San Mateo County Bar Association

PROMOTE THE HONOR AND DIGNITY OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, TO EDUCATE ITS MEMBERS, TO FOSTER THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, TO ENCOURAGE COLLEGIALITY AND TO MAINTAIN COOPERATION BETWEEN ITS MEMBERS AND THE JUDICIARY, TO FURNISH EXCELLENT INDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENCE, TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN ACCESSING LEGAL SERVICES, TO PROVIDE AND RECOGNIZE PUBLIC SERVICE AS IT RELATES TO THIS MISSION, AND TO ADVANCE THE FAIR AND EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FOR ALL. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO REPRESENTED OVER 20,000 INDIGENTS IN LEGAL MATTERS, EXPLAINED LEGAL RIGHTS TO APPROXIMATELY 20,000 INDIVIDUALS, RESOLVED 30 FEE DISPUTES BETWEEN ATTORNEYS AND THEIR CLIENTS, SUPPLIED ATTORNEYS FOR A MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS, SUPPORTED LAW DAY PROGRAMS, SUPPLIED ATTORNEYS FOR THE LAW RELATED QUESTION AND ANSWER CLINICS OFFERED AROUND THE COUNTY, SPONSORED CALL-IN RADIO SHOW "YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS", DISTRIBUTED OVER 1,000 PAMPHLETS EXPLAINING LEGAL RIGHTS.

THE PRIVATE DEFENDER PROGRAM (PDP) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1968. THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO (THE COUNTY) DOES NOT HAVE A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND SO THE COUNTY HAS CONTRACTED WITH THE ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE INDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENSE. THE PDP DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS OTHERWISE UNABLE TO HIRE COUNSEL AND IT DOES SO AT SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYERS OF SAN MATEO COUNTY. PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THEIR OWN ATTORNEY IN ADULT CRIMINAL, MENTAL HEALTH, CHILD DEPENDENCY, AND JUVENILE CRIMINAL MATTERS.

PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (MCLE) AND NETWORKING. OFFERS A VARIETY OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH VARIOUS LOCAL BUSINESSES. MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A RANGE OF MEMBER BENEFITS WHICH PRODUCE REVENUE FOR THE ASSOCIATION. THE MOST POPULAR BENEFIT IS THE COURT CARD KEY. ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS ARE ELIGIBLE, FOR A NOMINAL FEE, TO APPLY FOR CARD KEY ACCESS TO THE SAN MATEO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO BYPASS THE SECURITY SCREENING BY USING THE EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE. MEMBERS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE ACCOUNTS OPENED BY THE ASSOCIATION TO GAIN EVEN LARGER DISCOUNTS WITH COMPANIES SUCH AS OFFICE DEPOT AND FEDERAL EXPRESS.

THE ASSOCIATION'S LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE (LRS) IS A STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED PROGRAM (CERTIFICATE NO. 0039). FOR A NOMINAL FEE OF $35, THE LRS WILL PROVIDE CALLERS WITH THE NAME OF AN ATTORNEY WHO WILL PROVIDE UP TO A 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION. THE CONSULTATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROSPECTIVE CLIENT TO EXPLAIN THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE LEGAL PROBLEM AND FOR THE ATTORNEY TO EXPLAIN HIS OR HER FEE STRUCTURE AND DETERMINE IF THE CASE IS ONE HE OR SHE WISHES TO PURSUE. ONCE THE ATTORNEY TAKES A CASE, THE ATTORNEY WILL PAY THE SMCBA 15% OF ALL PROCEEDS RECEIVED FROM THE CLIENTS IN EXCESS OF $100. THE SERVICE ALSO PROVIDES WILLS AT NO COSTS TO SENIOR CITIZENS, FREE WORKERS' COMPENSATION REFERRALS TO ATTORNEYS WHO CAN ASSIST LOW INCOME CLIENTS WITH FAMILY LAW AND CRIMINAL LAW MATTERS, AND FEE WAIVERS FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD TO PAY THE REFERRAL FEE.BENEFITS OF JOINING THE LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:O THE SERVICE ASSISTS ATTORNEYS IN INCREASING THEIR CLIENT BASE WITHIN MULTIPLE AREAS OF LAW AND IN AREAS WHERE THEY MAY HAVE LIMITED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE.O THE SERVICE HELPS ATTORNEYS GENERATE ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR THEIR FIRM AND OUR BAR ASSOCIATION.O THE SERVICE HAS A COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAM AND MAKES SURE THAT IT ADHERES TO THE RULES AND PROCEDURES SET BY THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA.O EACH YEAR THE SERVICE DEDICATES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES FOR ADVERTISING FOR NEW CLIENTS.O EACH YEAR THE SERVICE MAKES APPROXIMATELY 1,700 REFERRALS TO MORE THAN 100 ATTORNEYS.

THE SAN MATEO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION'S FEE ARBITRATION PROGRAM IS A CONFIDENTIAL AND LOWER COST FORUM FOR RESOLVING FEE DISPUTES BETWEEN ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTS. ARBITRATION IS A LEGAL PROCEEDING BUT MORE INFORMAL THAN A TRIAL SETTING, DURING WHICH BOTH SIDES IN A DISPUTE OFFER THEIR TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE TO A NEUTRAL PARTY, CALLED THE ARBITRATOR. FEE ARBITRATION OPERATES UNDER THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA'S RULES AND IS MANDATED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTIONS 6200-6206. PARTICIPATION IN ARBITRATION IS VOLUNTARY FOR CLIENTS BUT MANDATORY FOR ATTORNEYS WHEN REQUESTED BY THE CLIENT. CLIENTS HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO MANDATORY FEE ARBITRATION AND ATTORNEYS MUST OFFER ARBITRATION TO THEIR CLIENTS BEFORE PURSUING LEGAL ACTION AS A MEANS OF COLLECTING A DEBT. THE ARBITRATION PROCESS TAKES APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MONTHS FROM BEGINNING TO END. THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS VOLUNTARY MEDIATION AS A MEANS TO SETTLE THEIR DISPUTE. BOTH PARTIES MAY ELECT TO PARTICIPATE IN PRE-ARBITRATION MEDIATION TO RESOLVE THEIR FEE DISPUTE. IF NO RESOLUTION IS REACHED BY THE END OF THE MEDIATION SESSION, THE MATTER WILL THEN PROCEED AUTOMATICALLY TO ARBITRATION. THE STANDARD ARBITRATION PANEL APPOINTED CONSISTS OF TWO ATTORNEY ARBITRATORS AND ONE LAY ARBITRATOR (NON- LEGAL PROFESSIONAL). THIS PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO BE A CONSUMER FRIENDLY. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS PARTIES TO REQUEST THE CASE TO BE HEARD BY ATTORNEY ARBITRATORS WITH EXPERIENCE IN CIVIL LAW, CRIMINAL LAW, AND/OR FAMILY LAW. SIMILAR TO A LEGAL PROCEEDING IN COURT PARTICIPANTS MAY SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTS. PARTIES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL REPRESENT THEM, BUT MAY CHOOSE TO DO SO.