Opportunities to Step Up for Our Community

Opportunities to Step Up for Our Community

Caitlin Kawamura

Before her election to County Supervisor, Supervisor Mary Sackett worked as an attorney in medical malpractice law. As a lawyer looking to give back to the community, she volunteered with Legal Aid of Marin participating in unlawful detainer settlement conferences, helping landlords and tenants resolve eviction disputes before trial. For a few hours each month, Sackett would step away from her law firm job and use her legal knowledge to meaningfully connect with people in need of legal assistance. It is volunteer efforts like this, where lawyers take what time they can spare from their often hectic schedules, that helps expand access to talented legal representation and ensure our court runs efficiently.

Volunteering with the court is also a great way for lawyers to immerse themselves in new fields of law. When Sackett first began volunteering, she had no prior experience with eviction cases and is grateful to have gained an understanding of the eviction process. For newer lawyers, roles in mediation and arbitration offer opportunities to build skills Volunteering has the added benefit of helping lawyers network with other community-minded volunteers. Sackett remembers building relationships with lawyers and judges from different areas of law that she otherwise may not have met.

Heading into the fall, new volunteers are greatly needed. If you are looking to give back to the community, interested in learning about a new area of law, or wanting to meet other volunteer lawyers, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

Volunteer opportunities are available for a variety of skills, interests, and availability as detailed below:

• Civil Discovery Facilitators help litigants to resolve discovery disputes before court review Those interested in becoming a civil discovery facilitator must be active members of the State Bar or retired judges and licensed for at least ten years. Each attorney’s application to serve is approved by the Supervising Civil Judge with qualified attorneys placed on a list sent to litigants opting into the program by the ADR Coordinator Lawrence Strick. For more information, contact Mr. Strick at lstrick@stricklaw.com

• Civil Settlement Conference Panelists assist with civil and probate dispute Mandatory Settlement Conferences. Panelists must be licensed for 10 years. Those interested in applying should contact Cathi Larson at cathi.larson@marin.courts.ca.gov

• Community Court addresses and seeks to resolve minor traffic and lifestyle violations committed by persistently disadvantaged defendants who face difficulties maneuvering the court system. In most instances, the court will waive the fines and fees associated with infractions in exchange for participants completing community service hours. Volunteer attorneys are both available to meet with defendants and review their cases prior to court hearings and help provide mitigation to the court during these hearings. Community Court meets on Zoom from 2- 4:30/5 pm on the second Tuesday of each month. Legal Aid of Marin staff are also available to meet with participants at St. Vincent de Paul’s dining hall in San Rafael if they are unable to access the virtual docket on their own. Those interested in volunteering should email administration@marin.courts.ca.gov

• Family Law Settlement Conference Panelists participate in Bench Bar Settlement Conferences in the family division. As one of two panelists, attorneys with experience in family law and a Judge Pro Tem meet with parties for one pre-trial settlement conference. Conferences are conducted in Room C-84. If interested in becoming a panelist, contact Cathi Larson at cathi.larson@marin.courts.ca.gov to apply.

• Lawyers in the Library is a collaboration between the Marin County Bar Association and the Marin County Law Library that provides free 20-minute legal advice sessions to self-represented community members over a Zoom platform. Volunteer in the comfort of your office or home. Currently, these areas include civil and small claims, family law, estate planning/probate, general civil appellate (unlimited and family case appeals only), employment (whenever possible), personal injury matters, and landlord-tenant matters. The program is part of the Marin legal community’s efforts to assist those who cannot afford private legal services by coordinating and furthering access to information and referrals provided by volunteer attorneys. The virtual clinic is held on Zoom on the fourth Thursday of each month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. excluding December. This is an excellent opportunity to volunteer for just two hours a month, contact Mee Mee Wong at mwong@marinbar.org

• Small Claims Judges Pro Tem preside as a panel over small claims hearings on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Attorneys with a civil background interested in applying must be members of the State Bar for at least 10 years in good standing and meet mandatory training and education requirements as outlined in the California Rules of Court, Rules 2.812, 2.815, and Code of Civil Procedures section 116.240. For further details or if you are interested in applying, email administration@marin.courts.ca.gov

• Unlawful Detainer Settlement Conferences: Volunteer opportunities through Legal Aid of Marin allow attorneys to assist pro per landlords and tenants in resolving unlawful detainer cases prior to trial. Settlement conferences are conducted by the court every Thursday at 1:30 pm over Zoom. If interested in volunteering at these settlement conferences, contact Legal Aid of Marin at (415) 492-0230.

One piece of advice I was given as a college student was to say yes to every opportunity, a piece of advice that I think applies to people regardless of age or career seniority, not just college students figuring out the future. Whether you are a new lawyer looking to take on roles such as mediation or arbitration or a more experienced one wanting to get involved in different fields of law, these volunteer roles present the opportunity to use your talents to positively impact the community. Even if you only have a few hours each month, just say yes. You never know how many lives you might touch.

Caitlin Kawamura is a summer intern in Supervisor Mary Sackett’s office working on biomass and greenhouse gas reduction projects She is a senior at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts studying political science and economics After graduating, Caitlin hopes to pursue a career in environmental law or public policy.