Local Law Firm Expands Practice To North County
A local legal watchdog group claims to have a tool that will make it easier for local small business owners to find a lawyer.
The San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse recently partnered with the National Federation of Independent Business to offer a free brochure with tips on obtaining and working with legal counsel.
“Helpful Tips for Hiring a Lawyer” includes several tips on how small business owners can make sure they select the right lawyer for their case, negotiate a fair fee, and even fire a lawyer if necessary.
“Our group is doing everything possible to educate small business owners and the general public on the basics of hiring a lawyer,” said Andy Kotner, president of the local CALA chapter. “You’d be surprised as to how little some lawyers will inform you of your rights and options in hiring them, thereby perpetrating the abuse of a legal system that is supposed to benefit us.”
Kotner said the price of having to hire a lawyer on more than one occasion is typically passed on to consumers and taxpayers in the form of higher priced goods and services. The intent of the guide, he said, is to stop that cycle by making sure small business owners are properly guided through the process.
“This guideline is one of America’s best kept secrets,” Kotner said. “What’s more, being a smart legal consumer can be a wonderful weapon against lawsuit abuse.”
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Going North:
The San Diego office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has expanded its practice to North County.
The firm opened its seventh California office in Del Mar Heights in mid-September.
The 14,000-square-foot office, located at 12544 High Bluff Drive, will initially be staffed with 16 attorneys focusing on litigation, corporate, labor, real estate, and intellectual property law.
The firm, based in Los Angeles, also opened new offices in Santa Barbara and West Los Angeles last month.
Financial Aid:
Area law students with a concentration in technology can apply for a new scholarship by Minneapolis-based Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP.
The $20,000 scholarship program is open to law students that plan to focus on assisting clients in the information technology, Internet and e-commerce, electronics and life sciences industries.
For information, go to www.oppenheimer.com.
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Appointee:
Sandra Shippey, a partner with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, was recently appointed to the California State Bar Business Law Section’s Uniform Commercial Code committee. As a member of the UCC committee, Shippey will focus primarily on further development of commercial law in California. The committee will also work with other national organizations on issues that affect the UCC.
Honors:
California Western School of Law professor Janeen Kerper was recently honored with the San Diego County Law Library Justice Foundation’s Bernard E. Witkin Award. Kerper has been a professor at California Western for the past 18 years.
The deadline for the next Law Column is Thursday, Oct. 11. Send related items to dward@sdbj.com.
