Employment History
- Attorney Sole practitioner, in private general practice. My practice specializes in east bay land use and administrative entitlements. I represent individuals, small businesses and large developers before City Planning Commissions, City Planning Advisory Committees (Zoning Adjustments Board, Design Review, Landmarks), City Councils and County Boards of Supervisors. .
- Small Claims Judge Adjudicate Small Claims matters in the Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Court, 1993-2006.
- Commissioner Pro-Tem Small Claims Division, Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Judicial District, 1992-2006; Adjudicate (200-300 daily) parking ticket appeals in the Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Judicial District, 1990-1992.
- Industrial Relations Council, Department of Industrial Relations Represented the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CAL-OSHA) in compliance hearings, ranging from two-party safety violations to complex three-party health violations. In addition, represented the Division in Superior and Appellate Courts on bringing Writs, Motions to Quash and preparing appellate briefs. Served as Hearing Officer in Special Order Hearings. Advocated the Divisions positions on proposed bills before the California Legislature, including Workers' Right to Know landmark legislation,1978-83.
- Deputy District Attorney, Alameda County on special loan from the Division Prosecuted five criminal jury trials and presided over citation hearings, 1979.
- Law Clerk, U.S. Magistrate, Thomas E. Rothwell Conducted intake, prepared court calendar, wrote legal opinions and maintained dockets, 1977-78.
- Council member, City of Emeryville Legislator on five-person City Council (first woman so elected). Chaired Public Health and Safety and Governmental Liaison Committees. Responsible for $4-5 million budget, over one hundred employees. Author of legislation to create first Senior Citizen's Advisory Commission, Senior Citizen's Center, Marina, Child Care Center, park and public mural, 1975-79.
- Business-Communications Consultant Pacific Telephone, marketing. Designed, sold, and implemented communication and data packages for the specialized industrial market, 1971-74. In other assignments managed telephone operators, switchboard position documents, and trained central office supervisors, 1968-71.
Education and Credentials
- J.D., Hastings College of the Law, University of California, San Francisco, 1977
- Active Member of California State Bar, admitted to State and Federal Courts, 1977.
- B.A., University of California at Los Angeles
Professional and Community Activities
- Alameda County Bar Association, Legislative Committee
- Alameda County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
- Alameda County Bar Association, Gun Violence Prevention Committee
- Convener-moderator, American Bar Association, Women's Division, Panel "Women's Health, Who Has the Power over Our Bodies?"
- Alameda County Democratic Lawyers
- Chairperson, School Capacity Sub-committee of the Reconstruction Committee, Oakland Public Schools. 1991-92.
- Women Lawyers of Alameda County
- Member, Alameda County Bar Association, California Trial Lawyers Association, California Women's Lawyers, 1983-present.
- Member Lawyer Referral Panel.
- School Capacity Subcommittee, Oakland Unified School District
- Restructuring Committee, Oakland Unified School District
- Bay Area Community Service, Board of Directors 2010-Present, Vice-President 2014
- Montclair-Greater Oakland Democratic Club, 1986-present. President, 1987-88, 1987-90; Vice-President, 1986-87.
- Co-founder and first Chairperson National Women's Political Caucus, Alameda, County. NWPC Woman of the Year, 1983, 1985, 1987; Political Action Chairperson, 2003-2010.