CommitteesOur Fellow service on committees both within our local chapter and committees of the AAML Nationals organization. Some of our local committees include the following: Amicus: Chair, David Youngsmith The amicus committee monitors important cases pending before the various courts. The committee considers requests that the chapter becomes involved in amicus positions with respect to important issues and makes recommendations to the board of managers. Awards: Chair, Gretchen Wallacker The awards committee considers candidates for various awards given by the chapter and makes recommendations to the board of managers regarding recipients of such awards. Board of Examiners/Membership: Chair, Geniveve Ruskus The board of examiners is made up of the voting members of the board of managers. This board reviews applications for Fellowship to the Northern California chapter and makes recommendations to the national board of examiners. Note that the national board is the body that makes the final decisions regarding membership. Charitable Contributions: Chair, Donna Gibbs The charitable contributions committee considers applications for charitable contributions and recommends how funds available for charitable contributions shall be distributed. The committee also reviews scholarship applications for the Symposium and Trial Practicum and makes recommendations for scholarship awards. Diversity Equity and Inclusion: Co-Chairs, Lexi Mussallem and Nancy Encarnacion Mass The Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee hopes to provide education and bring more inclusion to our organization. This committee is in its infancy, so we will be using the first part of this year to create a mission statement and goals and then will reach out to Fellows to join. Legislative Liaison: Chair, Lorie Nachlis The legislative liaison's tasks include ongoing dialogue with ACFLS regarding pending legislation, monitoring significant pending litigation, and keeping fellows informed, and polling our membership to determine if the chapter wishes to propose legislation or take positions regarding significant pending litigation. Membership Development: Chair, Tanya Prioste The membership development committee oversees new member recruitment with special attention to increasing the geographic diversity of members and other factors, oversees new member announcements and implements the "buddy system" and overall mentorship to new fellows, and increases chapter participation in our activities. Mentoring: Co-Chairs, Gretchen Rubel and Jennifer Crum
Pro Bono Court Resources: Chair, Yasmine Mehmet The Pro Bono Committee was created to address various ways the AAML could serve the Court, potential litigants, or even other Fellows. Some of the tasks undertaken have included the following: compiling and updating a referral list of low-fee or pro bono organizations that offer family-law-related services; assisting the Court in locating Judge Pro Tems or gathering volunteers to help with Court-specific needs such as Judgment review or lawyer of the day programs; and creating a History Project to ensure the legacy of our Fellows is not lost to time. Symposium: Co-Chairs, Nancy Encarnacion Mass & Marisa San Filippo The Symposium committee plans, organizes, and presents our chapter's annual Symposium. Trial Practicum: Co-Chairs, Michèle Bissada & Lexi Mussallem Contact: mbissada at fkkblaw.com and lexi at amafamilylaw.com Every other year, the Trial Practicum committee puts on a week-long educational program to teach young lawyers the skills they need to handle a trial from start to finish. |
Trial Practicum: Co-Chairs, Michèle Bissada & Lexi Mussallem Contact: mbissada at fkkblaw.com and lexi at amafamilylaw.com Every other year, the Trial Practicum committee puts on a week-long educational program to teach young lawyers the skills they need to handle a trial from start to finish. | Symposium: Co-Chairs, Nancy Encarnacion Mass & Marisa San Filippo Contact: nmass at lakinspears.com and msanfilippo at fkkblaw.com The Symposium committee plans, organizes, and presents our chapter's annual Symposium. |