee are to locate low cost group insurance,
to provide the members of the association with affordable professional
liability and health care programs and to oversee the general insurance
needs of the Association itself.
Membership Committee
The Fresno County Bar Association Membership Committee provides the
energy and impetus for the generation of new members for the
Association. The committee is charged with the responsibility of
maintaining a current membership list including all local attorneys on
paid active status. The Membership Committee also is active in handling
questions from the members concerning services available to them from
the Association and in soliciting members comments on new areas of
interest within the legal community so that new programs or changes in
existing programs can be implemented to best serve member attorneys.
Social Events
There are two evening social events each year. The first is the Annual
Judicial Appreciation Night, usually held as an informal Social Event in
early to mid-September, honoring the judges of Fresno County. This event
is limited to active and honorary members only. The second is the Annual
Banquet and Installation of Officers held in January and featuring the
great orators of the Bar. Admittance to this function is limited to
active and honorary members and spouses. We also have the Annual Family
Picnic which is usually held in mid to late May and is open to the legal
community, to include members, staff, family and friends.
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Agricultural Law Section
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
The Bar Bulletin Committee
Bench Bar Media Committee
Business Law Section
Construction Law Section
Continuing Education of the Bar Committee
Court Liaison and Rules Committee
Estate Planning Trust and Probate Section
Family Law Section
Fresno County Young Lawyers Association
Law Library Committee
Legislation Committee
Pro Bono Services Section
Real Property Section
State Bar Assistance Available to Local Bars
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
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