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An Official Publication of
The Marin County Bar Association |
Morgan Daly
Ingrid Carbone, Tom McInerney |
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| Looking After Our Neighbors |
READ NOW >
Open the magazine and then Click on Download for PDF of 2025 September Marin Lawyer |
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| Thu | Oct 02 | 5-6:30P |
General | General Membership Social (in person)
General
General Membership Social (in person) |
| Thirsty Thursday |
Calling All Marin Attorneys!
Ready to expand your network, catch up with colleagues, or just make new friends? Join us for Thirsty Thursday, with the Marin County Bar Association!
Here’s the deal:
When? The First Thursday of every month, starting at 5:00 PM
Where? A rotating lineup of restaurants and bars in Marin--this month we'll meet at Above Fifth (Rooftop) Bar and Lounge at the AC Hotel in downtown San Rafael.
No RSVP, No-Host, No Fuss—just show up, buy yourself a drink and an appetizer, and enjoy casual, face-to-face conversations with fellow attorneys who work or live in Marin County. Bring your business cards, your best stories, and let’s make Thursdays something to look forward to again!
Whether you're looking to grow your network or just unwind with a great group, Thirsty Thursday is the perfect way to mix business and pleasure.
See you there! |
| 1.0 CLE | General |
| Location: Above Fifth (Rooftop) Bar & Lounge at the AC Hotel San Rafael |
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| Thu | Nov 06 | 4-5P |
General | General Membership Social (in person)
General
General Membership Social (in person) |
| Book Talk at Book Passage |
Discover the Best New Books with Book Passage -- Registration Required!
The Marin County Bar Association is excited to invite you to a special Book Talk with the staff of Book Passage on Thursday, November 6, 2025. In this lively and engaging program, the Book Passage team will highlight:
• The best new books across genres
• Insightful takes on cultural trends shaping our world
• Up-to-date information about the changing book and publishing industry
This FREE event is designed especially for MCBA members, with books and topics tailored to our community of legal professionals. Whether you’re looking for your next great read, cultural context on current issues, or a peek behind the curtain of publishing, you’ll walk away inspired (and with a longer reading list!). Registration is required.
And the evening doesn’t end there—after the talk, join us at Flores in Corte Madera's Town Center for our Thirsty Thursday gathering beginning at 5:00 PM. It’s the perfect chance to continue the conversation, connect with colleagues, and unwind together. |
| 1.0 CLE | General |
| Location: Book Passage Bookstore |
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Free
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| Thu | Nov 06 | 5-6:30P |
General | General Membership Social (in person)
General
General Membership Social (in person) |
| Thirsty Thursday |
Calling All Marin Attorneys!
Ready to expand your network, catch up with colleagues, or just make new friends? Join us for Thirsty Thursday, with the Marin County Bar Association!
Here’s the deal:
When? The First Thursday of every month, starting at 5:00 PM
Where? A rotating lineup of restaurants and bars in Marin--this month we'll meet at Flores in Corte Madera's Town Center.
No RSVP, No-Host, No Fuss—just show up, buy yourself a drink and an appetizer, and enjoy casual, face-to-face conversations with fellow attorneys who work or live in Marin County. Bring your business cards, your best stories, and let’s make Thursdays something to look forward to again!
Whether you're looking to grow your network or just unwind with a great group, Thirsty Thursday is the perfect way to mix business and pleasure.
See you there! |
| 1.0 CLE | General |
| Location: Flores |
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| Wed | Nov 12 | 9A-5:30P |
General | 2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference--Two Days, November 12th and 13th (virtual)
General
2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference--Two Days, November 12th and 13th (virtual) |
| 2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference features a Collaborative Virtual Conference Hosting Scholars and Legal Experts |
Here are the 2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference presentations and speakers: Click Here for the Conference Brochure.
Wednesday, November 12th:
- Briefs, Briefings & Brain Fog: Menopause in the Legal Lane
- Blind Justice: Addressing Implicit Bias in the Courtroom
- Keynote: Expect More Lawlessness - Supreme Court October 2025 Preview
- The Rise of Women's Sports
- Ethics in Privacy, Cybersecurity and AI Law
- Price Gouging and Natural Disasters: CA Enforcement
Thursday, November 13th:
- The Anti-DEI Agenda: What Lawyers Need to Know
- Generative AI in Legal Practice: Opportunities, Risks and Best Practices.
- Keynote: A Lawyer’s Obligation When the Rule of Law is Under Attack: A Panel Discussion
- On the Path to Wellness in the Legal Profession
- Six Practical Tools: How To Control Your Stress Response
- In-Person Networking Event at The Burren House on 4th Street in downtown San Rafael (from 4:30-5:30P)
2025 Keynote Speakers:
Day 1 (Wednesday, Nov 12th): Leah Litman Leah Litman is the co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast. She is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, & Bad Vibes which is available for purchase here.
Day 2 (Thursday, Nov 13th): John Keker, Robert Van Nest & Elliot PetersJohn Keker, Robert Van Nest, and Elliot Peters have built reputations as among the country's top trial lawyers. Five decades of jury trials establish them as the lawyer clients turn to for their most important and high-profile litigation problems. John Keker has also been identified by the National Law Journal. They named him as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Lawyers in the United States.” They will address the challenges faced by lawyers during the time when Rule of Law appears to many to be under assault.
2025 Partnering Bar Associations:
- Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF)
- Marin County Women Lawyers (MCWL)
- Marin Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)
- Napa County Bar Association (NCBA)
- Sacramento County Bar Association (SCBA)
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA)
- San Joaquin County Bar Association (SJCBA)
- San Mateo County Bar Association (SMCBA)
- Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA)
- Solano County Bar Association (SCBA)
- Sonoma County Bar Association (SCBA)
- Women Lawyers of Alameda County (WLAC)
The 2025 two-day--WED November 12th and THURS November 13th, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM--(virtual) conference with a wide array of provocative MCLE programs that fulfill Specialty (Wellness Competence, Implicit Bias, Technology in the Practice of Law, Recognition and Elimination of Bias, Legal Ethics, Prevention and Detection Competence) and General MCLE credits. Attend all or just a few of the presentations for one flat fee. The MCLE Committee has selected current topics and issues challenging our legal profession and community.
Deadline for California State Bar MCLE | Last Names N–Z (compliance Group 3): Report Deadline: March 30, 2026.
***For those that are not able to attend but interested in the post-meeting recording, we require that you Register for the Event. Once the presentation has concluded, if the recording is adequate, we will send it to those that were not able to attend. MCBA is not accredited to provide CLE for viewing recordings post-presentation.***
2025 Bay Area MCLE Conference Sponsorships are available. Contact: Julie Cervetto at jcervetto@marinbar.org or (415) 499-1314. |
| 11.0 CLE | |
| Location: Zoom Webinar |
Early Bird Members:$175
Early Bird Non-Members: $250
Members:$225
Non-Members: $275
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| Wed | Dec 03 | 5:30-8P |
General | General Membership Social (in person)
General
General Membership Social (in person) |
| MCBA Holiday Party |
The Marin County Bar Association will host an In-Person Holiday Party at the San Rafael Yacht Club near downtown San Rafael!
The San Rafael Yacht Club is an Indoor/Outdoor festive and entertaining venue with lots of parking. Mingle with old friends and meet new colleagues, enjoy the scenic Bay views and holiday lights, Let's celebrate the end of 2025 and it's successes and welcome 2026 and new endeavors!
During the party, the Ann Diamond Young Lawyer Award and the Lawyer of the Year Award will be presented.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available, contact: Julie Cervetto, jcervetto@marinbar.org, 415-499-1314 |
Food Truck by: Dino’s Greek Food Truck
11.0 CLE | |
| Location: San Rafael Yacht Club |
Early Bird Members:$45
Early Bird Non-Members: $50
Members:$50
Non-Members: $55
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Message from the Editor |
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LOOKING AFTER OUR NEIGHBORS |
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Morgan Daly Esq. |
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The theme for this issue is LOOKING AFTER OUR NEIGHBORS. Advocacy takes on a deeper meaning when the people we’re advocating for are marginalized in one way or another – foster children, the developmentally disabled, pro per litigants, immigrants, the children of undocumented immigrants, criminal defendants, and others whose lives have been marked by poverty, trauma, and hardship. Our neighbors need our help, and this issue addresses the question More >
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President's Message |
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Kristine Fowler Cirby |
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As attorneys, we are uniquely positioned to serve as pillars of support in our community. The law is not merely our profession—it is our calling to stand beside those who need us most. More >
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"Stick Your Neck Out": Reflections on a Legal Awakening |
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Judge Verna Adams (Retired) |
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As a fledgling attorney in 1972, I watched a woman walk into a San Francisco courtroom alone to obtain an uncontested divorce. I had no idea that day would forever alter how I viewed our legal system—or, for that matter, how I would end up practicing law, serving on the bench, and later mediating disputes. But it did. More >
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Seeing the Unseen |
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Children of the Undocumented Caught in the Immigration Crossfire |
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Melissa Harms and Archer Greenlee |
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In the United States, undocumented immigrants face unprecedented aggressive enforcement actions through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations that deeply traumatize families and communities. Children of undocumented immigrants often bear the brunt of these policies, facing sudden separations, psychological distress, and long-term instability. These effects are being felt by youth right here in Marin County. More >
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HOW LEGAL AID OF MARIN IS MEETING THE MOMENT |
| By
Laura McMahon (they/them) |
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Legal Aid of Marin, or LAM as we affectionately call us, has responded to the legal needs of Marin’s marginalized communities for almost 70 years. Over time, our service areas have shifted in response to patterns of oppression and injustice. More >
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The Call That Changed Everything |
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Saying YES, A Foster Care Journey, and How Lawyers Can Change a Child's Life |
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Rodrigo D. Dias |
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In September 2016, my husband Jason and I received a phone call that would change the course of our lives forever. Six months earlier, we had taken a leap of faith ourselves — buying our first home together in San Rafael after nearly two decades of living in San Francisco. We were just settling into our life in the suburbs, enjoying the extra space, the quiet streets, and the slower rhythm of life. One of the reasons we moved was simple: we wanted to start a family. More >
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THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S PUBLIC OUTREACH BRINGS EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND HELP DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY |
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Rachael Keast |
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Ten years ago, when I first became a public defender, it quickly dawned on me that, of all the entities within the criminal legal system, public defenders are doing the most work to prevent crimes from being committed. By trying to improve the lives of those we serve and help them stay away from the criminal legal system, public defenders are much more in the business of public safety than anyone realizes. More >
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ANSWERING THE CALL FOR PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES: |
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HANSON BRIDGETT IS A FOR-PROFIT FIRM, COMMITTED TO NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY SERVICE |
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Tom McInerney |
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Over 60 years ago, the Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) 372 U.S. 335 recognized the “obvious truth” that a defendant who is too poor to hire a lawyer cannot be assured a fair trial unless legal counsel is provided. While the Supreme Court has, generally, only extended the right to counsel to criminal proceedings, in California and elsewhere there is growing movement to provide free legal counsel as a matter of right to indigent litigants in matters where basic human needs are at stake. More >
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Supporting Justice in Marin |
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Court Seeks Volunteers to Ease Overburdened Calendars |
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Kristine Fowler Cirby |
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On September 3, 2025, the Judges of the Marin County Superior Court delivered an important message to the Marin County Bar Association: The Court needs help. More >
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NON PROFIT SPOTLIGHT |
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CEDARS OF MARIN HAS IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED FOR OVER 100 YEARS |
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Tom McInerney |
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What people first notice when interacting with a resident or day program participant of Cedars of Marin are the friendly smiles and effusive joy. More >
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PROFILE: Morgan Daly |
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Tom McInerney |
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Morgan H. Daly is a Marin County Bar Association board member and runs her own criminal defense practice based in San Rafael. I sat down with her to get to know her a bit more and discuss her practice and her outlook on the criminal defense issues in Marin. More >
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Office Space, Employment Opportunities, Services and More... |
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| MCBA encourages submission of articles that may interest the legal community. The editor reserves the right to publish, decline to publish, edit, or otherwise modify any submission. Editorial material should be sent to Marin County Bar Association by email. |
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